VANDEN PLAS

Although released on Inside Out and being described as being progressive metal this album has little to do with the world of prog. This is a melodic hard rock band who have far more in common with Stratovarius than they do with IQ. In fact, the band they sound quite similar to is Savatage, who they have toured with in the past.

Although they are clever, and I know that I really ought to like this, I couldn't get a handle on it somehow. There is a spark missing somewhere. That is not to say that this is a bad album, far from it, but even though the guitars and keyboards sometimes rattle along at breathtaking speed and intensity I found myself easily distracted. Perhaps it needs to be played a great many times to be fully admired, but as I probably won't be returning to it again I don't think that I will ever find out.

Originally appeared in Feedback #57

Four years in the making...

The fifth, full-length studio release from German band, Vanden Plas.

The Good: These guys have been around for quite some time now but with this release I think they have finally hit the jackpot. It's a masterful concept album which puts a modern twist on Alexandre Dumas' famous novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. The members of the band have all been involved in stage productions of musicals at some point in their career (some still are!) and this definitely shines through in their compositions. The addition of a forty-piece choir makes Christ 0 feel very grandiose and almost like a 'metal opera' at times.

The Bad: Musically it doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but what it does do, it does very well. Excellent vocals mixed with talented muscianship is always a winning formula, but to really stand-out at this 'late stage' in the prog metal game you also need consistently interesting songs and in this respect Christ 0 doesn't quite make the grade.

The Verdict: It might not have the technicality of 'Scenes From a Memory' or the character of 'Operation Mindcrime', but the strength of the overall package is enough to make sure Christ 0 still gets noticed.

"Just a kiss... a Judas kiss"

Vanden Plas return to the studio, four years after the release of their critically acclaimed concept album, Christ 0.

The Good: The Seraphic Clockwork is another solid release from the German band with consistently strong compositions and musicianship throughout. Most of the tracks are excellent and even the few weaker ones are at the very least engaging. The lengthy finale does take a while to get going but it's worth the wait as the midsection is truly angelic.

The Bad: Whilst I really like this album and would recommend it to all fans of the genre, it does also feel a bit too 'safe' and lacking in adventure.

The Verdict: Prog metal by numbers.

Vanden Plas newest album to date named The seraphic clockwork, released in 2010 and issued by already famous Frontiers records for sure doesn't desepoint at all, prog metal listners will find here plenty of good moments and enjoyble arrangements. I'm a fan of this band since 1997 when they released the excellent The god thing, since then I was with my eyes on this band and get all their releases. What I like to this band in comparation with other ptog metal bands in last 20 years is that they always have a constant quality in their music, they don't have a single album bad, they concentrate more on quality then on quantity, that's why they rleases only 6 studio albums in 20 years, and the line up is same since 1995, that is something. This latest album has that specific Vanden Plas sound, easely each piece can enter on any other previous album, not much diffrence in sound and manner of composing, that doesn't mean is bad, not at all. Solid album, catchy arrangements, good voice from Mr. Kuntz, one of the big voices of prog metal in last 15 years. Enjoyble release, if not fantastic, they repete the old formula on the previous albums and re create the atmosphere, but not bad at all, realy. The album stars very well with Frequency, cruchy guitars, great bass line and good vocal parts, Vanden Plas at best, the album continue in same manner with Sound of Blood and the last tune On My Way to Jerusalem is a real killer, lenghy complex, where mellow parts interluded perfectly with the rest. I like the album, is in the same vein with Christ O, litle less intristing then their best The god thing and Far off grace but not bad at all. I can't give more then 3 stars, for sure good but nothing realy masterful. Anyway Vanden Plas remains one of the best and respected progressive metal bands in last 15 years.

Like telling one Olsen sister from another

Come to think of it, I probably would have felt pretty fine about this release, if I had stopped listening to it after just one song. These men are no rookies - years full of touring, exhausting studio hours and heaps of albums is what I imagine while absorbing the decibels that The Seraphic Clockwork so generously produces.

Superb technical skills - tick! Amazing co-play - tick! Enchanting concept and lyrics - tick! Solid vocals - tick! What's missing then?

To my ears, Vanden Plas's Trans-Siberian Orchestra style and constant hints to Dream Theater/Opeth riffs would not sound bad at all, if only the band would develop these internationally accepted and ever-heared soundscapes to a new level. I am sorry to say, it doesn´t happen. Instead, the result is a fat pie of textbook example prog metal with just a teaspoon of creativity and a lot of repetition (cutting the overuse of the 4/4 time signature wouldn't hurt either).

It may very well be Vanden Plas's best effort so far, but when it comes to song compositions, it's like telling one Olsen sister from another. Yes, that's correct - you don't feel the difference. And, as a result of that, it leaves the whole album one-sided and easily forgettable.

Good metal, but non-essential.

...Vanden Plas' first "proper" album for me - their debut was straight ahead metal which didnt really appeal to me. with the weirdly titled "The God Thing", we also get a weird cover with "the thing" but some really great music.

this was the second album i heard of VP after "Beyond Daylight" (actually, only a few songs off the album) and it goes something like this:

"Fire Blossom" - 2:55: quick and short opener, interesting as a set up to...7/10

"Rainmaker" - 6:39: catchy tune, nice riffing, shows the band trying something which is, at the same time, pure metal (as with their first album) and prgressive/ melodic. its a very good build up to their first prog-metal album...8/10

"Garden of Stones" - 7:47: starts quite slowly, with some interesting vocal interplay by Andy but the meat is in the second half, starting off with a mesmerising riff that would go on to be something of a Stephan Lill trademark...10/10

"In You: I Believe" - 4:29: kind of mid-tempo, a breather after that pounding-riff above. nice vocals, good cohesion of guitar/ keyboards...7/10

"Day I Die" - 6:04: Andy sounds a little strained on this, maybe purposely trying something different. but he gets it back with the ad-libbing outro...7/10

"Crown of Thorns" - 6:44: half piano/strings ballad, half pounding, chugging riff, i love the way VP steps up the tempo mid-way and then explodes into a final run towards the end...8/10

"We're Not God" - 7:12: amazing chorus, good solo...kind of the theme song of the album, i guess. one of my favourites...9/10

"Salt in My Wounds" - 7:21: VP really start to mix it up here. this one has a dose of lots of different things they would use again later...8/10

"You Fly" - 7:31: what a way to sign off the album. another one of my favourites, i especially like the slow beginning, the soft/( taunting?) middle and the outro riff + andy ad-libbing towards the end...10/10

overall, a good strong album. i would even go as far as saying one of their best but then, i'd probably say that about all their albums depending on which one i'm listening to. Vanden Plas is definitely in my top 5 favourite bands...

Rush of Silence

Vanden Plas had never caught my attention enough to get any of their albums. But, once "The Seraphic Clockwork" came out, I was instantly enthralled in their great sound and talent. "The Seraphic Clockwork" is a little over an hour long and it never once gets boring, sporting great riffs, choruses, and overall perfect technicality. Every thing mixes well and the musicians are absolutely superb.

The guitars are nice and heavy on this album and when mixed with the drums offer up a great sound that any metal fan will enjoy. On the track "Rush of Silence" where the guitars offer a great starting point for both the song and the vocals, this is especially apparent. The harmonies on this song play a key role in it being one of my favorite on the album. The vocals by Andy Kuntz are so crisp and clear that when they are harmonized it sounds almost as if it were on voice which adds so much to the overall great feel of the album. The bass, played by Torsten Reichert is absolutely superb and you can really here how good he is on the ballad like song "Quicksilver".

Another great thing about Vanden Plas is that they play prog metal in one of its simplest forms. Of course simple and prog metal is kind of like and oxymoron, but in this case it is true. They focus more on being technically sound than playing fast of even insanely hard things that if not played right would sound bad. Even if Vanden Plas did play any of the above, though, they would still sound excellent.

The production on this album is another high point, featuring great transitions between light and heavy, drawn out and tight. In a way it is some what similar to a lot of recent prog metal albums that I've listened to, but it is still great production.

Vanden Plas is a superb band that deserves every credit that is thrown there way. In the past, they have released some great material, and they have continued that tradition here with "The Seraphic Clockwork". It took me awhile to realize how good this album was; around 3-4 more listens than usual, but many progressive metal fans will be able to tell how good this album is with in the first couple of listens. For a great release Vanden Plas gets 4 stars.

waiting for this album Like 4 years.., 4 years have gone from this great album of 2006. Christ 0 And What I can say about this great German band that has matured with the passing of the years? .. Honestly in all the great career of this band i have not found bad albums .. and if you could name .. Speaking of the new album .. I've heard it about 10 times .. I feel safe to give a review of this great album where vanden plas again makes us understand that is one of the bands with better posture in the progressive metal scene ... With this new album "Seraphic work" Vanden plas shows a strong identity, where all the music they have made over the years is reflected in this great album .. I'm happy .. to know that there are still bands with robust features that make the music taste is palatable and acceptable.

All members of Vanden Plas still playing extremely well, one thing I want to mention is that I admire the work of sound engineers do when mixing the album .. since 2002 beyond daylight the sound of vanden plas is unimaginable ..

Seraphic work is an album that from start to finish keeps you in the present, never lose track, or you never feel bored listening to this album .. the direction of the band combine metal with good melodic changes, usually the keyboard is the responsible for carrying the melody ... andy's voice is impressive, giving it a special personality to the band ... thanks for Vanden plas for maintain especial music over the years ..

highlights:

Quick silver

Scar of an angel ..

Frequency ..

4.25 stars

Quicksilver

Vanden Plas is one of the superior progressive metal groups in Germany - which is certainly saying a lot when considering all of the German prog metal bands out there. Although Vanden Plas has never been recognized as much their American brethren such as Symphony X, Dream Theater, or Fates Warning, The Seraphic Clockwork further confirms that Vanden Plas deserve to be regarded as one of the best groups in the melodic prog metal genre. This isn't an album that's going to blow you away with a highly original approac, but it succeeds tremendously with its intention - and that's creating excellent prog metal that proves the genre is far from dead. If you're someone who's tired of the style of music that Vanden Plas plays, I'd still recommend giving it a shot - it's that good. Every song is spectacular in its own way, and when you put it all together you have a brilliant gem of an album. Fans of Vanden Plas and progressive metal in general should definitely check out The Seraphic Clockwork!

The music here is unquestionably Vanden Plas. They play progressive metal in the style of Dream Theater, but with less of an emphasis on soloing and more of a focus on melody. There's still some terrific guitar and keyboard duals, but don't expect a whole lot of noodling on The Seraphic Clockwork. A lot of the music is focused around the terrific vocals from Andy Kuntz and melodic instrumentation. Just listen to a tune like the ballad-ish "Quicksilver" or the epic "On My Way to Jerusalem", and it's obvious that Vanden Plas isn't entirely engulfed in attempts to play at the speed of light. All 9 songs here are absolutely wonderful progressive metal tracks, so it's difficult to pick a favorite. However, it'd be criminal to not mention "On My Way to Jerusalem" as a standout track, considering that is one of the best progressive metal songs in all of 2010. The instrumental section towards the end of "Rush of Silence" is also noteworthy. Even though much of this album is focused on melody, this complex instrumental section proves how excellent these guys can also be from a technical standpoint. Of course, another great thing about Vanden Plas is the group of musicians that make up the band. They're a tight playing unit that still puts feeling and emotion into their playing. There's not much more you could ask from a progressive metal band!

The production is great. It's nothing too special in the modern prog metal scene (a lot of albums have a similar production), but that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it? The transitions between heavy and atmospheric sections sound great and certainly get the job done.

Conclusion:

Vanden Plas is one of the best bands in prog metal, and they've once again proved that with The Seraphic Clockwork. Although this isn't going to satisfy somebody who's craving a revolutionary album, it's an essential purchase for any fan of melodic progressive metal. There isn't a single weak track on the entire album, which is saying something when we're talking about a 72 minute album. This is 4.5 stars well-earned - one of the best albums in its genre from 2010. After giving the album many spins, it's clear that every second of the four-year wait for The Seraphic Clockwork was worth it. Let's just hope it's not nearly that long until we hear another great album from Vanden Plas! Strongly Recommended!

"Christ 0" is, as with most previous Vanden Plas albums, better than the ones before. Which is saying a lot, since I fell totally in love with their music nearly 10 years and several albums earlier with "The God Thing".

The symphonic orchestral opening of the title track may be one of their best pieces yet. And if that were to lead you to think that the riffs would take a backstage, think again! Because straight after, we have "Postcard To God".

With "Wish You Were Here" and its strangely ironic lyrics (the words that follow the title are "buring here in hell instead of me"!), we have one of the numerous highlights of the album. The others being "Shadow I Am", "Somewhere Alone In the Dark" and "January Sun" - all superb with the last one being a mini-epic. Clocking in at 10:05, it was, at the time, the second longest song by the band after "Beyond Daylight" at 10:40 (later eclipsed by "On My Way To Jerusalem" at 12:51 from The Seraphic Clockwork).

All this, with the backdrop of a fascinating interpretation of The Count of Monte Cristo, makes for a brilliant masterpiece.