BEYOND DAYLIGHT

What can I say? After reading so many mainly really positive reviews I thought I give them a chance. Vanden Plas is a Prog-Metal band from Kaiserslautern/Germany, many say a very good one with ambitions to be named in the same league as "Dream Theater". Well, referring to my own impression I really can't confirm. "Beyond Daylight" really disappointed me. I like to think that it is normal metal instead of innovative prog. The songs are rather boring and far from being diversified, not only comparing the different songs, also within every song "Vanden Plas" lacks to diversify. I can't understand the hype about this band. I don't want to compare them to "Dream Theater" or judge them by comparing but I ofter heard that "Vanden Plas" is able to outpace DT. But without some instrumental highlights, diversified melodies and song structures it is not possible to beat a genre primus like DT. I think that Vanden Plas is not worth checking out, there are so many better prog metal bands out there, "Pain of Salvation" for example just to name one. Unlike "Vanden Plas" they try to sound different, they are innovative. VP often tries to copy the DT sound, that's at least what it sounds like...but I think that they ruefully shipwrecked. Real die-hard prog-metal fans can maybe add one or two stars but all others, please don't touch this one, you will just waste your money.