Tag: vanden plas (Page 1 of 2)

Album number 11 from Germany’s Vanden Plas. They have been flying the Prog metal flag loud and proud for over 30 years. Other than their debut album, Colour Temple, which was more of a hard rocking affair, they have been stalwarts in giving the listener Prog metal awesomeness with an emphasis on melody with just the right amount of crunch.

They are not afraid to enter concept album land, which they have done plenty of and this album is no exception, but they have never lost sight of what makes them, THEM! Sure, Dream Theater are an obvious comparison, but they do have a sound all of their own. Powered along by the magnificent crunching guitar of Stephan Lill and the very distinctive voice of Andy Kuntz, they make one beautiful sound.

I have been a fan since the get go and I’m pleased to announce this new album is another strong addition to an already impressive catalogue. If I’m to hang my hat on one tune that encapsulates what this band is all about then Icarian Flight it is. Massive crunching guitars, great interplay between keys and guitar, and the epic soaring melodic vocals all driven along with a killer throbbing rhythm section.

Superb album from front to back and you should own this.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

This the band’s follow up to one of my favourite albums ever, The God Thing. It must be daunting for a band to have so much praise heaped on your art, and knowing that you have to follow it at some point. Well, it obviously didn’t bother them that much – this album is another monster record. Another huge killer production that is so clear and separated that you feel as though they are playing in your room. The Dream Theater references are easy to spot, but they add a whole lot more – especially with melody and crunch.

The opening riff to I Can See just rattles teeth. It’s a beast of a riff, and is such a dramatic piece (as indeed are most of their songs). The title track follows and it’s just sublime. The vocals and harmonies are just superb, and the guitar tone and riff is just evil. The intro and riff to Into The Sun is just epic, and their sense of melody is just fantastic.

You get the picture. This is another awesome record by such a great band that you’ve probably never heard of. You even get the added bonus (on this vinyl version) of a cover of Kiss Of Death by Dokken.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

600!!!

Another milestone reached as this is my 600th review.

This is a vinyl reissue of the band’s 4th studio album, originally released in 2002. Their second album, The God Thing, is one of my favourite albums of the genre. They have the perfect sound for me, with the huge guitars and the crystal clear production, it’s what your hi-fi was made for. This album is a continuation and it’s just superb. Very strong songs and arrangements with a killer production – this is Prog metal at its best. Equal parts Dream Theater, Metallica, and Dokken is about as close as I can get to describe their sound, but they are much more than that.

Nightwalker opens up the album in fine style and is an epic tune in the truest sense of the word. Cold Wind will blow you away with the perfect balance between crunch and melody – a superb track. They know how to tone it down and change the pace perfectly, as the beginning to Scarlet Flower Fields has such beauty before the power takes over, add to that a killer instrumental section, and ladies and gentlemen we have a contender. Healing Tree is a power ballad with the emphasis being on the power as well as melody. End Of All Days starts off at a pace with pounding double kicks that you can feel. The beauty and the power vie for your attention, and the guitar sound is freakin’ huge. Free The Fire starts with the heavy Metallica style chuggas, and Andy Kuntz’s soaring vocals. This track really drives hard and fast, and the keyboards just sit behind the guitar to really make this a huge sound.

Can You Hear Me is the one true ballad on the album, but the melody is just superb. Phoenix closes out Side 3, and I love the heavy off time grooves, those harmonies and vocal melodies are just awesome, and the guitar solo…well!!! Side 4 is given over to the title track, which is killer as it twists and builds into the inevitable crescendo. This version has a bonus track, Point Of No Return, which, if you can imagine, sounds a bit like Yes with heavy guitars.

A truly superb record that you should grab a copy of ASAP. A final warning however, this is my third copy of this album. The previous two were unplayable as they had defects in the same place on both records, and the copy I have now is very noisy. Frontiers need to get their quality control in order as this is not the first problem I have had with their pressings.

10/10 (for the music) from The Grooveman.

This is one of my favourite releases from the last 25 years, and it’s nice to see it get a release on vinyl, having originally only being available on CD. However, they have now swapped labels from Inside Out to Frontiers. Try to think of Judas Priest mixed with Images and Words era Dream Theater, and you would be close. The production on this record is exceptional, and it always amazes me how full and huge the instruments sound. The guitar sound is bigger than the biggest thing you can think of, and the drums sound so full and massive. They certainly know how to make a record.

The opening salvo of instrumental piece Fire Blossom that leads into Rainmaker is a freakin’ awesome opening to a record – it really sets the scene for the rest of the album. Every song sounds epic and grandiose, and vocalist Andy Kuntz sings for his life on every track. The ending of Day I Die is so huge and monster sounding that it will send goosebumps down your body. They definitely have a sense of the dramatic, and it can be heard in the opening to Garden Of Stones. It has a slow almost operatic build up, with a beautiful guitar lead in to the fat monster riff of the main song – it is really well put together. This is the format for the whole album, and the quality of each piece is off the charts.

If I’m pushed for a favourite track (and believe me, it’s so hard as they are all awesome) I would go for We’re Not God. The guitar tone alone is just unreal, coupled with the melody and the composition of the tune – its incredible. The band are huge in their native Germany, and I am at a loss why world domination has a eluded them.

This is 10/10 all day every day from The Grooveman.