Beyond Daylight

Vanden Plas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 2, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inside Out U.S.
• ASIN: B000063CMM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,275 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb prog., December 12, 2002

By 

Dr Nick "Dr Nick" (Sheffield, S Yorks United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Daylight (Audio CD)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this band, my only previous encounter was with the very talented keyboardist (Gunter Werno) on DC Cooper's (fantastic) solo release. But fans of prog have been positive about this lot, so I went for it.
And they're very good. VERY good. Remind me in some ways of "Images" era Dream Theater as far as song construction and instrumental sections go. The guitarist is very good, he can shred along with the best on 'em, although he's just a bit more restrained than Mr Petrucci - this band like instrumental passages to be just that, rather than a collection of solos. The drummer is also extremely good, but more restrained than Mike Portnoy, something I appreciate (Dream Theater over-use the double bass drums IMHO).

And the vocalist. Other reviews of past releases by Vanden Plas have been critical of the vocals. I can see why, he doesn't have the most powerful voice in prog, it's quite clean (cleaner than James LaBrie), and certainly not from the "Geoff Tate" school of singers. He does use his diaphragm well in places, and also occasionally throws in a rasp that's not a million miles away from Vince Neil (Motley Crue)! He can reach the high notes, and choruses tend to be constructed of layered vocals and harmonies, which more than compensated for the slight thin-ness that higher notes produces. And no screaming.

One thing worth mentioning is the strength of the song-writing. The choruses have good, memorable hooks, and satisfy the ear in a way that quite a few other prog releases fail to, despite the skills of the band.

Basically these guys have the lot, and the production more than makes up for any star losses I might have imposed for the vocals. Dunno about pervious material, but this ROCKS!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent prog metal, October 10, 2002

By 

Dr Nick "Dr Nick" (Sheffield, S Yorks United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Daylight (Audio CD)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this band, my only previous encounter was with the very talented keyboardist (Gunter Werno) on DC Cooper's (fantastic) solo release. But fans of prog have been positive about this lot, so I went for it.
And they're very good. VERY good. Remind me in some ways of "Images" era Dream Theater as far as song construction and instrumental sections go. The guitarist is very good, he can shred along with the best on 'em, although he's just a bit more restrained than Mr Petrucci - this band like instrumental passages to be just that, rather than a collection of solos. The drummer is also extremely good, but more restrained than Mike Portnoy, something I appreciate (Dream Theater over-use the double bass drums IMHO).

And the vocalist. Other reviews of past releases by Vanden Plas have been critical of the vocals. I can see why, he doesn't have the most powerful voice in prog, it's quite clean (cleaner than James LaBrie), and certainly not from the "Geoff Tate" school of singers. He does use his diaphragm well in places, and also occasionally throws in a rasp that's not a million miles away from Vince Neil (Motley Crue)! He can reach the high notes, and choruses tend to be constructed of layered vocals and harmonies, which more than compensated for the slight thin-ness that higher notes produces. And no screaming.

One thing worth mentioning is the strength of the song-writing. The choruses have good, memorable hooks, and satisfy the ear in a way that quite a few other prog releases fail to, despite the skills of the band.

Basically these guys have the lot, and the production more than makes up for any star losses I might have imposed for the vocals. Dunno about pervious material, this ROCKS!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully melodic, February 23, 2003

By 

"alexander_the_great_1982" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Daylight (Audio CD)

I found this little known gem highly recommended in the metal community after searching for music in the vein of Dream Theater and Symphony x, two great bands. However I have noticed that many people think Vanden Plas are a DT clone as they have supported them in gigs and the music lies in the secluded world of prog rock/metal. This is utterly untrue, Vanden Plas in fact have created a brilliant fusion of all the elements the make prog metal great, crunching guitar riffs, beautiful melodies with great hooks and time changes and atmospheric keyboards. Vanden Plas create their own signature sound via their atmosphere, which in my opinion is more emotive than Dream Theater but they do it with tremendous subtlety which something DT lack. Another element they have over DT is the vocals, I personally think James Labrie is a little OTT, Andy Kuntz however suits prog metal much better, cleaner, crispier and more emotive without going the sugar and spice route of Labrie who sounds more like a pop idol to me.

You don't get the gradiose, complex and passages of Dream Theater but Vanden Plas can still run with DT.

The guitar solos are melodic and well thought albeit sparse again a feature of Plass's classy subtlety and the keyboards by Gunter Werno and wonderfully skilful and melodic, the ace in the pack.

The production is faultless, nothing more to say.

The band are so tight and on the same level, no ego in this bunch although they all have the class to showboat, they do however posses a Euro style flair and their music much appreciated by the French.

That's just the music, the songwriting somehow manages to match the music, a soulful journey with poetic like class, Scarlet Flower Fields had the potential to be a smash hit but the world cannot digest such a sound, yet.

I'm completely sold by these Germans to whom people think make awful music and I will be extending my Vanden Plass collection and you should be starting yours!