Customer Reviews

Different Worlds: The Definitive Vandenberg (2CD)

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This is a bit of pricey 2-CD set, but if you dig Vandenberg, you have to consider getting this! The first disc is pretty much a greatest-hits collection. But as with any greatest-hits collection from about any artist, one can complain about omitted tracks. In this case, the studio version of "Friday Night" and the awesome instrumental "Prelude Mortale" are missing. But overall, disc 1 hits most of the highlights from Vandenberg's catalog and is 75 minutes long.

Interestingly, you'll definitely need to enjoy the track, "Burning Heart", as it appears here three(!) times. The very first track is "Burning Heart (2004)" and it's a very worthy version. This one features more acoustic guitars, a few electronic percussion flourishes and some symphonic-sounding backing as well as some electric guitar. Sometimes when an artist says that they've got a "2004" version of an older song, they ruin it by making it "modern rock" or "nu-metal". Not here. As for other versions of "Burning Heart", the original studio version closes out disc 1. Disc 2 closes out with an all-acoustic version of "Burning Heart", though you can still hear some strings (violas, cellos, violins) in a few spots. Overall, I really enjoyed the new versions.

Disc 2 is what is really a treat for the fans. It contains 7 demo versions and 3 live tracks. The demos are really eye-opening - they sound almost album-quality. It's fun to hear these demos and see what made it to the albums. The live tracks are quite cool and "Friday Night" is present, taken from a gig in Japan. Another rare track "Roll Through The Night" is also served up from a concert in the USA.

If you like Vandenberg, you'll want this one even if you've got the studio albums. So it's pricey but worth it.

It's amazing how low-profile Vandenberg has remained over the years. The band of course had their stretch of fame in the early eighties, when a young Metallica even opened for them at some point. But Vandenberg (the band) peaked with the hit Burning Heart, and Adrian would go on to tour the world with Steve Vai in Whitesnake during their most (commercially) successful period. Somehow, however, he never really became an eighties guitar icon. I have no idea why... I haven't really been able to get to the bottom of who pioneered the neoclassical rock sound that is so prevalent to this day, but my guess would be the development was from Blackmore, May, Roth, Van Halen, Rhoads, Vandenberg and Malmsteen onwards(in that order) and who would nowadays consider Adrian Vandenberg in that line-up? No-one right?
Which is completely unjust. Vandenberg the band released their first album in 1982, and put out 2 more in '83 and '85, and most of it is absolutely amazing. Granted, some of it sounds a bit dated, the lyrics are extremely cheesy, and Heerink's voice seems to be an acquired taste (I like it though), but really, the music is great.
I've got their two greatest hits albums (The Definitive Vandenberg, and the Best of Vandenberg) since I couldn't find the originals anywhere, but these two albums actually have quite a couple of different tracks on them so it offers a nice way around that problem.
There's some great songwriting and guitar playing on these albums. Personal favorites are Waiting for The Night, Dressed to Kill, Pedal to the Metal, Fighting Against the World, This Is War and Too Late, which provide a virtual blueprint for neoclassical rock (LOT more interesting than Malmsteen in my opinion), but there is some diversity in their catalogue and Foreigner-like Different Worlds and the hit ballad Burning Heart are among the other highlights.
If you like Vandenberg, also check out Whitesnake's Live at Donnington CD/DVD. Pure eighties fun and a GREAT solo spot by Adrian. Also interesting is his Manic Eden album, with Aldridge and Sarzo (from Rhoads era Osbourne and Whitesnake) and Ron Young (Little Ceasar). Much more bluesy, and bordering on Rage Against the Machine at times, but a good catch if you can find it.

Vandenberg was one of the best metal bands to come out of the Netherlands during the 1980s. This collection consists of two CDs. The first contains remastered selections from the band's three albums. Nearly all the third album is included here, along with the better material from the first two. The second is unreleased material from the archives. Burning Heart, the band's best-known song, is available in two versions, one featuring orchestrations. Listening to the first CD, Vandenberg should have more successful than they were. Adrian Vandenberg's guitar technique was impressive, with nice riffs and some tasteful, classically-influenced passages. The songs were quite melodic, with smooth mid-range vocals. This music holds up very well in retrospect.

This cd is for you buy it you'll like it.

Rondall Banks