Customer Reviews

Far Off Grace (Spec)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

1999's Far Off Grace is album #4 from German melodic progressive metal band Vanden Plas. The band, whose sound is perhaps best described as Dream Theater meets Dokken, didn't offer up any real surprises on this album. The songs on Far Off Grace could just as easily have fit on Colour Temple or The God Thing. Despite their progressive sound, the band really doesn't progress very much from one album to the next.

That aside, Far Off Grace is still a very impressive album. Vanden Plas has totally mastered the marriage of technical metal, lush melodies, and stirring, emotional vocals. I've read some reviews bashing him, but as far as I'm concerned Andy Kuntz's vocals are a huge part of what makes Vanden Plas's sound work so well. His songwriting skills are also first rate. Into the Sun and Fields of Hope are among the album's better tracks, and I don't think I've heard anything as equally lovely and malevolent as the ballad I Don't Miss You.

If you can overlook the "more of the same" aspect, Far Off Grace is a great progressive metal album. It may not break any new ground, but Vanden Plas is one of the best at this kind of music, and they never fail to deliver.

NOTE: The 2004 Special Edition of Far Off Grace comes housed in a slipcase and features two bonus tracks. The first is a cover of the Dokken hit Kiss of Death, which the band totally nails. It was included on the earlier CD release though, so I don't see how it counts as a "bonus track" here. There's also a cover of Sting's Shape of My Heart. I loathe Sting, but I have to admit this song sounds great in Vanden Plas's hands. There's also a live video of the song Iodic Rain.

If you don't already own Far Off Grace, this is the version to buy. If you do, you'll have to decide whether it's worth it to buy the album twice for essentially one new song. I did, but I'm something of a dork when it comes to owning the version with the most extras.

For those who do not know, Vanden Plas is a German progressive metal band, and a damn good one.

The album features a nice tight guitar sound from Stephan Lill. Andreas Lill adds some damn fine drumming. Of course the vocals are top notch as expected from Andy Kuntz.

This album is not as melodic as "Beyond Daylight" or "The God Thing", it has a more aggressive sound which I like.

When I first got this album, it didnt leave my player for like 3 weeks, and to this day I still spin this CD on a regular basis.

If you like heavy prog metal, this album is a must have.

What do you get, when you take old Queensryche, a taste of Dream Theater, and a hint of Dokken? You get Vanden Plas, and their newest CD "Far off grace" takes you on a musical ride, you wont want to get off. Soaring high melodic vocals, catchy melodies, and bone crunching guitars mixed in with amazing keyboards, has you wondering why bands like this arent more popular. Fans of Dream Theater may want to take note from this band from Germany. Vanden Plas, has been around since the late 80's, and Far off grace, is their 4th CD from this 5 piece band. Highly recommended!

This review comes from the point of view of a listener working backward in Vanden Plas' catalog. I am fast becoming a fan of this band and this CD does nothing but help build that view.

These guys are excellent musicians and that point comes through again in Far Off Grace. It is clear to me that these guys can stand up technically to anyone in the business. Maybe not the best at any given instrument, but they can present a challenge to the best.

As with the CDs that follow, the music is lyrically deep, intricately arranged, and sonically very full. Yet, as with the other discs, dynamics still play an important part in their music. I, for one, prefer that, even in heavier metal music, than just an all-out attack on the senses. Musicallity caries alot of weight with me. This album is certainly musical.

Unlike the albums that follow, this album's over-arching theme is not prevelant. There is no great concept or story driving this album as there is with Christ 0 and Serephic Clockwork. In that respect, the songs are lyrically simpler. However, looking backward as I am, you can begin to see the hints of theatrics the band is so very good at begining to sneak into the music. As with their later CDs, you will find yourself involved without being overwhelmed.

So, why only 4 starts you ask? I understand that this was originally released in 1999. As such, at that time, there was a trend among producers to make the base be more direct and harsh (a fall-out of post-grunge styles popular at that time). In this case, the base drum is very direct and forward in the mix, having somewhat of a "tinny" sound to it. It has taken some getting used to and tends to distract from some of the music, even after many plays. That being said, it obviously can't be too bad as I keep playing the CD over and over again and enjoying it more each time. So, basically, with today's ear, it gets 4 stars because I know how good this band sounds today with a different mix.

Personal favorites: Into the Sun, Iodic Rain, I Don't Miss You (I have not heard very many songs so irony-soaked and cynical as this one without being angry... very intelligent way of delivering the message!) and Fields of Hope. Weak songs: None really; weakest of the set would have to be Kiss of Death. It is a good song improved upon by VP. However, thematically, it does not fit in as well with the rest of the CD. I would not know that Shape of My Heart was a Sting song if I hadn't heard the original version. Enjoyable none-the-less.

For the special addition, it is nice to get the video of Iodic Rain. Being in the US, I have not yet had the opportunity to see VP play and this presents a nice capsule of this song presented in concert. Very cool!

Bottom Line: the growth of the band towards the greatness that they display on Christ 0 and Serephic Clockwork can be heard in this album. Excellent music, acceptable (but not great) mix. Really can't go wrong with this one, especially knowing what this CD eventually leads to.

Many reviewers have criticized the album for the lack of production and "poor" vocal performance. Well, it is not totally unfounded.

I do not have any other VD studio albums and the only album that I heard before FOG is their live album Spirit of Live (SOL).

SOL is a great album for those new to VD. It contains 5 or 6 songs from FOG. The sound is much thicker and the vocals much more powerful. I much prefer the live version of the songs. Also, the songs flow more easily on SOL.

Still I give this album 4 stars for great guitars, good compositions and for being a heavy prog album.

Vanden Plas may be classified as a little bit prog, a whole lotta metal. They are more complex than heavy metal, but not quite as complex as excellent prog metal bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X. The singer sounds very 80's metal style, which isn't a bad thing. The strength of this band is guitarist, Stefan Lil. He has great taste and feel in his solos, and his rhythms really give the songs power. Excellent songs include "I Can See", "Far Off Grace", "Iodic Rain", & "Inside Your Head". If you like powerful metal with a slight hint of prog, Vanden Plas will not dissappoint. I have all their albums and I have yet to be dissappointed.

I have never heard of Vanden Plas before stumbling across a review of their CD at HardRadio.com. I figured that they could not possibly come close to Dream Theater, who in my eyes, are the kings of Progressive Metal. Well Far Off Grace really changed my mind, Vanden Plas's music isnt quite as complicated as Dream Theater's but nonetheless, it Rocks. The vocalist has very much the same range if not more than James LaBrie from DT. However the music isnt quite as tight...the drums are not as good, and the keyboards are a little weaker, overall though, Vanden Plas is a great band. Far Off Grace is a great CD. The cover of Dokken's Kiss of Death was very cool (with keyboards added in for a different sound). Bottom Line...this CD Rocks....if you are a fan of Dream Theater buy this CD....you will love it!

German metal masters Vanden Plas had me from the opening notes of their previous release THE GOD THING, easily one of the best progressive-metal albums ever recorded (see my review). So I approached FAR OFF GRACE with anxious anticipation. I initially enjoyed the album more than I do now. Over time most of the tunes do not wear very well and that is due more to the recording itself than the song structures. Admittedly, some of the tunes are weak (I Don't Miss You, Fields of Hope), and some have complained about the singer (I'm guessing they have not heard his excellent performance on THE GOD THING). That aside, my problem is more with the mix than anything else; the drums have nowhere near the power and punch of the previous album (which had arguably the BEST drum sound of ANY album I've ever heard-and that's a lot). They sound too weak, too 'tinny'. The sound is also relatively confined; the drums to not take up the full aural spectrum, they do not envelop you as they did on TGT. The guitars sound ok, but *some* of the crunch has been removed from the mid and lower ranges resulting in a less-than-exciting sound. The bass is also not as thick as I would have expected. Everything-even the vocals-seem stripped of the power they had in the past. With THE GOD THING Vanden Plas proved that they were a big-time contender in the power/prog arena, and it's a shame to hear them partially robbed of their most enduring quality: a BIG FAT sound.

This is NOT to say that the album doesn't have its' moments. Take the chorus and quiet middle section of the title track for example. Wow! It's awesome to hear. Likewise, the slow drudge of "Where Is The Man" accentuated by the drummers kick drums is really nice. "Iodic Rain" is the albums best track, beginning with a full blow-out fretfest for the first ten or fifteen seconds a la Dream Theater or Liquid Tension Experiment. It is a truly great song with a gut-punch chorus. It's one of those one's that's hard to get out of your head. Which brings me to the other stand out of the album, "Inside of Your Mind", a tune that really brings to mind (ha, ha) shades of OPERATION MINDCRIME by Queensryche-in both lyrics and style.

My suggestion would be to listen to this before buying it -if possible- or make your own VP mix disc with their best stuff. A good hard rock album, but not the place to start.

Vanden Plas musically rivals Symphony X. The main difference between the two, however, is the singer. Symphony X's Russel Allen enhances the songs. He sings tunefully and doesn't overshadow the true melodic guitar and keyboard lines. In Vanden Plas, though, the vocalist (I don't know his name...) tends to overpower the melody line and isn't that tuneful in doing it. Maybe V.P. needs to borrow Russel Allen :) Then, they would truly be in the same league as Dream Theater and Symphony X.

Vanden Plas lingers in the ether realm between progressive metal and power metal, with tendency to lean more to the former, although some of the arrangements favor the forthright approach of the latter. Their musicianship shines and they incorporate some interesting ideas into their music. Being the fastidious listener I am, I found several deleterious factors beyond the prima facie virtues. My biggest problem with the album is the vocalist (and I'm really picky about that). He's a good singer, but I can't stretch myself to say he fits Vanden Plas' heavy, aggressive musical direction. His range is terribly thin, leaving him with a high, impotent sound. So, while he sings well, he lacks a fierceness that would have fit the music, or a soaring quality found in singers like James LaBrie and Geoff Tate.

The music, however, shines. Mostly. Well, sometimes. It features some beautiful piano quotes and some cool touches (like the Eastern influence of "Fields of Hope") among the fiery, relentlessly crunchy riffs. Even so, much of the music is disappointingly straightforward, almost mechanical in the way the band executes riff after riff with the requisite synthed accompaniment (which rarely adds anything to the song). Nearly every song is 5-6 minutes, which hardly keeps the album fresh from track to track...especially with music like this. Combined with the droning guitar tone, the things quickly grow tiresome.

Far Off Grace is might be worth checking out if you're into this kind of music (I know I am), but that recommendation doesn't change my admonition. Wimpy vocals and general tedium undermine the album's quality. Too bad.