Far off Grace [IMPORT]

Vanden Plas

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 19, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Inside Out Germany
• ASIN: B000031WER
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #682,969 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great melodic progressive metal, March 28, 2008

By	Justin Gaines "Corporate Rocker" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.