Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent prog metal, October 10, 2002
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!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully melodic, February 24, 2003
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!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just one word: Fantastic!, October 22, 2003
When I first heard Vanden Plas' second studio album The God Thing, I thought that was the top of the line. It was simply a mindblowing album that blew me away with its content, the amazing musicianship, and cerebral lyrics. While I thought the following album Far Off Grace was still a worthwhile effort, I felt it paled in comparison to its predecessor. But I wasn't disappointed; I just didn't believe they would ever surpass the beauty of The God Thing. But today, after having listened to Beyond Daylight for almost a year, I am eating my words. This is the best prog metal album of 2002 after Pain of Salvation's Remedy Lane (which is another masterpiece in its own league). Beyond Daylight is an album wonderfully easy to enjoy. Fans who know nothing of Vanden Plas or prog metal can still be drawn into this album after hearing only a few songs. But there is more to this wonderful album. The further it is explored the more it offers. One thing that definitely shows is the steady line-up of the band. They have consistently stayed together and have matured greatly over the years. Keyboardist Gunter Werno is the only member who has been involved in outside projects if I'm not mistaken. He has played on a live Kamelot album, DC Cooper's solo album, a rock opera called Missa Mercuria (along with the other Vanden Plas guys) and Section A's The Seventh Sign. And, he shines on each and every one of these CDs. Vocalist Andy Kuntz, having co-written the whole album with Lill, plays central role in all the songs. His vocals sit right in the centre of the tracks defining the current Vanden Plas sound. He seems to be in perfect form with his sometimes warm and sometimes aggressive vocals. He uses his voice as a great texture to layer over the perfectly performed instruments. The band behind him are also amazing. Stephan Lill's guitar playing has since day one appealed to the fans. He was obviously influenced by the 80's guitarists very heavily, but his phrasing is very progressive and fluid. He has a very fitting tone to the music. His solos are razor sharp, yet still contain a lot of melody and warmth. He has tremendous technique but doesn't necessarily put it on the forefront every second. The solo in the second song "Cold Wind" is one of the most fitting guitar solos I've heard in years. His riffs have tonnes of crunch that flirts with suggestive melodies. But it's not just Andy and Stephan that come to mind when the name Vanden Plas is uttered. Actually, the rest of the band is equally amazing, crafting unbelievable musicianship, blending their styles into one form that eventually defines the current Vanden Plas sound. Gunter Werno knows exactly when to restrain himself with the keys and when to let himself loose. He plays some of the most beautifully complex keyboard solos to accompany Lill and bassist Reichert I lack words to explain it to you. His piano renditions are also fantastic. I have never heard or read it anywhere and do not know if anyone would agree, but I think he happens to be a big, big fan of Jon Oliva's piano work from Savatage. His style is just a more proggified version of Oliva's. Jon Oliva being one of my musical heros, I of course embrace the resemblance! Now as for the drummer Andreas Lill... oh, what can I say? He simply has got one of the best drum tones I have ever heard in prog metal. I don't think anyone has impressed me so much with his drumming since Portnoy's godly performance on Images & Words or Zonder's stuff on A Pleasant Shade of Gray. While Andreas, unlike most of his contemporaries, prefers to play within the song structures, his drumming sounds so concise and absolutely pushes the band's music to a different level. Bassist Torsten Reichert is another phenomenal player. For so many years prog fans have complained about great bassists' being mixed too low on the albums. Well Vanden Plas destroys this theory on Beyond Daylight, for Reichert, right from the very beginning of the album, plays fiery and subtle bass lines that make the songs sound more intense, more aggressive, more complex, more progressive, and 100% Vanden Plas! Each member is a key factor of the band. Take one of them out, and even if you replace him with the best, technically most proficient musician, I guarantee you the next Vanden Plas album would suffer. It must be the chemistry between these guys that make them sound so tight and soulful. The title track, also the longest song on the disc, is sublime in every respect. It showcases every aspect of the band without getting the least bit pretentious. Kansas' "Point of Know Return" closes the album. While I like Kansas a lot and think the cover sounds really great, I happen to think the song doesn't go too well with the rest of the disc. It has a totally different vibe to it, both musically and sonically. The mix and production are brilliant. Nothing wrong with this album. They cover a lot of ground lyrically as well. Some of the lyrics are very pastoral dripping with emotion and sentiment. Few bands have managed to release albums as "complete" as Beyond Daylight. It has become an instant classic. People will still be raving about it 10 years from now, just as we are still raving about 1992's Images & Words. Mark my words.
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