VANDEN PLAS – Chronicles Of The Immortals, Netherworld Path One (2014)

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Germans VANDEN PLAS is one of these increasingly rare occasions where a band is formed in 1986 and still is playing in the same line-up, 28 years later! After having explored more progressive waters in the last few albums, their new CD in four years “Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld (Path 1)” – just released by Frontiers Records – is showing a bit of a different side of the band, a more introspective one that de-emphasizes both progressive technicality and also heaviness.
That being said Vanden Plas have not gone soft or mainstream, but they are offering here a more accessible, melodic and intriguing Prog Metal album.

Despite the four year break, Vanden Plas have been anything but sitting around, working with one of Germany’s most popular sci-fi and horror authors, Wolfgang Hohlbein, on a theatrical musical based on his Chronicles of the Immortals (Die Chronik der Unsterblichen) series, giving the band another opportunity to play out their theatre experience.
This album now is Vanden Plas’ adaptation of the project to disc, translating it into the Vanden Plas context and part one of a two duology, with the second part following in 2015. The theme of “Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld (Path 1)” examines the essential question of human existence: What is immortality?

As for the music, this is strong progressive metal created with broad and deep strokes from vocals to immense orchestration to big riffs, sizzling leads and bombastic drums. Yet, the music also has a heavy, dark, character to it, reflecting the content of the story.
The good thing about Vanden Plas is the focus on the ‘song’ instead unnecessary instrumental masturbation. This makes the record flow in great manner with the band achieving a perfect mix out of musical complexity, hard, powerful music and catching melodies.

The CD starts with an orchestral intro and spoken words (done by Holbein himself), a dramatic introduction to the story. “The Black Knight” follows with dense keyboards building the base for this song while a heavy riff gives the needed aggressiveness. It’s also Andy Kuntz’s fantastic vocals which turns this album a spellbound experience, crystal clear and still with a lot on passion and strength.
An almost brutal riff opens “Godmaker” like a thunder, before the song continues a bit more silent with vocals and piano, but of course this doesn’t last for too long. A sharp riffing develops to a high level and make it a 5 minutes prog metal masterpiece.

After all these energetic eruption it is time for a more peaceful tune, “Misery Affection – Prelude”, which lead you to the semi-ballad “A Ghosts Requiem” filled with beautiful vocals and a choir carrying a lot of emotions. In the end it gets back to more power and the choral passage finalizes a touching track.
“New Vampyre” is another stunning Vanden Plas composition, before “The King and the Children of lost War” is somehow epic driven by pounding guitars and terrific drum patterns. A highlight.

“Vision 8ight Misery Affection” starts with one of the most endearing piano introductions you will ever hear and, when the strings join in, it is just delightful. The vocals are graceful and full of magic, when the female voice joins in to perform the duet there is something almost ethereal about the performance that plucks at your heartstrings.
“Soul alliance” rapidly becomes one of the most intense and dynamic tracks on the album, pure progressive metal that takes influences from all over and turns them into one prodigiously coherent whole, the keyboards firing licks from all different angles and the guitar burning bright, hard and very heavy.

I am afraid that we have come to the final instalment of this totally immersive experience (for it is surely more than just music) provided by the group of musical sorcerers also known as Vanden Plas; “Inside”. As is the case throughout the rest of the album there is no pause or break before the track is introduced to us by a smooth, repeated guitar note and orchestral strings, however, it is not long before that incredibly intense wall of sound that has become a hallmark of this record is unleashed upon the audience, monster drums and an epic riff with some delightful squeals that hit your senses hard.

It is way too early to say ‘one of the best Prog Metal albums of the year’ when we are only in February but, after experiencing the aural splendour of “Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld (Path 1)”, it is going to take something that can provide a Eureka moment to replace it from the top-10 in this reviewer’s list.
Even though at first listen the record is easy to the ears and very accessible, repeated listens reveal a magnificent amount of subtle details (headphone listen highly recommended) that make up the whole, with each guitar note, every drum beat, every keyboard and piano sequence having its perfect spot, with Andi Kuntz characteristic voice over it, showing the true mastery of Vanden Plas.
A band that continues to move from high to high, and “Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld (Path 1)” not only ranks amongst their finest moments, but in the Prog Metal scene in years to come.
Highly Recommended.

Vision 1ne
Vision 2wo The Black Knight
Vision 3hree Godmaker
Vision 4our Misery affection prelude
Vision 5ive A ghost requiem
Vision 6ix New Vampyre
Vision 7even The King and the Children of lost War
Vision 8ight Misery affection
Vision 9ine Soul alliance
Vision 10n Inside

Andy Kuntz (Vocals)
Stephan Lill (Guitar)
Günter Werno (Keyboards)
Torsten Reichert (Bass)
Andreas Lill (Drums)

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www.nehrecords.com/shop/VandenChronicles.htm
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