VANDEN PLAS - review added 4th June 2010
Album Review: The Seraphic Clockwork (2010)
For fans of: Prog Metal... and 'wision'
German band Vanden Plas - Andy Kuntz on vocals, Stephan Lill on guitar, Günter Werno on keyboards, Torsten Reichert on bass, and Andreas Lill on drums - finally return with another album filled with their own brand of semi-symphonic, multi-layered progressive metal. The Seraphic Clockwork comes four years after their last release, the religious-Thundercat-alike; Christ O.
The Seraphic Clockwork follows a lyrical concept chronicling a journey through space and time from 16th century Rome to 33 A.D. Jerusalem. It's not as bad as it potentially sounds though; the tracks work well as individual elements and don't need to be heard in order to make sense.
The sound is a big help. This is an album with a big production and exemplary playing. Parts of the LP are massive. The music isn't just heavy, it offers depth too. It's almost like swimming in liquid tungsten. The overall feel is of Dream Theater meets Vindictiv meets Primal Fear meets Queensryche. The music is delicately complex, but it could still kick the seven shades of sh*t out of you.
The result is an album that's perhaps more impressive than it is enjoyable. That's not to say it isn't a good listen because it is, but it's easy to get lost in the grandeur of it all. Best moments include the opening track 'Frequency', the catchy 'Holes In The Sky, the vast 'The Final Murder', the almost-beautiful 'Rush Of Silence' and the mahoosive 'On My Way To Jerusalem', both of which see Andy Kuntz doing his best George Michael impression.
'Scar Of An Angel' features one of those occasional irritating mispronunciations, trading 'Visions' for 'Wisions'. It shouldn't be a big deal, but it grates and is totally avoidable.
Overall, The Seraphic Clockwork is a monster release. Vanden Plas should be proud of what they have achieved here. They're going to have the prog-lovers salivating with lust. For me - more of an all-round rock and metal fan - it's too clever and, dare I say, artsy. but I rather like it all the same.
Check out... 'Holes In The Sky'. Awesome.
Track List:
01. Frequency
02. Holes In The Sky
03. Scar Of An Angel
04. Sound Of Blood
05. The Final Murder
06. Quicksilver
07. Rush Of Silence
08. On My Way To Jerusalem
09. Eleyson (bonus track)
Label: Frontiers
Artist's website(s): Vanden Plas | MySpace
