Vanden Plas – The Seraphic Clockwork

Releasedate: 04-06-2010; Label: Frontiers Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

Vanden Plas is a Prog Rock formation that started in the 80’s. The Germans have been around for quite a while, but always took their time for the albums. “The Seraphic Clockwork” is their 6th studio album.

The band makes progressive rock that is not really new. The music stands in line with what the band has released earlier but is not something completely new. Question is if we are waiting for a new version of the wheel, or are happy with what we have. Vanden Plas have been quite hold back in their inventions, but the band has certainly some elements that bring their music to your attention. Melodic parts and the female vocals in “Scar of an Angel” are worth mentioning as an example of good taste. In combination with the piano that brings often calm the band succeeded in keeping the feet on the ground and made the music not as spacey, light and fairytale as some other bands in the genre have the tendency to. With some strong riffs the band comes with enough power to keep the strength in the music and therefore this album is very listenable. For people that expect a typical Prog album, it might be a bit of a disappointment as it is not that bombastic stuff that a lot of bands make nowadays. It’s a Vanden Plas album and you hear it, recognize it and accept it the way it comes.

Line Up:
Andy Kuntz – vocals
Stephan Lill – guitars
Torsten Reichert – bass
Andreas Lill – drums
Günter Werno – keyboards

Tracklist: 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

Links:
Vanden Plas Official