The new Vanden Plas is a monster !!

[Bryant]

VP has been kicking my ass for 13 years and have managed to top every release with the next during that span, so it is no surprise for me that "The Seraphic Clockwork" is no exception. This band sprinkles other prog-metal bands on their cereal for breakfast. This is an incredible release.


Bryant

[Bryant]

A new era of Vanden Plas has began.......


Vanden Plas is...... well they are a prog-metal from Germany. Many may know that, but here is what Vanden Plas has been to me......

Vanden Plas has always been a prog band (on the lighter side of prog) with a huge sense of majesty and grandeur. VP has always had this huge sound that makes them sound like it should be reserved for kings and statesmen and such. However, Vanden Plas has always had soaring "sing-a-long type choruses that were very accessible compared to most prog-metal bands. The VP progressions and time changes have always made so much musical sense that one really doesn't even realize he/she is listening to progressive metal music. The musicians of Vanden Plas are absolutely outstanding, but the collective has always surpassed even the incredible sum of the parts. Lastly, VP has always made a great bonus tracks as well. I love their bonus tracks.
Vanden Plas has always been ballad heavy, but it isn't a case of too many ballads considering the ballads are amazing in their own right. It was more of a case that they needed more "rockers." Vanden Plas also tends to take about 10 years between each release...... well it feels that long anyway. Those are the few gripes I have with VP.

Welcome to the new Vanden Plas..........


With "The Seraphic Clockwork" there are fewer ballads, the songs are more "proggy" even more majestic and magnanimous than even before. In fact, Vanden Plas is downright "heavy" now for prog-metal. Stephan has unleashed his fury on guitar. The finale of the disc (other than the bonus track) "On My Way to Jerusalem" might be my favorite song of all-time. Andy put his best foot forward on this to put it mildly. His voice sounds like an angel's. It almost brings me to tears.

As I digest more of this disc....... I will add to it. Simply incredible !!


Bryant

[Bryant]

A new era of Vanden Plas has began.......

Bryant


Wow !! I expected your review to be a little more eloquent. I love the disc as much as you though.

Bryant

[Bryant]

Wow !! I expected your review to be a little more eloquent. I love the disc as much as you though.

Bryant

I didn't edit anything you dumb-ass. It was a stream of consciousness type thing. You were there.

Bryant

[Bryant]

I didn't edit anything you dumb-ass. It was a stream of consciousness type thing. You were there.

Bryant

Oh yeah, I forgot. Anyway... wanna have a beer ?

Bryant

[Bryant]

Oh yeah, I forgot. Anyway... wanna have a beer ?

Bryant


We already are you neanderthal !!


Bryant

[Bryant]

We already are you neanderthal !!


Bryant

Yeah I forgot !! Oh well..... see you in the mirror.


Bryant (this is classic TM forum stuff, Urban. we need Darg here for this one... ha ha ha)

[RedCriss]

Well, you, don't know if you is Bryant or, well, Bryant... However, you make me curious! I will check this album out!

Up to now Vanden Plas failed to grab me, but one should never say never... Never, ever, never... yeah, never!

Maybe the day is near,
while drinking a beer,
I listen to an album great,
Oh, some words I might have ate...

Makes no sense? Well, guess not, but, however, yeah, we'll see what's about to happen, right?

:skull:

PS: I thought your review would be a little more expensive, ahem, exTensive, but maybe Bryant can add some words as well!

[lady_space]

Been looking forward to this one, much moreso than anything else in the most recent couple of years probably. Can't wait to hear it. :)

[Bryant]

Well, you, don't know if you is Bryant or, well, Bryant... However, you make me curious! I will check this album out!

Up to now Vanden Plas failed to grab me, but one should never say never... Never, ever, never... yeah, never!

Maybe the day is near,
while drinking a beer,
I listen to an album great,
Oh, some words I might have ate...

Makes no sense? Well, guess not, but, however, yeah, we'll see what's about to happen, right?

:skull:

PS: I thought your review would be a little more expensive, ahem, exTensive, but maybe Bryant can add some words as well!

Ha ha ha ha...... VP is not for everyone. Shaye and I have been working on Urban for years and he still doesn't "get" them either. What I like most about VP is that they have made five releases in a row that are stellar in my ears and with the same lineup. At some point most bands put out a dud somewhere along the line. VP is consistently great at what they do though. That is very rare in this day and age.

Bryant

[Bryant]

Been looking forward to this one, much more-so than anything else in the most recent couple of years probably. Can't wait to hear it. :)


I doubt this will disappoint. I definitely think this is their most "complete" release. It is easiest the heaviest yet. The bonus track stinks, but that is the only pitfall.

Bryant

[lady_space]

Bonus tracks suck on general principle, right, Urban?? ;)

Listened to Christ 0 a bit over the past couple of weeks, so I am geared up for it. Maybe I will buy myself a birthday present. :)

[Bryant]

Bonus tracks suck on general principle, right, Urban?? ;)

Listened to Christ 0 a bit over the past couple of weeks, so I am geared up for it. Maybe I will buy myself a birthday present. :)


Ken (Laser's Edge) already has it in stock. My disc came in yesterday. He also had "Spirit of Live" and "Beyond Daylight" for $5, so I bought back-up copies.

Bryant

[lady_space]

Listening to a copy Jim burned for me while I wait on being able to buy it... haven't listened to all of it yet.

My one specific thought is... oh no! Now Andy's getting wisions, too! Has he been talking to Superior's singer????

[Bryant]

Listening to a copy Jim burned for me while I wait on being able to buy it... haven't listened to all of it yet.

My one specific thought is... oh no! Now Andy's getting wisions, too! Has he been talking to Superior's singer????


Ha ha ha...don't know but he and Chity are pals and Chity has wisions too. I think the German language must exclude a "v" sound. Even as well as Urban has spoke English ever since I met him, he called my Bwyant for quite some time. I guess the German "V" is similar to the "R" for Swedes. I suppose that is a big advantage of being an American. People figure... ehhh we are stupid, so we don't need to learn how to speak other languages...... well most of us. German would have to be painful to learn. I mean they start some words with some noise that sounds like they are trying to expel mucous.

Bryant

[Urban breed]

Bonus tracks suck on general principle, right, Urban?? ;)
They do indeed. :)

[Urban breed]

I think the German language must exclude a "v" sound.
It's quite the opposite actually.

[Bryant]

It's quite the opposite actually.

Hmmm..... and I thought when I saw this reply by you it was one that was with you on your hands and knees bowing for forgiveness from the Vanden Plas God for being so unworthy and not acknowledging their supremacy for years.

Ha ha ha... I actually didn't mean to take it THAT far and was about to edit it, but it was rather funny so I had to leave it.

As far as the Germans using the "V" sound.... it was a guess. I have to plead the "knucklehead American" ignorance. :glare: I love European metal, food, quite a bit of the culture, etc. but I still stand true on my great accomplishment of being uni-lingual. >:P~

Bryant

[Bryant]

They do indeed. :)


When a band can cover the entire capacity of a CD with original music, then I will say that a cover is a waste. :party:'

Having said that, I have issues with ME doing covers from my favorite bands. For example, I can't play ANY of my favorite guitar solos from Accept. I can't make it sound exactly the same and even if I did, why record that when you can hear the original ? If I do my own thing, it never stacks up. Hell, I wouldn't be playing guitar (not that I really do anymore) if it weren't for Wolf. I can't do ANYTHING to add to his legacy. If I choose something I like just ok, why bother doing a cover of it ?

Here is where the cover comes into play......... I like doing covers of stuff I enjoyed from my childhood. Maybe it is a rock song or a folk song. I always thought about a cover of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" for example.

Bryant