Vanden Plas

The Seraphic Clockwork

Price: 12.95

Review / Notes: Although they perhaps didn’t realize it at the time, with the release of their oft overlooked debut ‘When Dream And Day Unite’ in the spring of 1989, Dream Theater changed the face of progressive music forever. Since that day pretty much every band daring to venture into their particular territory has been scrutinized under a microscope; invariably getting compared to New York’s finest in the process, and more often than not found to be wanting. However, whilst it’s true to say that the mighty DT are undisputed Kings of that particular castle and don’t look like abdicating anytime soon, there are a few other acts out there who through creating a sound of their own could, under the right circumstances of course, give ‘em a damn good run for their money. One that springs readily to mind is fellow American act Shadow Gallery … another is an enigmatic bunch of German’s by the name of Vanden Plas. From my perspective, Vanden Plas arrived at exactly the right time. By the mid 90’s everything I held dear seemed to have been wiped off the face of the planet by the dour, oft fetid tide of grunge. Nothing had come along to suggest that there might be some relief to the never ending procession of miserable bustards’ masquerading as musicians for some time; until one evening in late ’95 a friend of mine (cheers Paul!) played me an album called ‘Colour Temple’, the debut effort from a band I’d never heard of before. To say I was amazed was an understatement - here was a band with superb technical chops and beguiling melodies who eschewed the down tuned guitar path and embraced the kind of classic hard rock sound I loved. Thankfully, they almost singlehandedly restored my faith in the genre as a whole, and I’m happy to say that I’ve never looked back since. With the arrival of ‘The God Thing’ some two years later, Vanden Plas veered away from the classic hard rock influences of the debut and established a unique signature sound all their own; a sound which still identifies and defines them to this day. Coming some four or so years after their last magnum opus – 2006’s grandiose ‘Christ O’ – the intriguingly named ‘The Seraphic Clockwork’ certainly has a lot to live up to. Another ambitious conceptual tome marrying historical storytelling with their own precision engineered brand of theatrical melodrama, it’s deft blend of light and shade bears all the hallmarks of yet another classic. Complex yet accessible, foreboding yet strangely compelling, it’s constantly shifting musical dynamic is guaranteed to keep you hanging on the edge of your seat from the first note to the last. Those inimitable Andy Kuntz vocals, the breathtaking interplay between guitarist Stephan Lill and keyboard maestro Günter Werno, the ever changing rhythmic patterns laid down by Torsten Reichert and Andreas Lill – all patented Vanden Plas trademarks we’ve come to know and love over the years. The overall mood may be a tad darker and more intense than last time out, but as the likes of ‘Frequency’, ‘Scar Of An Angel’, ‘The Final Murder’, ‘Rush Of Silence’ and the gargantuan ‘On My Way To Jerusalem’ overwhelm your senses, you’ll see why I’m so damn excited about this album. In a fair and just world Vanden Plas would be huge! (D.Cockett)