Vanden Plas
Christ.0

THE REVIEW

Quietly returning with a good work are these 5 German musicians. Vanden Plas, for those who might not know, is a band dedicated to progressive metal without too many innovations, thus following the standards of this genre: melody, endless technique, and the usual concept concoction narrated throughout the album.

Yet perhaps in this album, one can notice a more symphonic attitude compared to previous works, with the use of keyboards more oriented towards a symphonicality that gives the album power and solemnity at the same time. It is needless to dwell on the guitar work, which is masterful as in all progressive records. So expect furious solos and drum rhythms in constant time changes. However, by following these standards, the album flows pleasantly and enjoyably. The concept is based on the story of The Count of Monte Cristo.

A sweet melodic vein stands out especially in the vocal parts. The singer Andy Kuntz demonstrates excellent control over his vocal cords both in moments of pure sweetness and in the heavier moments of the album. The band moves well both in rhythmic and solo parts, always closely following the "models" set by the bands that gave birth to the genre. So it's obvious how Vanden Plas is inspired by Symphony X and Dream Theater. Analyzing the work track by track would be pointless; I would risk finding citations or references to tracks by their more illustrious colleagues in every song, and this would take a lot away from this group, which does its duty excellently. Especially since we are faced with an inspired work, well-played, with interesting flashes particularly in the title track and the bonus track "Gethsemane", a sort of cover taken from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

There are indeed episodes of value, but the rest partly refers to what has already been said by the fathers of the genre. Altogether pleasant even though more can always be done.