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Rating: As they did with the previous concept, once again Vanden Plas releases the second part a year after the first. In 2019, the first part of “The Ghost Xperiment” titled “Awakening” was released, and here comes the second part in 2020, titled “IIIumination”; two titles chosen practically ad hoc, both containing the Roman numerals I and II respectively to indicate the first and second parts of the concept, it seems they were chosen specifically to contain the two numbers.
The music, however, does not change one bit. Vanden Plas remains a leading name in classic progressive metal, the kind that does not aim to go beyond, that resists innovations, and stays within its comfort zone. The band proves to be always quite strong but confirms the moment of not exactly maximum inspiration. The impressions felt with “Awakening” remain the same in this sequel.
Once again, the band focuses on a few tracks (7, plus an additional bonus track) of considerable duration, but once again, they do not seem properly developed. Once again, there is the impression that they are excessively watered down, extended when not necessary, lacking in compositional courage and the variety one would expect. “When the World Is Falling Down” and “The Lonely Psychogon” are emblematic, two beautiful rocky bulwarks of gothic and melodic metal that, however, limit themselves to repeating that mix of power and melody for almost the entire duration without much variation. They have interesting passages but are rather limited, the solos are beautiful (the keyboard solo of the latter is splendid) but seem forcibly inserted to lengthen the track, as if they wished to adhere to the genre's norms that prescribe long tracks.
The most unnecessary extension is “Black Waltz Death” - a beautiful melodic piece halfway between gothic and symphonic and with little metal - where the same sequence of four chords is repeated for interminable minutes. “The Ouroboros” certainly has more to offer, it's a two-faced track, slow and soothing in the first part, pounding and with elegant embellishments in the second, but here too there is a certain underlying prolixity, with parts that are stretched a bit too long. The best track, better structured and more complete, is in any case “Fatal Arcadia”, where hard moments and moments of tranquility, faster and slower moments alternate with the ease of the old times.
Moral of the story? Vanden Plas is composing 8-minute tracks but has ideas for tracks of a maximum of 5 minutes. It's no coincidence that the two shorter tracks “Under the Horizon” and the respectable ballad “Ghost Engineers” do not suffer from this problem. In my opinion, the Germans would do well to make an album of short and powerful but well-focused tracks, also because in terms of power there is nothing to reproach the band for; it could be a more commercial and less prog turn, but at a certain point in their career, it would be fitting and would surely arouse more interest.
But in the end, it is always quite honest and dignified prog-metal. For me, it's like a nice slice of cake, it doesn’t always turn out perfect, but it's still a slice of cake, and you never refuse it.
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