LAST.FM
Vanden Plas is a German progressive metal band, based in Kaiserslautern and founded in the late 1980s. The band surrounding vocalist Andreas Kuntz have succeeded in making a name for themselves on an international level, enjoy almost cult status in France, have been touring all over Europe with established acts like Dream Theater, Savatage or Angra and can point to a number of impressive releases, among them three studio albums, a live cut, an unplugged recording, and several EPs. With their latest offering, Beyond Daylight(2002), Vanden Plas once again emphasise their leading position on the international prog scene, opening an exciting new chapter in their band history. Beyond Daylight contains nine brand-new prog metal tracks which stand out with their brilliant melodies, exquisite instrumental passages and intelligent arrangements, and the powerful rock ballad 'The Healing Tree' mirrors perfectly the fascination that this band has in the line: "Where we go around from here? Will we share another tear? Like the seasons we are leaving to return again." Be it the juxtaposition of a habit-forming chorus and technically virtuoso passages, as in 'Scarlett Flowerfields', anthemnic structures like the opener 'Nightwalker', or progressive tracks like 'Cold Wind': Vanden Plas never cease to delight and at the same time surprise their audience. "The new album has an even wider stylistic range than our previous releases," elaborates Kuntz on the difference compared to older Vanden Plas material.