Vanden Plas - Beyond Daylight

Year of Release: 2002
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMCD 093
Format: CD
Total Time: 58:40:00

Maybe it's the fact that they still carry on a lot of the prog metal enchantment that was enthralling on Dream Theater's Images And Words and Awake, mixing it with some power metal elements (aren't they German after all?) and suggestive melodies. Or maybe it's because they're still the underdogs after all these years. Yet, one way or another I've always loved Vanden Plas and their music. Beyond Daylight is the fourth album of the Kaiserslautern-based band, and, barring misfortunes, should be the one who will bring this great ensemble to the fore. In fact, the new work encompasses all the elements of the band's past, blending them all together to obtain nine songs that switch perfectly from suggestive melodies (as comprises the majority of The God Thing) to fast-paced riffs (reminiscent of Far Off Grace), giving the listener a sort of concise and global Vanden Plas outline. Well, I don't know if this was in the band's plans at the beginning, but one thing is certain, the musicians deliver a strong performance, that falls only a little short from the one of The God Thing (their best album, in my opinion). Andreas Kuntz is once again unique with his precious vocal lines, and Stephan Lill & Gunter Werno clearly demonstrate what a great team they form, both rhythmically and in playing solos. Another point in favor of Beyond Daylight is also the production, well-rounded and with a punch that comes straight off the speakers every time the guitars or drums want to deliver something big. "Sooner or later, follow me into my world" says Andreas in the title-track, and that's exactly what I hope the progsters will do with Vanden Plas!

Tracklisting:
Night Walker (7:30) / Cold Wind (5:20) / Scarlet Flower Fields (5:45) / Healing Tree (5:30) / End Of All Days (7:25) / Free The Fire (4:30) / Can You Hear Me (4:10) / Phoenix (5:56) / Beyond Daylight (10:39) / Bonus track: Point Of Know Return (3:15)

Musicians:
Andy Kuntz - vocals
Stephan Lill - guitars
Günter Werno - keyboards
Torsten Reichert - bass
Andreas Lill - drums

Discography:
Colour Temple (1994)
Accult (1996)
The God Thing (1997)
Far Off Grace (1999)
Spirit Of Live (2000)
Beyond Daylight (2002)
Colour Temple/AcCult (special edition) (2002)
Christ 0 (2006)
The Seraphic Clockwork (2010)
Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld (2014)
Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld II (2017)
The Seraphic Live Works (CD/DVD) (2017)
The Epic Works 1991 - 2015 (boxset) (2019)
The Ghost Xperiment - Awakening (2019)
The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination (2020)
Live & Immortal (CD/DVD/BR) (2022)
The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things (2024)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin DE

Added: February 8th 2002
Reviewer: Igor Italiani

Artist website: www.vandenplas.de
Hits: 7178
Language: english