Artist: VANDEN PLAS
Album: THE SERAPHIC CLOCKWORK (DIGI)

Year: 2010
Media type: CD

A good four years since their critically acclaimed studio recording, “Christ O” hit the charts, Vanden Plas, Germany's finest Prog Metal act are set to release their latest album, “The Seraphic Clockwork”.

Highly anticipated by the fans, what “The Seraphic Clockwork” has turned into a fascinating concept album which not only shows the quintet’s exceptional technical skills, but also highlights their impressive development as composers. Once again, Vanden Plas have succeeded in giving new impetus to their unmistakable style without watering down their very own unique sound. “The Seraphic Clockwork” sounds more multi-layered, progressive and metal-oriented than previous Vanden Plas releases.

A perfect example which substantiates this, is the 13-minute track ‘On My Way To Jerusalem’, a little masterpiece within a homogeneous, self-contained album. The song takes the listener on a haunting, adventurous journey which comes full circle musically towards its end. From soaring piano sounds through hard riffs and versatile arrangements to atmospheric parts, the whole range of expressive forms which the Progressive Metal genre has to offer are present. On the other hand, ‘Heal The World’ with its melodic intro, subsequent heavy riff and catchy chorus, reveals the band’s affinity to theatre music and all its complexity, is classic Vanden Plas.

Speaking of music theatre : in case if you’ve been wondering how Vanden Plas spent the past four years since releasing “Christ O”, you may be in for a surprise. Along with the production of their own musicals, Abydos and Ludus Danielis (both at the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern) and “Christ O” (which debuted in Munich in 2008 and will be produced at the Pfalztheater Kaiserlautern in 2010), the group was also involved in the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Hair” (both at the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern), and “Der Herbst des Winterkцnigs” (in Amberg). Understandably, these activities left little time for extensive tours, which explains why the band concentrated on major festivals such as Sweden Rock (2006), PP Scandinavia (2008), Bloodstock (2008) and the Roccolo Park Festival in Italy (2008).

TRACKLIST:

01. Frequency
02. Holes In The Sky
03. Scar of an Angel
04. Sound of Blood
05. The Final Murder
06. Quicksilver
07. Rush of Silence
08. On My Way to Jerusalem
09. Eleyson (Bonus Track)