Vanden Plas - The Ghost Xperiment Illumination
Album review by; Myk
​
German progressive metallers release their eleventh studio album kicking off with ‘When the World Is Falling Down’, a dramatic intro segues into pounding drums and a chorus a bit reminiscent of In Flames. The strong rhythm section is a constant theme throughout this release, but a quiet keyboard start to ‘Under The Horizon’ leads to soaring vocals on the chorus and some excellent guitar solos adding to the epic nature of the composition.
​
‘Black Death Waltz’ is a slower number driven by the keyboards with a great guitar solo thrown in to brighten up an otherwise fairly mundane track.
​
‘The Lonely Psychogon’ has a meaty riff and the ever present driving rhythm section to start off before settling into soaring vocals and keyboards. A funky beat followed by a heavy riff lead us into ‘Fatal Arcadia’ switching to quieter keyboard moments before the tempo is upped again with some added gruff vocals.
​
Next up the ‘Ouroboros’ begins with atmospheric keyboards and vocals gradually building into another epic keyboard driven number before pounding drums and guitar kick in and in continues to build until the end of this more than 13 minute track.
‘Ghost Engineers’ allows you to take a breath as the layered keyboard intro and gentle vocals hint of tranquillity.
​
’Krieg Kennt Keine Sieger’ is a bonus track that translates as ‘War Knows No Victors’ and ups the tempo to finish off.
As you would expect with this genre the production is classy and the sound is crystal clear with all the instruments easily distinguishable within the mix with the keyboards giving an added depth.
​
Epic tracks galore but for me a little sterile and predictable.
​
CD and Vinyl of ‘The Ghost Xperiment – Illumination’ available at;
https://www.vandenplas.de/shop/
3.5/5
Vanden Plas are;
Stephan Lill – Guitars
Torsten Reichert – Bass
Andy Kuntz – Vocals
Andreas Lill – Drums
Günter Werno – Keyboards
Social Media Links;
https://www.facebook.com/VandenPlasOfficial
#rockmediauk
#vandenplas
#theghostxperimentillumination
#newalbum
#albumreview
#reviewbyMyk
#germanprogrock