“the Ghost Xperiment – Illumination” Due December 4, 2020
“THE GHOST XPERIMENT – ILLUMINATION” DUE DECEMBER 4, 2020
GERMAN PROG METALLERS VANDEN PLAS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM
“THE GHOST XPERIMENT – ILLUMINATION” DUE DECEMBER 4, 2020
FIRST SINGLE ‘UNDER THE HORIZON’ OUT NOW
About a year ago, the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas delivered
the music world part one of their two part concept album, “The Ghost
Xperiment”. Entitled “The Ghost Xperiment – Awakening,” the album ended on a
cliffhanger, where during a séance, Gideon Grace, the main character, at
last encounters the ghosts who have haunted him since his childhood. Ghosts?
Exactly! Now comes the dramatic conclusion of the story with their new
album, “The Ghost Xperiment – Illumination”. Fans can get their first taste
of new music via the new single, ‘Under The Horizon,’ which is out today.
Watch the lyric video here: https://youtu.be/UKAeRyNXErI
Pre-order/save “The Ghost Xperiment – Illumination” on CD/LP/Digital here:
https://orcd.co/vandenplas
“For years, I’ve felt driven by the idea of writing a ghost story that
casts a different light on the genre, and … at the end leaves the audience
with a plausible explanation,” author and Vanden Plas lead vocalist Andy
Kuntz elucidates. As for his inspiration for the story, Kuntz came across
the Phillip-Experiment, an authentic and credibly documented investigation
of necromancy…literally, conjuring dead spirits. “I knew immediately that I
had found the basis for the story that I had been seeking for so long.”
Thus developed the story for “The Ghost Xperiment,” which continues in the
second part “Illumination,” and reaches its startling conclusion. But of
course these intelligent, inventive story telling lyrics need a strong
musical vehicle for delivery and Vanden Plas astounds in that respect. While
the orchestral arrangements in the first album in the saga had been reduced
compared to the two previous “Chronicles of the Immortals” series, this time
the progressive aspects of the band’s sound are even more apparent. Along
with the band’s brilliant musicians, Stephan Lill (Guitar), Günter Werno
(Keyboards), Andreas Lill (Drums), and Torsten Reichert (Bass), prestigious
guests also add to this incredible showing. Alea from the leading German
medieval rock band Saltatio Mortis joins Kuntz for a duet on the bonus track
‘Krieg kennt keine Sieger,’ Snow White Blood singer Ulli Perhonen shines in
‘Black Waltz Death’ and ‘The Ghost Engineers,’ and the backing vocals team
is made up of longtime musical colleagues including Oliver Hartmann from
Avantasia and Herbie Langhans from Firewind.
This highly concentrated musical power, paired with unexpected twists such
as in ‘Black Waltz Death’ or the 13-minute long ‘The Ouroboros’ is what
makes “The Ghost Xperiment – Illumination” so incredibly gripping. In
addition, with the opener ‘World is Falling Down,’ Vanden Plas has created
an unbelievably driving steam hammer engine and with ‘Under the Horizon,’ a
true prog anthem. After hearing its hypnotic refrain just once, it’s already
impossible to imagine the band’s musical universe without it.
In short, Vanden Plas continues to dedicatedly pursue their own unique
path.
The band’s creativity has not been deterred by the current pandemic.
Theater engagements naturally had to be temporarily suspended, but in the
months preceding, Vanden Plas had already showcased their own rock opera
“Everyman” in Pforzheim, “Der Herbst des Winterkönigs” (The Autumn of the
Winterking) in Amberg, and “American Idiot” at the Prinzregententheater in
Munich as well as at the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck. Those kinds of
productions are no small undertaking, but despite the limits being pushed,
the band performed “Concerto For Group and Orchestra,” the masterwork from
Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord, in Kaiserslautern and also found time to
finalize the song material for “The Ghost Xperiment – Illumination.”
Even in a time of crisis, the band has managed to progress, to give their
best, and to present their fans with another glorious work that literally
explodes with variety and vitality. “The Ghost Xperiment – Illumination” is
precisely the medicine that we all need right now.
Tracklist:
1. When The World Is Falling Down (Music: Stephan Lill / Lyrics: Andy
Kuntz)
2. Under The Horizon (Music: Stephan Lill / Lyrics: Andy Kuntz)
3. Black Waltz Death (Music: Stephan Lill / Lyrics: Andy Kuntz)
4. The Lonely Psychogon (Music: Günter Werno / Lyrics: Andy Kuntz)
5. Fatal Arcadia (Music: Stephan Lill / Lyrics: Andy Kuntz)
6. The Ouroboros (Music: Andy Kuntz, Stephan Lill / Lyrics: Andy Kuntz)
7. Ghost Engineers (Music: Günter Werno / Lyrics: Andy Kuntz)
8. Krieg kennt keine Sieger feat. Alea/Saltatio Mortis (Bonus Track)
Line-up:
Andy Kuntz – Vocals
Stephan Lill – Guitar
Günter Werno – Keyboards
Andreas Lill – Drums
Torsten Reichert – Bass
https://www.vandenplas.de/
https://www.facebook.com/Vande
