Back in 2019, German prog-metallers Vanden Plas released the first album of a trilogy in the The Ghost Xperiment saga with the subtitle Awakening. I told the story-line in the review I wrote for that album so if you’re interested in said story, click the link for that album down below. This is a band that has passed me by for years and years so it was a bit of a surprise just how much dug that record. By the end of 2020, the band finally released the sequel and even though it’s easy to suspect that musically, this record will walk the same route as its predecessor, there are no guarantees that the music will be any good just because of that. Even still, my expectations are now very high as I suspect this isn’t a band that would release anything half-assed. So let’s see where the sequel takes us then.
Opening with the latest single/video “When The World Is Falling Down”, it’s easy to hear that this is a continuation of the last album as it could easily have been on that record as well, style and sound wise. The tune kicks off heavy and punchy on a solid ground with a beat of a fist in the gut. The big riffs are edgy and sharp and even though this sure is progressive Metal, it’s also very melodic and accessible much because of the striking vocal-melodies. Chugging guitars, a sweeping keyboard solo and an effective and contagious chorus tells me that this record started out in the best of ways which sets the bar for the rest of the album. Very good.
First single “Under The Horizon” starts out on a softer note, sombre even but soon takes off with some staccato riffing and a robust rhythm. The tune is heavy and rowdy with a Dream Theater meets Fates Warning influence that holds a kicking groove in a broad soundscape. The song brings on a rhythmic groove and a pretty straight (for a prog-metal-band) main melody and again, the chorus is massive. Brilliant. Acoustic guitars and keyboards kicks off “Black Waltz Death” on a softer note with a down-beat rhythm and at times the tune feels almost folky. It then builds up towards a crunchier breakdown to finally leave me in awe with another amazing chorus. This is a prog-metal ballad, darkening and theatrical with a bombastic outlook. I love this.
“The Lonely Psychogon” comes in a mid-pace, heavy and blackening and it brings on some gritty guitar-riffing but also some smoother laden keyboards and an effective main melody that etches itself to the brain right away. It’s a stompy yet melodic ballad-rocker with a groovy and proggy bassline. At times, the guitar-lines reminds me of John Petrucci and there’s an over-all Dream Theater influence here, especially in the heavy passage. The chorus is accessible but not hit-catchy which only brings depth to the song. Very good. “Fatal Arcadia” is aggressive and heavy with a robust riff and a thunderous rhythm-section, going for a beat-up on us. It’s punchy, in-your-face prog-metal with clear and distinct melodies but it also comes with some small, laid-back and soft passages which brings on a dynamic contrast. Killer stuff.
The 13 minute epic opus “The Ouroboros” starts out taciturn and sparse with acoustic guitars, keyboards and vocals, very soothing and soft. A sensitive guitar part comes in before the band embarks on heavier ground, still in a slow pace. The tune then transforms into a fast-tracked Metal blaster with intense riffing and thunderous rhythms before it takes a step back to the more somber beginning. It then takes a heavier route albeit in a slow tempo when the band rejoins and the song goes into ballad mode albeit a heavy one. The tune takes a lot of twists and turns – quiet, hard, groovy, heavy, soft, Metal, balladry and while all of that might come across as hard to digest, it really isn’t, it’s actually quite cohesive and it sure makes for some interesting listening. I love it.
Getting close to the end, the band brings along “Ghost Engineers”, a slow, laid-back and calming tune where only piano and vocals dwells. It’s melancholic, organic and stripped and being a quiet ballad, it still wraps things up splendidly. As the closer, we get a cover of Saltatio Mortis’ “Krieg Kennt Keine Sieger”. I have no idea who Saltatio Mortis is and I have never heard the original in my life and even though I’m not too hot on German as a singing language (no I don’t like Rammstein), I dig this. It totally works. It’s dark, heavy, rough and punchy progressive Metal with distinct melodies and I killer hook – very direct and effective.
So how does the sequel hold up to its predecessor then? Equally as good, I would say – if you dug Awakening, you’ll probably end up digging this one as well. Just like that one, what we’re given here is progressive Metal/Hard Rock with everything that goes with it – time changes, different passages, musical technique, long tunes with lots going on at all times but you also get phenomenal melodies, hooks and actual songs. For Vanden Plas the songs are the most important thing, not to show off on your instruments – and that shows as even the most proggy tune here is quite easy to digest. That’s how I want my prog-rock. With that being said, I’m already looking forward to the third and final part of their story.
8/10
More Vanden Plas reviews:
The Ghost Xperiment: Awakening
Tracklist:
1. When The World Is Falling Down
2. Under The Horizon
3. Black Waltz Death
4. The Lonely Psychogon
5. Fatal Arcadia
6. The Ouroboros
7. Ghost Engineers
8. Krieg Kennt Keine Sieger
CD & Festival reviews 