VANDEN PLAS

VANDEN PLAS – The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things

It’s been 4 years since Vanden Plas thrilled the prog and rock audience with their last CD double hit „The Ghost Xperiment – Awakening“ (2019) and „The Ghost Xperiment – Illumination“ (2020). Now, with „The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things,“ the latest masterpiece is released. And one can say without a doubt: It was worth the wait.

Whoever might think that the German prog-rock flagship has lain abandoned in a harbor in the meantime is very much mistaken. Although the pandemic and the lockdown directly after the release of the last two albums slowed down the scheduled live events for a few years, it could not take away the visions, the enjoyment of composing, and of just making music from this dedicated crew. And so the noble cruiser set off for new shores, loaded with precious cargo.

Between the above-mentioned studio albums and the current CD, Vanden Plas released „Live & Immortal“ in 2022, a live CD/DVD/BlueRay that emphatically shows that the band is also a force in its live concerts, that can audiences thrill into a frenzy.

The band also devoted time to their second passion. Their latest rock opera „Last Paradise Lost“ was performed over 50 times at theaters in Kaiserslautern, Münster and Innsbruck between 2021 and 2023 – even with the prescribed Corona regulations. A tour de force in those times, which was rewarded with huge success and enthusiastic reviews.

As if this wasn’t enough: In 2021 guitarist Stephan Lill and singer Andy Kuntz launched another band, All My Shadows, to give their preference for melodic hard rock a platform. The debut „All My Eerie Monsters,“ released in early 2023, received fantastic reviews in all internationally renowned journals and was an unexpected but gratifying announcement from Vanden Plas.

Vanden Plas also experienced an unexpected change. After more than 30 years, keyboardist Günter Werno left the band to concentrate more on his own projects. An unusual situation for Vanden Plas, whose stability in terms of line-up is virtually unparalleled in the music business. The fact that the musicians continue to work together on various theater projects shows that the separation was mutually agreeable for both sides.

The band was briefly jolted, then began the search for a new comrade-in-arms on the keys. The requirement profile: an experienced, versatile and accomplished musician, who would not only be a successor to Günter, but also be able to give the band new impulses with his own style, mindset, and musicality. „After a short exploratory phase, we had only one name on our list, and we hoped that we would get a commitment from our ‘desired solution,’ says Stephan Lill. „We contacted Alessandro Del Vecchio, whom we knew through his bands and his activities as a producer, but also already through our collaboration in songwriting for other bands. We were 100% convinced that he would be the right person for Vanden Plas. And – after a short period of consideration – he agreed to join us … We were happy and relieved to be able to win such a terrific musician for our band.“ Drummer Andreas Lill adds, „Over 30 years together – that’s a hell of a long time … We weren’t looking for a temporary solution, but a solid, permanent, great musician.“

The request also came as a surprise to Alessandro Del Vecchio. „I honestly wasn’t expecting to be called by such a band. I was obviously aware that Günter had left, but I didn’t see this coming, even though we were working on different projects and writing songs together with Stephan, Andy, and Markus. To replace Günter is not easy as he’s always been vital to the sound of the band, but I come in with the highest respect for the history of the band and also know that I can bring different elements that are more 70’s prog-rock related, like a more extensive use of the Hammond organ. It’ll still be classic VP and it’s an amazing record!! I’m definitely in my best element when it’s prog and when it’s done with such artistry as in VP!!”

Guitarist Stephan Lill, who was primarily responsible for the compositions on the last CDs, is now solely responsible for the music on „The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things,“ while Andy Kuntz contributes the lyrics and vocal lines as usual. Andy Kuntz: „I’ve appreciated Alessandro since our collaboration for his great Frontiers Allstars project, where many well-known and renowned rock musicians participated. Due to time constraints, Alessandro could not yet be involved in the songwriting for this CD. This will certainly change on the next CDs. However, his playing has already left many shades of color on songs and sound. The new artistic constellation can be heard and felt in this production.“

However, Vanden Plas has remained true to their style: Prog-rock, where elegy and melody are important elements, but where the metallic and epic influences are not missing. Moreover, one can still state: Vanden Plas is clearly going in the direction of „back to the roots!“

It is known that the group also likes to move off the beaten musical paths. And thus the quintet manages to surprise again and again.

The titular, 8-minute opening song is a compositional gem that unmistakably allows the instrumentalists to showcase their musicianship and virtuosity. New addition Alessandro Del Vecchio enters the Vanden Plas mystery with soft and graceful piano tones, before the quasi-instrumental evolves to extraordinary stylistic devices and abruptly explodes into a monumental choral hymnal. Singer Andy Kuntz enters the scene with „My Icarian Flight“ – which is also the first video for the new longplayer „The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things.“ With his unerring sense for extraordinary and at the same time catchy vocal arcs, an immensely versatile performance on this record, as well as with the inimitable distinctiveness of his voice, he leaves his significant seal on this album as usual. „Sanctimonarium“ shows how prog rock can sound today: driving guitar riffs paired with heavy Hammond sounds, sophisticated arrangements combined with a chorus that leaves nothing to be desired, plus longer instrumental passages – led by Andreas Lill’s whip-smart, filigree drum work of the highest order, underpinned by Torsten Reichert’s soulfully laid bass grooves, fueled by Alessandro del Vecchios‘ furious musical distinction, and held together by Stephan Lill, who surpasses himself in terms of composition and playing technique on this record.

The musicians‘ desire to make music is palpable every second. The driving „The Sacrilegious Mind Machine“ and the balladic „They Call Me God,“ with one of the most touching guitar solos Stephan Lill has ever celebrated on record, lead in to the 15-minute-long closing epic „March of The Saints.“ A work that is bursting with variety, virtuosity, spontaneity and the joy of playing is hard to describe – with „cinema for the ears“ you might come close to the complete experience. This musical firework ends worthily with a Vanden Plas-typical, epochal milestone.

With its rather loose textual concept, the seemingly solitairy songs on „The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things“ tell stories about the loss of the supposedly small or insignificant things that are often taken for granted. Things that one no longer appreciates enough due to the fact that they are simply there, or that can also be lost in the course of life through carelessness. Quisqualies that make life worth living, however, and without which it is possible to stray from one’s true path.

If you like diversified, rocky, at the same time melodic and progressive music, where filigree arrangements and technically demanding instrumental parts paired with profound lyrics meet their place, you just can’t miss this album.

By using the images as a foundation, which the concept of the lyrics suggests, this album could be the jewel that the band had misplaced somewhere in the music universe, and has now found after going through situations and experiencing losses that first had to be faced.