Vanden Plas is a German

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral ...

band, based in Kaiserslautern and founded in the mid-1980s.

History

In 1991, Vanden Plas recorded the song "Keep On Running" as an anthem for the local national league football club FC Kaiserslautern, and did the same in 1994 with "Das ist für euch" ("This Is for You All"). All of its members have been involved in theatre projects and rock musicals such as '' Jesus Christ Superstar'', ''

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'', '' Little Shop of Horrors'', and ''

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''. In 2004, vocalist Andy Kuntz released an ambitious solo project under the name ''Abydos''. A musical, based on Andy Kuntz's solo project, premiered on 2 February 2006, at the Pfalztheater in Kaiserslautern. On 31 March 2006, the band released a concept album entitled ''

Christ 0 ''Christ 0'' is the fifth full-length studio album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas, released on March 31, 2006 by InsideOut Music. This concept album interprets the Alexandre Dumas 1844 novel ''The Count of Monte Cristo'', explori ...

'', loosely based on Alexandre Dumas, père's book '' The Count of Monte Cristo''. In April 2008 the album was brought to theatre stages in Germany; the stage production was named ''ChristO - Die Rockoper''. ''

The Seraphic Clockwork ''The Seraphic Clockwork'' is the sixth full-length album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas released through Frontiers Records Frontiers Music – formerly Frontiers Records – is an Italian record label, predominantly pro ...

'', was released on 4 June 2010 (Europe) and 22 June 2010 (USA). The latest two releases ''Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld (Path One)'' and ''Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld II'' are based on ''Die Chronik der Unsterblichen'' by fantasy author

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. Both albums are adapted from the theatre play ''Blutnacht''. The first part was released on 21 February 2014 (Europe) and 24 February 2014 (USA). The second part was released on 6 November 2015. A new studio album, ''The Ghost Xperiment'', had its original release planned for 2017. After long delays, in February 2019, ''The Ghost Xperiment'' was announced as being a double album. The first album, entitled ''Awakening'', was released in Fall 2019, with the second part, ''Illumination'' being released in 2020. In May 2019, a box Set containing all of the band's studio albums, an EP and a live recording, called ''The Epic Works 1991-2015'' was announced. The collection, released that July, also includes unreleased, bonus, rare, and demo tracks spanning the band's entire career.

Line-up

Andy Kuntz Andy Kuntz (born 20 November 1962) is a German progressive metal singer best known for his work with the band Vanden Plas. He has also participated in a production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Background Kuntz was born in Kaiserslautern ...

- Vocals *

Stephan Lill Stephan Lill is a German guitarist best known for his work with the Progressive metal band Vanden Plas. Biography Stephan Lill was born on 30 November 1968 in Eitorf, Germany. His interest in music, and especially in playing guitar, was awake ...

- Guitars * Günter Werno - Keyboards * Torsten Reichert - Bass *

Andreas Lill Andreas Lill is a German Progressive metal drummer. He is best known for his work as the drummer for the band Vanden Plas. Background Andreas Lill was born November 3, 1965. As an early teenager he tried to learn to play bass guitar, but at 15 he ...

- Drums

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

Colour Temple ''Colour Temple'' is the first studio album by progressive metal band Vanden Plas, released in late 1994 through Limb Music and in June 1995 through Dream Circle Records; a two-disc edition was reissued in 2002 through Inside Out Music, which incl ...

'' (1994) * ''

The God Thing ''The God Thing'' is the second full-length studio album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas. It was later re-released in 2004 as a special edition with two bonus tracks. Track listing Personnel * Andy Kuntz – vocals * Stephan ...

'' (1997) * ''

Far Off Grace ''Far Off Grace'' is the third full-length album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas. It was later re-released in 2004 as a special edition with two bonus track and multimedia material. Track listing Personnel * Andy Kuntz � ...

'' (1999) * ''

Beyond Daylight ''Beyond Daylight'' is the fourth full-length studio album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas. It was released on 28 January 2002 by InsideOut/ SPV Records. Track listing Personnel * Andy Kuntz – Vocals * Stephan Lill – ...

'' (2002) * ''

'' (2006) * ''

'' (2010) * '' Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld (Path One)'' (2014) * '' Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld II'' (2015) * '' The Ghost Xperiment: Awakening'' (2019) * '' The Ghost Xperiment: Illumination'' (2020)

EPs

*'' Accult '' (1996)

References

External links

*
Official website (English)Official website (Brazil)Encyclopaedia Metallum pageVanden Plas on Progboard
Vanden Plas albums reviews and ratings {{DEFAULTSORT:Vanden Plas German progressive metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1986 Inside Out Music artists