Preview:
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"Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld II" is a
fascinating symbiosis of art forms with which the German
Prog-Metal Band Vanden Plas can clearly justify its exceptional
status. Following the previously released "Chronicles Of
The Immortals - Netherworld, Path 1" (2014), the listener
can expect elaborate arrangements, sensitive piano melodies,
and epic instrumental passages, paired with the characteristically
hard Vanden Plas sound and distinctive vocals of Andy Kuntz.
In doing so, the band continues to break new ground while
still remaining faithful to its original style. Themes which
play an essential role in our lives, such as death and immortality,
are examined in the texts. Because the story is too complex
to be expressed through a single CD, Vanden Plas has chosen
to release "Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld" on
two discs.***
Fans of the saga of the immortal Andrej Delãny may
now enjoy its eagerly awaited continuation with "Chronicle
Of The Immortals - Netherworld II." We remember that as
"Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld, Path I" ended,
the perfidious plans of the dark Godmaker threatened to
emerge. All seemed lost! Yet from within the pervading darkness
shone a soft light.***
Deliverance comes in the second half of the story, where
the creative duo of VandenPlas/Wolfgang Hohlbein has merged
again in top form. Struck down with a treacherous stroke
from a cursed blade, Andrej Delãny finds himself in a maelstrom
which threatens to crush him completely, along with his
immortality. His adversary's devilish plot would force Andrej
to misuse the power given to him so long ago. Andrej must
decide to ascend to the Pantheon of the dark Gods and there
to destroy the old Gods, so that the Godmaker can reign
there for eternity. Despising that, he must pass through
the gates to the "Netherworld," where a virtually hopeless
path of shadow and danger awaits him that will most certainly
lead him in the end to his own death.***
The darkest hours of his now limited existence force
Andrej to search deeply into his soul. What is immortality?
Is its possession truly a worthy goal? Or does this gift
condemn the possessor in the end to the painful loss of
everything he has ever loved?*** It is precisely this awareness,
wrung out of him during his death agonies, which determine
Andrej to strike out on the seemingly hopeless path to "Netherworld."
There he hopes to find Marius, the son he believes to be
dead, and to rescue the souls of the lost children from
the darkness. There he also hopes to finally stand opposite
the love of his life again. Thus will his "death" be transformed
into the unique chance for him to live - and in his mortality,
finally to be human.***
Vanden Plas has always been open to remarkable and
unusual ideas, and the collaboration with Wolfgang Hohlbein
found fertile ground there from the beginning. The author
who has sold more than 40 million books worldwide was long
a big fan of the band. "Blutnacht" (Bloodnight), a stage
production performed at the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern,
was based on his series "The Chronicle of the Immortals."
Hohlbein, his manager Dieter Winkler, and Vanden Plas frontman
Andy Kuntz developed the story and Vanden Plas provided
the musical realization. The reward was 25 sold-out performances
during the 2012 and 2013 seasons and unanimously thrilled
audiences.***
With the current "Everyman - A Rock Mystery," Vanden
Plas has managed again to successfully combine theater and
rock music as it has over and over again in years past.
This completely through-composed rock opera with lyrics
in middle-English enjoyed huge success in Kaiserslautern,
where it premiered in the 2014-15 season. As a result, it
will not only be held over there for the 2015-16 season,
but will appear in theaters in Münster and Innsbruck in
the near future.***
Following the release of "Chronicles Of The Immortals
- Netherworld, Path I," the 5 exceptional musicians went
on a 7 country tour. As always, their countless fans were
won over with the new production. ***
For more than 20 years, Vanden Plas has stood for intelligent
progressive Metal. With "Netherworld II," the conclusion
of "Chronicles Of The Immortals," the band now opens a new
and exciting chapter in its career.***
Marco Magin English translation: Cynthia
Nay
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