Only Heavy Metal

first of all - sorry for the long time without some V.P. news - after we finally finished the new album ( release january14) andy played - berger in "hair" - in 21 sold out shows 42.000 people were watching in augsburg a very unique stageplay on one of the most beautytful outdoor stages in europe - during this time the rest of the band were playing very successful "aida" in kaiserslautern. and now - we slowly want to work off all the news for you. be prepared for many many upcoming vanden plas facts during the next months. all the best to all our friends out there - and we hope you had a very great summer!!!

VANDEN PLAS set to release the second chapter of Rock Opera written in collaboration with famed German author Wolfgang Hohlbein. “Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld II” out on Frontiers in November!

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the release of the second chapter of VANDEN PLAS' rock opera, “Chronicles of the Immortals – Netherworld II” on November 6th.

Approximately one year after the release of the first chapter, Vanden Plas return with their elaborate arrangements, superb piano melodies, and epic instrumental passages, paired with the signature heavy Vanden Plas sound and distinctive vocals of Andy Kuntz. In guitarist Stephan Lill’s words: “This is our 8th studio album, so now we know what works for Vanden Plas and what doesn´t. With every new cd we try to continue to break new ground, while still remaining faithful to our original style. As the songs of “Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld Part I & II” are written for a Rock Opera, this time the arrangements of the music are more epic and orchestral than on the previous albums. The engagements for several rock operas in theaters and the work together with big orchestras helped us a lot to improve the way of writing songs or to arrange song parts in a way that makes it special. A band needs this kind of a light progression. And maybe the next cd will sound a bit more reduced again, we will see.”

Fans of the saga of the immortal Andrej Delãny will now be able to enjoy the eagerly awaited continuation with "Chronicle Of The Immortals - Netherworld II." 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 Vanden Plas and Wolfgang Hohlbein has merged again in top form. And of course it will be up to the listener to find out how the story will end!

“Wolfgang Hohlbein was, together with his manager Dieter Winkler and our singer Andy, responsible for the story which was the base for both “Chronicles of the immortals - Netherworld” cd´s. For the theater piece we did here in Germany, he wrote a book especially for this event what was fantastic,” tells Stephan. Vanden Plas has always been open to remarkable and unusual ideas, and the collaboration with the writer Wolfgang Hohlbein found fertile ground there from the beginning. The author who has sold more than 40 million books worldwide was 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.

“We will start the shows in support of the new album during the winter of 2015. For the previous cd, we played 3 to 4 shows in seven countries in Europe. That´s what we plan also for the beginning of 2016. We just have to coordinate the dates of our Vanden Plas concerts with the dates of our theatre shows to take care that there won´t be a crossing over,” concludes Stephan.

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.

BREAKING NEWS: Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the release of VANDEN PLAS' forthcoming live CD/DVD entitled “The Seraphic Live Works” on May 12, 2017!

In their long career, Vanden Plas Official has only released one live album, "Spirit of Live," recorded in Paris at the legendary Elysée Montmartre, in 2000. With the upcoming release of "The Seraphic Live Works," the wait for another documentation of the band's immense talents asa live act is finally over!

Through many tours and countless concerts, Vanden Plas has proven again and again that it is among the world's leading progressive metal bands. The quintet's glowing reputation carries across the pond to the U.S. where Vanden Plas was invited to appear at the renowned ProgPower USA in Atlanta in 2011. Regardless of a band's fame, an invitation to this prestigious event is an honor and their performance is certainly a high note in Vanden Plas' history. And it is for exactly that reason that Vanden Plas decided to captutre that unique moment.

"The Seraphic Live Works" shows unmistakably how extraordinary this gig at Center Stage Theater was for everyone involved. A performance exploding with energy, euphoric audience, and the venue's own special flair. The recordings will captivate every viewer and there is no question that Vanden Plas made the right decision to preserve this performance for eternity.

"The Seraphic Live Works" captivates and enthralls for nine songs, beginning with straightforward opener "Postcard to God" through the atmospheric "Far Off Grace" to the brilliant closer, "Silently." In this extended live version of the song, Vanden Plas ignites a prog metal fireworks display that is unparalleled, leading the listener through more than 11 magnificent minutes to a spectacular conclusion.

Vanden Plas has fans all over the world, but for those who have not yet been able to experience the band, they wanted to give them the next best thing with "The Seraphic Live Works." The audio and video capture an authentic band that stands out in the prog metal genre.