Vanden Plas – The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things
Release Date: 19th April 2024
Label: Frontiers Music
Order/Stream
Genre: Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock.
FFO: Queensryche, Dream Theater, Redemption, Spheric Universe Experience.
Review By: Eric Wilt
If there’s one thing you can count on when listening to progressive rock and metal, it’s that the songs will be intricately composed and flawlessly executed. This can be seen time and time again in the output of German band, Vanden Plas, which has been releasing progressive metal of the highest order for thirty years. On 19 April 2024, the band is set to add another gem to their already superlative discography in the form of The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things on Frontiers Music. Comprised of Stephan Lill, Andy Kuntz, Andreas Lill, Torsten Reichert, and bolstered by the addition of new keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio, Vanden Plas is set to show the progressive rock and metal world that although they have many years behind them, they have plenty more tricks up the proverbial sleeve.
The first single from The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things is My Icarian Flight. This song is quintessential Vanden Plas and will have longtime fans feeling very comfortable indeed. From the beautiful piano intro to the heavy chugging of the pre-verse and verse, from the soaring vocals that have been a center point of Vanden Plas’s sound since the beginning to the shredding of the solo, from the guitar and keyboard noodling to the thought-provoking lyrics, all of the hallmarks of a Vanden Plas song are present.
The previous song on the album is perhaps also the strongest. It’s the title track, and although it does contain vocals, it is predominately instrumental. From a somber beginning complete with the sound of rain, the song builds to a riff played by the guitar and organ that harkens back to Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas. Over four minutes into the song, the vocals come in, but it isn’t long before the band moves back to instrumental territory, returning to the aforementioned Kansas riff among many other enjoyable sections. One thing I’d like to point out is that Del Vecchio uses the organ to great effect (on the whole album, not just this track). It definitely takes the music to another level by giving it an organic feel absent from some prog metal.
Containing only six songs and clocking in at 55 minutes, it’s obvious that Vanden Plas packs each track full of progressive goodness. When Sanctominarium gets heavy, it reminds me of the pristine prog metal of the 90s when the genre was still intricately linked to bands like Queensryche, Fates Warning, and even early Dream Theater. They call me God is a ballad that gives Kuntz’s voice room to show his depth and ability to evoke emotion. March of the Saints is the final track and, at nearly 16 minutes, is the longest song on the album. While most bands see a fifteen minute-plus song as an opportunity to show off all of their latest and greatest riffs and tricks, Vanden Plas plays it fairly straight forward on this track. It’s not a bad song by any means, but I must admit that I was hoping for an extended instrumental section with plenty of guitar and keyboard pyrotechnics, that never came.
Vanden Plas is one of the most solid and consistent bands in the progressive metal world, and The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things only further solidifies their place in the upper echelon of the genre. Don’t let the lack of tracks fool you. This album is filled with great music, impeccably played, and I have no doubt it will end up being one of the highlights of prog metal this year. 
(4 / 5)
