Vanden Plas Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld II

"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

1. Vision 11even * in My Universe
2. Vision 12elve * Godmaker's Temptation
3. Vision 13teen * Stone Roses Edge
4. Vision 14teen * Blood of Eden (* All Love Must Die) [* the Rite] [* This Is the Night]
5. Vision 15teen * Monster
6. Vision 16teen * Diabolica Comedia
7. Vision 17teen * Where Have the Children Gone
8. Vision 18teen * the Last Fight
9. Vision 19teen * Circle of the Devil