The open “Cold December Night” is a piece with a good groove and convinces from the first listening. The Vanden Plas do not miss a note, they insert a magnetic verse behind the other and the refrain is hypermelodic as they have accustomed us for more than two decades. Their prog power metal is impeccable, no smudging, the right amount of double case is not missing and Kuntz’s voice is wonderful as in the days of the Abydos project. Follows the shortest track in tracklist. “The Phantoms of Prends-Toi-Garde”, another center, with powerful rhythms and the substantial contribution of Günter Werno to synthesizers (but even a piano carpet cannot be missed). So far The Ghost Xperiment proves to be an excellent album, the German band seems stainless and decidedly inspired. Now, three tracks with challenging time are waiting for us, which alone take almost thirty minutes of the short record. Let’s see if this triptych works or not. “Three Ghosts” is undoubtedly an ambitious composition, with solemn development and a central textbook break; it could easily be the most representative piece of the platter. Atypical incipit for “Devils’ Poetry”, with a synth to introduce yet another metal ride, which does not seem to explode in the first half of the song, except to present a catchy change of rhythm at the end of the fifth minute and a subsequent section with orchestral arrangements that defining superfine would be an understatement. One of the highest moments of the album, which continues without delay with the last piece of the triad. The first few seconds of “Fall from the Skies” are truly touching and make a moment of disarming vulnerability in the listener, which can restore itself, however, in the following heavy and powerful that distinguishes the piece. Between the seventh and eighth minute an instrumental section of applause appears, do not miss it. The full-length closes with the title-track, a hit with a reasonable potential but that does not benefit from the last placement. The Vanden Plas do not disappoint (and to date they are almost unique), The Ghost Xperiment has no weaknesses, thanks also to the sound engineer Markus Teske who has focused on a level production to enhance the musical proposal of the band of Werno & Co.
ROKKERSPRESS 