German progsters VANDEN PLAS' new album, The Seraphic Clockwork, will be featured on Metal Express Radio's 30 minute Daily Album Premiere show this Thursday, June 4th, which offers the fans a listen to some of the new songs. Tune in here at 6:00 and 18:00 CET (midnight and noon EST). The album will be released on June 4th in Europe and June 22nd in North America via Frontiers Records.

The Seraphic Clockwork is a fascinating concept album, which not only shows the quintet’s exceptional technical skills, but also highlights their impressive development as songwriters. The new album sounds more multi-layered, progressive and metal-oriented than any previous Vanden Plas release.

“I think that my penchant for music of the tougher persuasion shines through more than ever before on this album,” comments guitarist Stephan Lill, who – together with keyboardist Günter Werno and vocalist Andy Kuntz – make up the group’s creative triumvirate.

He adds: “Hard riffs, elaborate keyboard and orchestral arrangements plus catchy hooklines come together in a perfect symbiosis which marks Vanden Plas’ own style. I feel that we were much more adventurous on with The Seraphic Clockwork than ever before.”

A perfect example which substantiates this statement, is the 13-minute track ‘On My Way To Jerusalem’, a little masterpiece within a homogeneous, self-contained album. The song takes the listener on a haunting, adventurous journey which comes full circle musically towards its end. From soaring piano sounds through hard riffs and versatile arrangements to atmospheric parts, the whole range of expressive forms which the progressive metal genre has to offer are present. On the other hand, ‘Heal The World’ with its melodic intro, subsequent heavy riff and catchy chorus, reveals the band’s affinity to theatre music and all its complexity, and is classic Vanden Plas.

The band's fascination with classical history has left its mark on The Seraphic Clockwork, particularly in terms of lyrics: the dramatic science fiction story of the concept album was penned by vocalist Andy Kuntz and chronicles a journey in place and time from 16th century Rome to Jerusalem in the year 33 A.D. The protagonist, after an apocalyptic vision, has come under the spell of an Old Testament prophecy and must travel back through the centuries to face his God-given destiny.

“It’s about being unable to escape fate”, explains Kuntz, a master at making complex subject matter both fascinating and accessible to contemporary audiences. “Working for the theatre has definitely influenced the story’s depth. When you realize or reproduce your own projects on a stage, you learn a lot about dramaturgy.”

The musical and lyrical complexity of The Seraphic Clockwork is certainly inspiring. Vanden Plas have proved again that they are the most imaginative and diverse of German prog metal bands and justly enjoy the highest international acclaim. It can only be a matter of time before this concept album also makes it onto the stage.

The Seraphic Clockwork includes the following tracks:

'Frequency'

'Holes In The Sky'

here

'Scar Of An Angel'

here

'Sound Of Blood'

'The Final Murder'

'Quicksilver'

here

'Rush Of Silence'

'On My Way To Jerusalem'

Further updates to follow. More on Vanden Plas at this location.