Vanden Plas - Spirit Of Live


Year of Release: 2000
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMCD068
Format: CD
Total Time: 71:34:00

Not everyone is a fan of live discs. I?m not sure why this is, but I imagine that there are many reasons such as poor quality, repeat of studio music note for note, less than stellar performance, and so on. Fortunately, with the release of the new live Vanden Plas disc, Spirit of Live, any and all presumptions about live discs can be tossed out the window. About the only thing wrong with this disc is that it?s not a double-live CD, which would have made this more than the perfect disc that it is.

With around 73:00 of music, mostly taken from Far Off Grace and The God Thing, Vanden Plas shows that live discs can still be fun, but that at times live music can surpass the original music in performance and in sound. The band plows through their music with an increased energy, stellar sound, and most noteworthy of all, the incredible vocal performance of Andy Kuntz. While many have dismissed his voice as "whiny" and "nasally", here he has shown that not only is his voice in tip top shape, but that he is a crowd pleaser and great front man as well. Stopping in the midst of a few songs to sing in perfect French for his Parisian audience certainly helps to show where his loyalty lies to the fans. He also pronounces the French words with incredible accuracy, and his German accent only comes through when he pronounces some of the band members? names. Other than that, he comes across as clear as a bell, and sometimes better than he does on the studio discs.

As far as sound goes, I?d have to say that the recording and sound on this disc is somewhat better than their studio discs, and I?d put the excellent recording up there with the last Fates Warning / Stratovarius live discs, which sound incredible. Standouts are definitely the vocals and the drums here, which shine with every word and beat.

Patrick Rondat (Elegy) even makes a guest appearance as well for "Rainmaker" at the end of the disc.

For fans of live discs in general, this is a quality recording and performance, and for those who don?t like it played live note for note, fear not as the band really mixes up some of the songs, and includes the audience in on many of the songs. In addition, fans of Vanden Plas will love this disc just for the quality playing alone, and also serves as a nice teaser for those who will never get to see this band play live and wonder if they could pull off their magic in a live setting. Spirit of Live proves just that, and more. This is essential.


Tracklisting:
I Can See (4:26) / Into The Sun (7:05) / Soul Survives (9:52) / How Many Tears (10:37) / Don't Miss You (3:50) / Journey To Paris (3:08) / Spirit Of Life (4:28) / Iodic Rain (6:11) / Far Off Grace (9:51) / Kiss Of Death (5:28) / Rainmaker (8:38)

Musicians:
Andy Kuntz - vocals
Stephan Lill - guitars
Torsten Reichert - bass
G?nter Werno - keyboards
Andres Lill - drums

Discography:
Colour Temple (1994)
Accult (1996)
The God Thing (1997)
Far Off Grace (1999)
Spirit Of Live (2000)
Beyond Daylight (2002)
Colour Temple/AcCult (special edition) (2002)
Christ 0 (2006)
The Seraphic Clockwork (2010)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin DE

Added: January 1st 2001
Reviewer: Larry "LarryD" Daglieri

Artist website: www.vandenplas.de
Hits: 2516
Language: english

  

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