“The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things” is one of those albums that I might refer to rather glibly as “effortlessly epic” without paying much attention to the fact that Vanden Plas have been doing this for thirty years – and as soon as it’s title track (and I am not typing all that out again!) starts with a wonderful guitar solo. All the years of experience flood out.
Although the epic feel is still there on “My Icarian Flight”, there’s a touch more metal. And the way the keys come in followed by a solo has a very Dream Theater vibe. And those keys are interesting, given that they are played by Allesandro Del Vecchio – in the band for the first time he has played with just about everyone, and his class shines. Interestingly he’ usually involves himself in the writing to, although he hasn’t here.
So the band have crafted the album in their vision – and “…Things” is an album with a number of proper long songs, “Sanctimonarium” is the first – and my goodness it soars.
Indeed this is an album where the guitar and keyboard both vie for the MVP award. On the Sacrilegious Mind Machine” they meld superbly, but where this is so very good is that it doesn’t solely rely on bombast to make it’s point. There’s so many textures here – so much “prog” in the prog metal if you like.
Indeed, that is a fact that “They Call Me God” rather nicely remembers. Stripped back to just piano and guitar, it provides a neat contrast to the rest. But this is Vanden Plas, so don’t worry, it explodes with tinges of Led Zep before the end.
“March Of The Saints” is the one you knew was coming. All 15 minutes of the thing, it is more than majestic, it ties up all the loose ends too.
It’s been four years in the making, this, but make no mistake about it, “The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things” is very much with the wait.
Rating 9/10
