How can’t you like Vanden Plas, and for that matter Threshold, Pagan’s Mind and Symphony X, and Circus Maximus? They all do such a great job of combining progressive arrangements with metal riffing and melodic vocals and hooks. "The Seraphic Clockwork" is their 6th album since the debut in 1994 and continues to see the band sticking to their guns, creating dynamics (epic at times) with the addition of piano, strings, and other subtle instruments into a track like album opener ‘Frequency’ making its impact even more noticeable and classy.

‘Holes In The Sky’ has a Middle Eastern feel to go with the heavy guitars and darker keys. Broadwayesque (an element no stranger to Vanden Plas, see the album "Christ O") orchestrations provide the peaks and valleys for ‘Scar Of An Angel’ along with those guitar leads. Vocalist Andy Kuntz always shines amongst the musicianship but he gets more space to be heard in the opening for ‘The Final Murder’, a darker 10 minute piece which sets the tone for ‘Quicksilver’ which directly follows with somber piano and strings. ‘Rush Of Silence’ reminds me a bit (in the areas where the guitar riff jams with bass and drums, in between the verses) of Dream Theater’s album "Train Of Thought". Well done and edgy with well placed piano and acoustics half way through.

Good stuff, I always enjoy me some Vanden Plas.