COLOUR TEMPLE

I've read many good reviews about this German band and this record is the first thing I 've heard from them. COLOUR TEMPLE is not a progressive metal record, in turn it's a collection of straight hard rock/heavy metal songs. This is not a bad thing since the songwriting is outstanding, most of the tracks remain in the "song format" despite the length and the focus is the songwriting itself avoiding some musician's showing-off which is something quite common in progressive-metal. The performances are tight and the lead singer (Andy Kuntz) is excellent, his voice being some cross between Joe Elliot (Def Leppard) and Ian Gillan, great!.

As this is not real progressive metal, I can't give more than 3 stars to this disc, however in a "hard rock/heavy metal view" this record deserves one more star. If you're looking for some complex prog-metal full of time changes, intrincate passages and lots of solos I think you will be disappointed with this album, but if you're into late 80's hard-rock and metal this record is a good listen.

I haven't heard the band's later albums but what I've read about them tells me that they became more progressive in recent years, I'll definitely check them out!

My point of view about this record is simple, good debut!!!

The first time that I heard the name of "Vanden Plas" maybe was two or three years ago, in a coversation with some friends and then we are talking about this guys from Germany and somebody told me that they were a terrific prog-metal band, with a prog style to make music, but they used to play their music in a "melodic" way. That day we commented just that.

Time later, I bought this album and I thought about the conversation that I had time ago and listened the record. Wow the first song (father) inmediately I liked, the same way I enjoined the rest of the album, in sometimes I felt certain "Savatage sound" in their songs and the voice of Andy Kunts made me to remember Biff Byford's voice (Saxon vocalist).

To finish just I have to say that this band has a great future in the Prog-metal field, but they must develope more their own style (because I detected some influences "in high degree" from Dream Theater) and they have the talent to do it.

Maybe the first record from this German band isn't absolutely prog-metal that is sure, but is a good album to begin a possible great career.

By: Epsilon

Great debut from VANDEN PLAS, with a bit of an eighties Metal sound to it, and I like the way the synths add to the atmosphere of many of these songs. I wouldn't call Andy Kuntz a powerful singer, but I really like the way he sings. It's hard to believe these guys are German when there isn't even a hint of an accent on the vocals. I found this album got better as it went along.

The first song "Father" has a classical intro that is replaced by some great guitar and some good crisp drumming.The sound quality is excellent. There are some good riffs towards the end of the song. "Push" is a harder hitting song with lots of guitar solos. "When The Wind Blows" is a song like the album, that gets better as it goes. From atmospheric to intense. "My Crying" is a great heavy tune with synths, heavy drums and more beautiful guitar melodies. "Soul Survives" opens with piano and vocals.The song picks up in intensity, and the highlight is the guitar solo that turns into a long guitar melody.

"Anytime" is a slower ballad like song with two tasteful guitar solos, the second one just seems to go on and on. "Judas" is pretty much a straight up rocker that at four minutes sounds like JUDAS PRIEST.This song has some awesome scorching guitar. "Back To Me" has some great riffs like their fellow German band the SCORPIONS. "How Many Tears" is slower paced to open, but gets very powerful sounding, with some beautiful ripping guitar.

It's a good thing the album is over because after these last three songs I need a rest. If your into Prog-Metal you should really check this record out. Impressive beginning for these German rockers.

3.5 for sure

The debut of this excellent and in same time one of my fav prog metal bands ever is more then a decent release in this field. Released in 1994 and named Colour temple, showing right from the start how mature was the songwritting and overall playing. Incorporating besides prog metal elements some '80s metal in overall sound, the combination is a winning point here, because they really knew to make an accesible but yet solid album. I was really impressed by Andy Kuntz vocal arrangements, really really great, a very strong voice and very inspired vocal passages, one hell of a singer. Also the musicianship is more then ok, I mean these guys are playing here like is their fifth album not the debut. Andreas Lill is definetly one of the major guitar influence in prog metal zone, he has her some spectacular parts like on When The Wind Blows or Soul survivor maybe the best tune of the album and one of their better pieces from entire career, For me a solid debut that gets better and better with the time, no dull or boring moments here, the album aged very well and is at least for me among their better albums. 3.5 stars for sure