Since the late Eighties, when the band first got together, Vanden Plas never lost sight of their ambitious goal: expressive music with emotional depth and a melancholy prog metal corset. Starting off with their debut album Colour Temple (1994), the band continued to gather an ever-increasing following with their versatile, intuitive and always unbridled lust for playing. Two years later, in 1997, Vanden Plas brought out their epic bombast successor The God Thing, which was praised by renowned magazines like Metal Hammer, Rock Hard, Burrn!, Aardschock and Flash. A six week tour with Dream Theater followed, like a sort of knighthood conferred on the highest level. The group went on to bring out the unplugged EP AcCult, on which the fascinating aspects of their compositions came to fruition in all their purity. Each Vanden Plas release shows the great musical diversity of the five band members, who have all repeatedly been involved in theatre projects and rock musicals like 'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', 'Little Shop of Horrors' or 'Evita'. In September 1999, Vanden Plas returned to the limelight with Far Off Grace, which had been recorded by Pink Cream 69 bassist/producer Dennis Ward at the House Of Audio. The band presented themselves in an even more compact and determined style, remaining melodic and innovative at the same time.
Spring 2000 saw Vanden Plas recording a concert in front of enthusiastic fans at the Elysée Montmartre in Paris, releasing the cuts on their Spirit of Live album, which also featured a duet by vocalist Andy Kuntz and Don Dokken on the Dokken cover 'Kiss Of Death', and a breathtaking duel between guitarist Stephan Lill and his French colleague Patrick Rondat - over 73 minutes of intense live atmosphere which speak of the band's unbridled enthusiasm for their music. The same enthusiasm comes across on Beyond Daylight, combined with a determination to link past, present and future.
They have since released three more albums (Christ 0, The Seraphic Clockwork and Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld (Path 1)).
The band's line-up is formed by Andy Kuntz (vocals), Stephan Lill (guitars), Andreas Lill (drums), Günter Werno (keyboards) and Torsten Reichert (bass).
Side-projects include:
Abydos, a rock opera by Andy Kuntz and Andreas Lill among others.
Missa Mercuria, a metal opera by Stephan Lill, Günter Werno and DC Cooper (DC Cooper, Silent Force among others), among others, released in 2003.
Consortium Project III - Terra Incognita (The Undiscovered World). Featuring Stephan Lill on guitar, this project of Elegy vocalist Ian Parry was released in 2003.
***
Note that "Vanden Plas" are different to "The Vanden Plas" which is a British electronic act.
January Sun
Vanden Plas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need someone to talk to
'cause I can't see the light
I look for a guardian "take my thousand sins away"
Are the last lines before he decides to pray again
Here is x... Friday dec. 13, 7:25 Babylonian time
My brain works faster than the day before
All his trust, faith and belief has gone
After the minute they've preserved him from the dawn
And I wonder, and I wonder
How a place could leave his mind alone with me
An eerie mural makes me see
His sieve of broken memories
I'm coming near but not enough
Disclosing your illusion
Why is the world so afraid
Searching for a way to January sun, January sun
And why can the last December days
Not remember where to go... January sun
His nether world is more dimensional
And now I could inhale his frenzied winter tale
A brand new being rises out of black snow
This ship of dark decades
Can tell me where I go
To remember and I remember
When I close my eyes the angel says to me
Confess your sins and take my hand
I give you back your memory
The time has come to see a land
Of reverse allegory tales
And the end of a rainbow on your journey
To a place you meet yourself
And searching for a pharaohs glowing
Why in the world is it me
Searching for the way to January sun
X - 7:35 - now I'm zero
Here I something to believe in
On our way let us turn into the January sun
Hostimentum - dominatio
I am nothing but a sand grain
In a gear of the universe - equation of the tide
Amnestia - mors christ-0
Why, why is the gift to be free this new identity
Christ-0 - christ-0 - christ-0 - christ-0
Come little angel and sit by my side
I need someone to talk to
Now I can see the light
My life is a station
Where the darkness meets the day
Hear the last lines before I design to fade away
The song "January Sun" by Vanden Plas is a complex, thought-provoking song that seems to deal with themes of inner turmoil, a search for greater meaning and purpose, and a longing to escape the darkness and confusion of the world. The lyrics use rich and vivid imagery to explore these ideas, and they often challenge the listener to think deeply about their own beliefs, values, and experiences.
The song opens with a plea for comfort and guidance, as the singer asks an angel to sit by his side and help him find the light. He feels lost and overwhelmed, and he longs for a "guardian" who can take his sins away. But the angel is elusive, and the singer must continue his search.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more surreal and dreamlike, as the singer is transported to a strange and eerie world where memories are broken and distorted. He struggles to make sense of this new reality, but he also senses that there may be a way out - a journey to a place of greater understanding and enlightenment, symbolized by the "January sun."
In the final verse, the song shifts from a place of confusion and struggle to one of clarity and hope. The singer has found his way to the light and can finally see his life's purpose. He realizes that his life is like a station where darkness meets the day, and he is content in his new understanding.
Overall, the lyrics to "January Sun" are densely packed with meaning and metaphor, and they challenge the listener to think deeply about their own journey through life. The song is a true masterpiece of progressive rock, and it showcases Vanden Plas's incredible talent for crafting complex, thought-provoking music.
Line by Line Meaning
Come little angel and sit by my side
As the singer feels lost and alone, he longs for the comfort of a guardian angel to join him.
I need someone to talk to
Feeling overwhelmed, the singer needs a confidant to share his thoughts with.
'cause I can't see the light
In the darkness, the singer can't find hope or a positive outlook.
I look for a guardian "take my thousand sins away"
He desires a spiritual guide to absolve him of the sins he carries.
Are the last lines before he decides to pray again
The singer is inspired to pray, seeking solace from his troubles.
Here is x... Friday dec. 13, 7:25 Babylonian time
The singer sets the stage for his story, establishing the time and place of his reflections.
My brain works faster than the day before
The singer's thoughts and emotions are racing, leaving him feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
And when I shut one door I hear another open
As the singer seeks clarity, he's met with a never-ending string of challenges and obstacles.
All his trust, faith and belief has gone
The singer struggles with his faith and trust in the world around him.
After the minute they've preserved him from the dawn
Despite outside efforts to protect him, the singer still feels lost and alone.
And I wonder, and I wonder
The singer questions the world around him and searches for meaning.
How a place could leave his mind alone with me
The singer is haunted by his thoughts and memories of a particular location.
An eerie mural makes me see
The singer is confronted with a spooky depiction that triggers unsettling emotions.
His sieve of broken memories
The singer recalls painful memories that have left him feeling shattered and disconnected.
I'm coming near but not enough
Despite his best efforts, the singer feels like he can't quite reach his goal of finding peace.
Disclosing your illusion
The singer grapples with illusions and the challenge of telling what's real from what's not.
Why is the world so afraid
The singer ponders the fears and anxieties that plague the world around him.
Searching for a way to January sun, January sun
The singer seeks a path towards the January sun - a metaphorical representation of hope and renewal.
And why can the last December days
The singer questions the end of the year and the uncertainties that come with it.
Not remember where to go... January sun
The singer yearns for direction and guidance towards the hope and positivity of the January sun.
His nether world is more dimensional
The singer's inner world is far more complex and nuanced than what can be seen on the surface.
And now I could inhale his frenzied winter tale
The singer immerses himself in his tumultuous experiences and emotions.
A brand new being rises out of black snow
The singer undergoes a transformation and is reborn in the aftermath of his struggles.
This ship of dark decades
The singer has sailed through a long period of darkness and negativity.
Can tell me where I go
The singer is haunted by the past and seeks direction for the future.
To remember and I remember
The singer recalls his past experiences and their impact on his current state of mind.
When I close my eyes the angel says to me
In moments of quiet reflection, the singer hears a comforting voice that assures him he's not alone in his struggles.
Confess your sins and take my hand
The singer is encouraged to confess his misdeeds and seek redemption for his wrongdoings.
I give you back your memory
The angel offers the singer clarity and perspective, helping him overcome his challenges and move forward.
The time has come to see a land
The singer is ready to explore new territory and move on from the past.
Of reverse allegory tales
The singer embraces stories and allegories that challenge traditional expectations and norms.
And the end of a rainbow on your journey
The singer seeks a metaphorical pot of gold at the end of a difficult journey; a symbol of hope and possibility.
To a place you meet yourself
The singer confronts his true self and comes to a better understanding of who he is.
And searching for a pharaohs glowing
The singer continues his quest for enlightenment and discovery.
X - 7:35 - now I'm zero
The singer reaches a turning point in his journey, shedding old negative thoughts and emotions and starting anew.
Here I something to believe in
The singer finds a new sense of purpose and a reason to keep going forward.
On our way let us turn into the January sun
As the singer moves forward on his journey, he turns towards the hope and renewal of the January sun.
Hostimentum - dominatio
These Latin phrases represent concepts of hostility and domination, perhaps related to the singer's struggles and challenges.
I am nothing but a sand grain
The singer feels small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
In a gear of the universe - equation of the tide
The singer views himself as a small but important part of the larger universe, subject to the ebbs and flows of life's natural rhythms.
Amnestia - mors christ-0
These Latin phrases represent concepts of amnesty and death, potentially related to the singer's feelings of guilt and fear of death.
Why, why is the gift to be free this new identity
The singer questions the nature of freedom and identity, wondering what it means to truly be free and authentic.
Christ-0 - christ-0 - christ-0 - christ-0
These repetitions of the word 'Christ' may be meant to invoke religious or spiritual associations to further clarify the singer's message.
My life is a station
The singer views his existence as a transient and temporary state.
Where the darkness meets the day
Despite his struggles and negative emotions, the singer is determined to find hope and light in the present moment.
Hear the last lines before I design to fade away
The singer reflects on his journey and the lessons he's learned, preparing to move on and start anew.
Contributed by Vivian F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Russ Shaw
Christ-0 is an amazing album. Love it!
GotWarcraft
Every song on this is album is nothing short of amazing. It's so good!
herculov
This album just OWNS!!!! I try my best to spread their music around, they really need to be bigger than what they are now...
Sergei Miloikov
It is inevitable, that a music of that kind is really appreciated by a small portions of us - music fans. As long as we buy their stuff I have no worries, since these guys CLEARLY enjoys what they are doing. Hell, me too!!
BloodyAvenue
This is such an amazing prog-band. I'm a singer in a alternative/prog-band, too and I met the singer in a pub recently I was so glad. A friend of mine is a student of the bassist. they are such nice people.
Jens Haußmann
The best song they have written till now... fantastic arrangement, awesome melody!!!!
necroplastful
I adore this track. but In my opinion Blood Of Eden tops anything they have ever done. The two Chronicle of the immortals albums are masterpieces. But then again... Its pretty difficult to find a turd in their discography (except maybe Seraphic Clockwork but thats just personnal taste)
Falcon Interceptor
one of the most underrated bands. I like all Songs, all Albums...
Vladislav P
This song is unbeatable. Period.
Prog Metal Nerd
Silently comes pretty clise though. I have a hard time choosing between that one and this.