German progressive metal pioneers Vanden Plas are back with “AcCult II”, a new acoustic album set for release on June 12th, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
To coincide with the announcement, the single “Far Off Grace”, along with an official video, are available today.
Andy Kuntz commented: “The single “Far Off Grace’ exemplifies the unpretentious, pure, and at the same time artistic, multifaceted acoustic expression of all the songs on “AcCult II’. They say you can recognize a good song when it works even in a stripped-down version. Compared to the studio version first released in 1999, however, this interpretation opens up on top many new avenues of understanding”.
“It allows the song’s once bombastic beauty to blossom in the virtuosic interplay between Stephan Lill’s exquisite guitar work, Alessandro Del Vecchio’s shimmering grand piano, and Kuntz’s vocals, ranging from sensitive to ecstatic – only to then be driven, by the unbridled power of an exceptional band with Andreas Lill on drums and Torsten Reichert on bass, to a hypnotically intensifying, furiously breathtaking finale”, he added. “This is far more than an acoustic version of a song; it is the ultimate reinvention of a classic in its own light.”
Watch the official video for “Far Off Grace” below.
“AcCult II” is the highly anticipated acoustic sequel to Vanden Plas’ 1996 landmark album “AcCult”.
Stephan Lill explained how the album came to life: “When we released our first acoustic CD, ‘AcCult’, in 1996, it was special to us in many ways. For this release, we arranged songs from our debut album, ‘Colour Temple’, into new acoustic versions. And we did the same with songs by other artists or bands that didn’t necessarily fit our usual musical style. Ever since that release, we’d always had it in the back of our minds to produce another acoustic CD at some point. But then came tours, more regular CDs, many theatre productions we were involved in, and time flew by…”
“When Frontiers approached us with the idea of another acoustic CD, we knew that we had the time needed for it, and with the right songs, it could work. And we can now say, it worked out. We sticked with the concept of the first ‘AcCult’ CD, and so ‘AcCult II’ once again features acoustic versions of Vanden Plas songs, as well as two cover songs: ‘Nothing Else Matters’ (Metallica) and ‘Boat on the River’ (Styx)”, he continued. “We are more than happy that, exactly 30 years later, we can write the next “AcCult” chapter. And all Vanden Plas fans can look forward to a truly extraordinary release”.
Building on the innovative concept that first reimagined tracks from their debut “Colour Temple” in a stripped-down, unplugged setting, this new release revisits select songs from their extensive catalog with fresh acoustic arrangements, offering fans a completely new perspective on the band’s music.
In addition to reworked originals like “Far Off Grace”, “Holes in the Sky”, “The Ghost Xperiment”, and “You Fly”, “AcCult II” features inspired interpretations of classic songs by other artists, including Styx’s “Boat on the River” and Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”, blending reverence for the originals with Vanden Plas’ signature emotional depth and musical sophistication.
Notably, John Helliwell of Supertramp makes a guest appearance on saxophone on the album’s closing track, “You Fly”, adding a unique, melodic touch to the album’s finale.
The album showcases the band’s current lineup – Andy Kuntz (vocals), Stephan Lill (guitars), Andreas Lill (drums), Thorsten Reichert (bass), and Alessandro Del Vecchio (keyboards) – whose synergy brings a nuanced warmth to each track.
With “AcCult II”, Vanden Plas demonstrates that their progressive sensibilities translate seamlessly into intimate, acoustic settings, creating a compelling experience that resonates both with longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Pre-order & pre-save “AcCult II” here.
Tracklist:
1. Far Off Grace
2. Holes in the Sky
3. The Ghost Experiment
4. Boat on the River
5. Healing Tree
6. Postcard to God
7. Nothing Else Matters
8. You Fly (feat. John Helliwell)
Line-up:
Andy Kuntz – Vocals
Stephan Lill – Guitars
Andreas Lill – Drums
Torsten Reichert – Bass
Alessandro Del Vecchio – Keyboards
Weblinks:
www.vandenplas.de
www.facebook.com/VandenPlasOfficial
