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‘Time flies’, some three years ago progressive world got acquainted
with the Dutch band ‘Knight Area’, their debut album was widely
praised and appeared in many polls of 2004. I have to admit that I
was not fully convinced after their first delivery, if course it was
a nice album, but it sounded too polished, yes even a bit too
symphonic. But exactly that what I had missed on ‘The sun also rises’,
is now very present on their latest album ‘Under a new sign’, the
title speaks for itself.
If course you will not discover a totally different sound, the
Knights are presenting genuine neo progressive with loads of
keyboards (synthesizer, Hammond) and guitars, the inspiration still
comes from Genesis, Marillion and Arena. But apparently the
recruitment of a new drummer has given other impulses to the band,
with some heavier parts as a result. So it sounds a lot more varied
and exciting, in a nutshell the band has gained in maturity and the
interplay between the musicians has become even tighter than before.
And if you add the excellent vocals of Mark Smit and it becomes
obvious: this album will appeal many music lovers all over the world.
‘A different man’ starts in true symphonic style, a quietly rising
recorder, followed by lovely mellotron waves, a slow tempo song,
that holds the middle between Italian neo-prog (like Mangala Vallis)
and his Swedish counterpart (like Grand Stand), in between you can
hear some Squire bass patterns. It becomes more bombastic by the use
of ‘Moog Taurus’ bass pedals and both guitar players (ex-Cliffhanger
Rinie Huigen and Mark Vermeule) may demonstrate their abilities in
melodic solos. Exit L.U.M.C. sounds a bit heavier especially by the
pounding bass, the riff reminds at Pallas during ‘Cross&Crucible’,
beautiful synthesizer solos in pure Wakeman style by Gerben Klazinga
are completing it. And sorthly after there is perhaps a culture
shock for the sympho rocker, when the rhythm section of the band
starts with a piece of progressive metal in the vein of Van den
Plas, the melody always being prominently present, but it’s far more
edgier than the first two tracks, even the guitar and keyboard solos
are more intense. Mark Smit showcases that his voice also suits very
much to this heavier style.
The instrumental title track is at first pure progressive rock, but
suddenly the tempo rises and you get a very surprising jazzy
intermezzo with solos on Hammond and guitar, followed by a flashy
organ solo, in a way that Focus used to do. The ballad ‘Courtous
Love’ is the first ret point on the album, the flute and cello make
this a very sensitive song, with a nice bombastic final referring to
the prog icons of the seventies.
The intro of Dreamwaever is again some progressive metal, but
shortly after you may hear nice symphonic keyboards, it appears that
Knight Area won’t disappoint their fans of the beginning, and they
are succeeding very well. Even if this track also sounds a bit
harder that we were used from their first album, they are evolving
in their music like most of the prog bands.
Most tracks have a duration of about 6 minutes, the only exception
is the last one. ‘A Different Man Part 2’ has a very quiet intro
with ambient music with recorder, then the tempo goes up and
synthesizer solos but especially guitar solos are coming for
everywhere. After a calm part with vocals and piano it’s time for
the ‘grande finale’, more bombastic does not seem possible. A worthy
ending of a magnificent album, which will appear in many Top-10 of
2007, Knight Area is ready for the world!
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Gerben Klazinga: keyboards
Mark Smit: vocals, backing vocals, Fender Rhodes in Courteous Love
Mark Vermeule: guitar
Rinie Huigen: guitar, backing vocals
Gijs Koopman: bass, Moog Taurus pedals
Pieter van Hoorn: drums, percussion
Joop Klazinga: flute
Guest
Bas Immerzeel: solo guitar in
Dreamweaver, 12-strings guitar in Courteous Love
Ruben van Kruistum: cello in Courteous Love |
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