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Review:
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Here’s already the third studio-album of Dutch ‘progrock
pride’ Knight Area, after their acclaimed debut CD The Sun
Also Rises from 2004 (more than 8000 copies sold) and the
strong successor Under A New Sign ( 2007).
The 9 alternating and pleasant compositions (between
2 and 12 minutes) again sound very accessible and melodic
and again we can enjoy a blend of 24-carat symphonic rock
(in the vein of 76-77 Genesis), neo-prog (like early IQ
and Pallas) and more song oriented progrock. The climates
shift from dreamy with tender piano and passionate vocals
to powerful mid-tempo rhythms with fiery guitar runs and
fat synthesizer flights and bombastic with lush keyboards
and mighty Moog Taurus bass pedals. In many songs the focus
is on excellent guitar work (from sensitive to biting),
often supported by the distinctive sound of the Hammond
organ and unsurpassed Mellotron. Knight Area is at their
artistic pinnacle in the track Momentum: from a swinging
bass with violin-Mellotron to a Vinage Keyboard Heaven featuring
swirling Moog and impressive choir-Mellotron, goose bumps!
Also the long final composition Occlusion showcases the
huge potential of Knight Area, what a cascade of shifting
moods, breaks and exciting solos and what a breathtaking
grand finale, including Moog Taurus bass pedals and choir-Mellotron,
I am in Progheaven! But these moments are very well balanced
on this CD, it’s mainly melody and accessibility so in my
opinion Knight Area can be put in the category mainstream
progrock but with a very classy and professional touch.
It’s no coincidence that shortly after the release of
this album, it’s one of the running items on Progwalhalla,
there is much room for progrock that has a balance between
showing skills and melody, I am sure this strong third album
by Knight Area will delight many progheads. Rating: [4 of
5 Stars!]
Erik
Neuteboom
Progwalhalla.nl
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