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(Knight Area) - "Realm of Shadows"

Reviewed by:

Erik Neuteboom

Progwalhalla.nl

Genre:
(Prog Rock)
Country:
Netherlands
Length:
54:36
Release Date:
9/29/09
Band Members: Gerben Klazinga / keyboards Mark Smit / vocals, backing vocals
  Mark Vermeule / guitars Gijs Koopman / bass, Moog Taurus pedals
  Pieter van Hoorn / drums
     
Track Listing: 1.)-Ethereal (6:51)
9.)-Occlusion (11:15)
  2.)-Antagony (7:52)  
  3.)- Two Of A Kind (5:11)  
  4.)- Momentum (2:21)  
  5.)-Awakening (2:50)  
  6.)-Dark Souls (5:29)  
  7.)-Realm Of Shadows (5:51)  
  8.)-A Million Lives (6:52)  

Review:

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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