NINE PATHS

This is the fourth studio album by Dutch neo-progressive band Knight Area, an album that I suggest listening to at least three times, in order to have a true good experience. It comprises nine compositions and a total time of one hour of high quality music. Don't prejudge about the musical genre (Neo), you better listen to it and then tell me what you think.

The first track is "Ever Since You Killed Me"; what a title for the opener track, and what an opener track. This is actually the longest song of the album, a challenging composition with a fabulous bass sound and a hypnotizing keyboard touch. The first three minutes are intense and bombastic, then the track slows down, the voice enters and a mellow guitar repeats its acoustic notes, while the electric contributes with a disarming sound. This rhythm continues until the sixth minute, and then an emotional sound appears. This is a fantastic track!

"Summerland" starts with a bombastic sound full of keyboards, with constant drums, softer bass notes and accurate guitars. A couple of minutes later vocals enter, and this time I would not praise them, because in moments the track reminds me to some 80s hard rock bands (I repeat, just in moments).The song is pretty nice overall, with good changes in time and mood. Nice piano sound after five minutes and a wonderful guitar riff in the last minute.

"Please Come Home" is a ballad-like track, with a charming sound and the guest female voice of Charlotte Wessels. The song is pretty catchy, easily enjoyable, and with a nice guitar solo in the final part. "Clueless" is another short track with a catchy sound. This is not a ballad like the previous, but it has an easy structure, with a chorus to sing and a total neo- prog sound. Not bad at all, I actually like it a lot, but it surely is not their best composition.

"The River" starts very interesting but after a minute it slows down, creating a mellow and gentle sound, with cool bass notes and great keyboards, as usual. Though the structure may be repetitive, it is actually addictive, so you will easily feel part of the track. After five minutes there is a long keyboard passage in which you can imagine a lot of things, like being on a trip, flying or something like that. The song finishes just as it begun. Great one!

"Pride and Joy" is the shortest track. A fast and adventurous instrumental song with cool guitar and keyboard solos, good drums and repetitive but hypnotizing bass lines. I love Gijs Koopman bass style. With "The Balance" I realized that the voice has a similar style to Frank Bornemann (Eloy), though the band's sound has actually nothing to do with it. The first part of this track is not really my favorite, I feel it repetitive and even empty, very organic; but after three and a half minutes when keyboards appear it gives a new direction, louder, more emotional, much more interesting. The final three minutes are worth repeating.

"Wakerun" is a great track that should be easily loved by neo-prog fans. I love that intercalation between keyboard and guitars, and how that bass sound cannot pass unnoticed. Just before the third minute, the song makes a sudden change, introducing acoustic guitar, keyboard as background, drums and then bass. The sound and rhythm are increasing little by little, creating a wonderful and captivating passage, in which we will listen to adventurous and exciting music.

The album finishes with "Angel's Call", which is another long and challenging composition. It starts with a delicate piano which seconds later is joined by guitar. After two minutes there is a second of stillness, and then a new sound is being developed, with the same piano, voice and a synth as background creating a baleful atmosphere. Later the song changes once again, the sound increases for moments, but only in order to slow down again. The acoustic guitar is pretty good, and the bass always wonderful. The song has a mixture of elements, rhythms and emotions, it is really rich in every sense. A great way to finish this excellent album!

Knight Area's new album is a must have for neo-prog fans, and a recommendation to any progressive rock follower; though it is not a flawless album, it has wonderful moments, well-crafted songs that I truly enjoyed, that is why my final grade will be four stars.

Enjoy it!

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