UNDER A NEW SIGN

With their second, a more proper band effort, Knight Area grow in scope and ambition, increasing songs' length to a 7-minute average, growing heavier (Mastermind) and book-ending the album with a 20-minite opus (which actually consists more of a sequence of slowly developing separate parts). The style if typical neo-prog, of course, varying between friendly folksy melodies, 80s-style hard rock and Pink Floydian celestial crescendos, which actually sound quite pounding if played on a high volume. Predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable stuff, a swell all-around effort, with particular mention going to Mark Smits ultra smooth vocals and the epic bass sound. Curiously, the band leader's Gerben Klaizenga's keys don't sound as overpowering as some other comparable keyboardist-led bands.