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"A new album, a new recipe, and a paying bet for the Dutch who sign with "D-Day" a beautiful album of effective and melodic symphonic progressive metal."
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4/5
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Eighty years ago, the Second World War began, a major historical event of the 20th century. While this global catastrophe was often repeated in many arts, music was also inspired by it. While visiting Normandy, the members of the Dutch group Knight Area had the idea of paying tribute to the famous landing of 1944, through their seventh album with the evocative title, "D-Day".
If the Dutch had accustomed us to evolve in a neo-progressive symphonic rock, this new opus is much more on the side of progressive metal, always with that melodic and symphonic touch that characterizes them. This change in stylistic orientation was confirmed from the very first track, 'New Horizon', with verses with fast and precise guitar phrasing carried by an epic synthesizer. This new recipe works very well on tracks like the powerful "Overlord", one of the highlights of the album, or the single "Blood On The Risers".
The success of these songs is based in particular on the presence of a five-star synth, the main ingredient of the Dutch music. As on the intro "Winds Of Time", it often gives a grandiose side to the songs and gives them a certain breadth and a real power. Gerben Klazinga shows his versatility on songs like "When I'll Be With You", a minimalist piece centred on the piano/voice duo, where the quality of the musician's playing shines. Although this instrument is perhaps less emphasized than on previous achievements, the contribution of the synthesizer remains nevertheless capitalized.
But the main novelty comes mainly from the change of singer on this album. Mark Smit was not particularly in favour of covering this theme on the new Knight Area record, so he has been replaced by Jan Willem Ketelaers. And his all-purpose voice, very comfortable on the highest notes, totally justifies his presence on the album. On the heavy ballad "Omaha Beach", his masterly interventions bring a massive freshness and power. The pitch of the notes reached is even sometimes confusing, especially when listening to 'When I'll Be With You', where the new singer does wonders.
A new album, a new recipe, and a paying bet for the Dutch who sign with "D-Day" a beautiful album of effective and melodic symphonic progressive metal.
- Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. New Horizon 02. Overlord 03. Blood On The Risers 04. The Landing 05. Omaha Beach 06. Remembrance 07. When I’ll Be With You 08. Wings Of Time 09. March To Victory 10. Freedom For Everyone
LINEUP:
Gerben Klazinga: Claviers Jan Willem Ketelaers: Chant / Claviers Mark Bogert: Guitares Peter Vink: Basse Pieter Van Hoorn: Batterie
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READERS
3.7/5 (3 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.2/5 (6 view(s))
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