Knight Area’s new album, “D-Day II – The Final Chapter”, continues the story from their previous release “D-Day” in 2019. The album explores the psychological effects of war on soldiers, rather than focusing on the war itself. The band consists of Jan Willem Ketelaers on vocals, Mark Bogert on guitars, Gerben Klazinga on keyboards, Peter Vink on bass, and Pieter van Hoorn on drums. That means that the line-up has not changed at all since their previous effort, which makes their musicianship really tight.
The band’s melodic neo-prog music has been embellished with symphonic elements, but this time it has a more metal edge at times. The songs pay respect to war casualties, both from WWII and more contemporary conflicts.
The strong and expressive vocals by Jan Willem Ketelaers, who consistently gives some compelling performances throughout the record, are one of its most notable features. The keyboardist and guitarist are responsible for the songwriting, which is strong and creative with a wonderful balance between vocal sections and instrumental elements. Strong guitar and keyboard work contributes to the album’s overall atmospheric and emotional sound.
“D-Day II – The Final Chapter” can be described as a remarkable and compelling prog rock/metal album on the whole. Strong vocals, emotional lyrics, and good songwriting combine to provide a delightful and memorable listening experience. Fans of melodic neo-prog rock/metal music will undoubtedly enjoy Knight Area’s latest offering.
