▄█████▄ ░█████▄ ▄████▄░█▄ ░█▄ ▄█████▄ ███▄██ ▄██ ▄█▄ ▄██████ ▄█▄ ▄███ ░████░██▀████▓ ▀██ ▄██░▀█████ ████ ███▓ ██████▓██ ▓███████ ███▓░▀█▀████ ███▓ ███▓ ▓███░ ██ ██▄ ▄██▓██ ▓███▓██░ ▓███░███░███████████▄ ███░███░ ███░ ▄███ ███ ▄█▀░ ████████░██ █████████▄ ▓██░███ ███▓█████████ ███████ ███ ███░ ███████ ███▓ ░██ ██ ██████▓ ░██ ▀██ ███░███▓██████ ███▓███ ███ ███ ████████░███░ ███ ██▄ ██▓███░ ██▄ ██░██▓ ███ ▀▀████ ███░███ ███ ███ ███▓░███████░ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███▓██▓██░ ███ ▓████ ███ ███ ▓██▓ ███ ███░ ▓██████ ███ ▓████ ▓██▄ ▓████████ ███ ▓███ ███ ███ ███░███ ███ ░██████ ███ ░████ ░███ ███▓███▓ ███ ░███ ███ ███ ██▓███ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███ ▓██▄ ███░███░ ███ ███ ███ ███ ░█████ ███ ██▓░██▄ ███ ▓█▀ ▓██▄ ███ ██░ ███ ██▓ ███ ███ ░███▀ ░█▀ ██░ ██ ░█▀ ░███▄ ▀ ▀ ▓█▀ ███░ ░█▀ ██▀ ██░ ▄██▀ ░█▄ ▄███▀ ░██ ░ ██ ▓░ ▓░ ██░ ▓█░ ░█▀ ▀█░ ░█▓ ░ ██ ██ Artist: Knight Area ██ ██ ▓ █░░ ■█ Album: D-Day █■ ░░█ ■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2019 █ ▀▓█ ░ █ ▓ Rel. Date: 2020-01-02 ▓ █ ▒ ▒ Genre: Progressive Rock ▒ ▒ █▄ ░ Label: Butler Records ░ ▄█ ░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█ ░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░ ▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓ ▓ █ █ ░ ▓ ▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■ ░█ █░ ▀ █ Peggy and Billie Harris had been married just six █ █ weeks when he was called to the WWII front in the █ █ summer of 1944. That was an all-too-common story. █ █ And then BillieÆs plane went down in Normandy, █ █ France, in July of that yearùabout six weeks after █ █ the D-Day invasion. Peggy waited for word on her █ █ husband. And waited. And waited. It took more █ █ than 60 years for her to determine exactly what █ █ happened to Billie. █ █ ItÆs a remarkable tale. And itÆs one uncovered by █ █ Dutch band Knight Area for their new release, █ █ D-Day, a tribute to those people who sacrificed so █ █ much on June 6, 1944 and afterward to ensure a new █ █ burst of freedom in the world. █ █ I know, I knowùwhatÆs a group from the Netherlands █ █ doing releasing a concept album about this █ █ important event? The U.S., British and Canadians █ █ led the invasion. There were no Dutch forces █ █ involved. But we Americans donÆt realize the █ █ impact of D-Day in various parts of Europe. It █ █ was when the Nazi occupation began to crumble, and █ █ oppressed peoples enjoyed renewed hopes that █ █ liberation was on the way. And that included the █ █ citizens of the Netherlands. █ █ Several members of Knight Area had previously █ █ visited Normandy. Last year, they took bassist █ █ Peter Vink there for his birthday. And they were █ █ gripped by the idea of doing an album about D-Day, █ █ something that would honor the event and the █ █ people. And with the 75th anniversary of the █ █ invasion approaching, the time seemed right. █ █ Except for one thing. Vocalist/lyricist Mark Smit █ █ wasnÆt all in on the project (his residence in the █ █ south of France just made things more difficult). █ █ After a couple of songs were written and laid █ █ down, the rest of the band made a decision. Smit █ █ was out. Jan Willem Ketelaers, a well-known Dutch █ █ performer whoÆd sung with Ayreon in the past, was █ █ in. ThatÆs not as simple as it sounds. Ketelaers █ █ had to get up to speed on D-Day, determine how to █ █ approach things in songs and then write the words. █ █ And in just a few months, to meet the June 6 █ █ deadline. █ █ ThatÆs not to mention working on the music, going █ █ through recording sessions, crafting extensive █ █ liner notes and designs, etc. █ █ The result of those efforts is out (as of █ █ September 20). And frankly, they are impressive. █ █ D-Day brings down the thunder without losing the █ █ humanity of those people who gave so much. █ █ One caveat: for those who are fans of previous █ █ Knight Area productions, this one is different. █ █ Keyboardist Gerben Klazinga, the band founder, is █ █ less prominent. The orchestral sounds he produced █ █ are very limited. That puts a greater premium on █ █ the work of Mark Bogert, the wonderful guitarist █ █ who leads the attackùbut in a tasteful fashion. █ █ Never does he allow ôshreddingö to get in the way █ █ of telling the tale, either musically or █ █ lyrically. But this is more of a guitar album than █ █ previous records. And, of course, Ketelaers is a █ █ different vocalist than Mark Smit. The new guy █ █ has a remarkable range, in notes and emotions. █ █ His personality shines through and seems to be an █ █ absolute natural for this project. █ █ ôD DayöAlbum Artwork █ █ So letÆs do a quick rundown of the music: things █ █ kick off with ôNew Horizon.ö The voice of Allied █ █ Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower booms out, █ █ encouraging the troops as they embark on ôThe █ █ Great Crusade.ö The swirl of strings provides a █ █ foundation to his words, reminiscent of old █ █ newsreels from that time. That transitions into █ █ military drums, chorus and organ before the roar █ █ of symphonic metal grabs you by the throat. The █ █ song is from the perspective of a soldier gazing █ █ upon the beach, ready to charge ahead into hell. █ █ ôOverlordö is a reference to the code name for █ █ D-Day, Operation Overlord. This one is a █ █ harder-edged song, more urgent, reflecting the █ █ start of fighting that day. It was tough, █ █ dangerous work with the worldÆs future in the █ █ balance. █ █ ôBlood on the Risersö is the album single (and █ █ videoù). The title comes from an old song of the █ █ same nameùabout paratroopers, sitting ducks as █ █ they float down to the beach. This one starts █ █ with an ominous yet pastoral sound of oboe and █ █ stringsùand then shifts hard into BogertÆs guitars █ █ and KetelaerÆs voice. Bassist Peter Vinkùborn █ █ just five years after the invasionùprovides an █ █ extremely powerful foundation. So does drummer █ █ Pieter van Hoorn, a veteran who did 12 years in █ █ the Dutch army (well after WWII, of course). At █ █ the end of the piece, we hear a snippet of the █ █ original ôBlood on the Risersö: ôGory, gory what a █ █ helluva way to dieö (to the tune of ôBattle Hymn █ █ of the Republicö). █ █ ôThe Landingö is about just that. It starts off a █ █ something of a childrenÆs song, with KlazingaÆs █ █ keyboards accompanying BogertÆs plaintive guitar █ █ and KetelaerÆs voice before kicking off into a █ █ harder rock approachùbut one that, musically has █ █ references to the previous song. This one is a █ █ reminder: some 425,000 people were killed, wounded █ █ or missing in action at Normandy. The price was █ █ high. █ █ ôOmaha Beachö starts much like ôThe Landing,ö █ █ quiet and contemplative before the instruments █ █ rush in. ItÆs a rock ballad, but about men with █ █ glassy eyes and hollow faces from all the death █ █ and carnage theyÆve seen and experienced. The █ █ beach was the scene of some of the most violent █ █ fightingùand it left its mark on all who were █ █ there. This is a song where Ketelaers shows a █ █ full range, from low growl to keening wail, to █ █ examine the souls of the brave men at Omaha Beach. █ █ Air raid sirens scream at the end. █ █ ôRemembranceö begins with KlazingaÆs piano before █ █ the rest of the band jumps in, feet first. It █ █ chronicles a little-remembered part of the █ █ invasion, when a group of U.S. paratroopers were █ █ sent on a virtual suicide mission. There is █ █ urgency, anger, panic in the music and lyrics. █ █ Men face death with many emotions, some █ █ overlapping each other. And yet, in this case, █ █ they put duty and honor ahead of life itself. █ █ Then comes that song for Peggy and Billie Harris, █ █ ôWhen IÆll Be With You.ö Guest pianist Robby █ █ Valentine accompanies Ketelaersùwho found this █ █ story on a Google search and knew he had to write █ █ about it. ItÆs a gut-wrenching song of love lost █ █ but the promise of reunion and █ █ reconciliationàsometime, someplace. By the way, █ █ Peggy Harris still lives in small town Texas. And █ █ Billie is buried in Normandy, near a town that has █ █ honored his memory and heroics for 75 years. █ █ Check out the full tale online, and be moved. █ █ After D-Day, the Allies began the inexorable march █ █ to victory with a protracted offensive toward █ █ Berlin. ôWings of Timeö reminds that D-Day was █ █ the start of the end; it was not the end. Almost █ █ operatic in its sound, this song includes a █ █ section of the 23rd PsalmùôThe Lord is my █ █ shepherd, I shall not wantàö As the saying goes, █ █ there are no atheists in the foxholes. █ █ ôMarch to Victoryö starts with British Prime █ █ Minister Winston ChurchillÆs victory speech on May █ █ 8, 1945. Again, the swirl of strings undergird █ █ his words on ôV-E Day.ö Again, the band then █ █ explodes on the scene, a powerful rocker about the █ █ price of victory. This one is dedicated to the █ █ warriors who suffer from PTSDùnot just of WWII, █ █ but all conflicts. █ █ The album wraps with ôFreedom for Everyone.ö ItÆs █ █ a celebration of the freedom won by the people who █ █ fought at D-Dayùbut a warning that such freedom is █ █ always in danger in a world of chaos and violence. █ █ And itÆs a reminder that there is always a cost to █ █ protect freedom. Like other songs on the album, █ █ this starts a bit quietly, with keyboards and █ █ guitars and vocals, then picks up in a wave of █ █ instrumentation. This, too, is a ballad of sorts, █ █ elegiac, slower, deliberate, evocative. Sections █ █ harken back to previous pieces. It is a fitting █ █ conclusion. █ █ By the way, this is a band with a sense of history █ █ as it applies to today. Their video for ôBlood on █ █ the Risersö came out on June 6, the 75th █ █ anniversary of D-Day. And the album release is on █ █ September 20. Seventy-five years before, Allied █ █ forces were in the middle of Operation Market █ █ Garden, the attempted liberation of the █ █ Netherlands with an aim to create a quick path to █ █ Germany. Ultimately, that effort failed and the █ █ Dutch people suffered almost a year of terrible █ █ privations. But they still remember mid-September █ █ 1944ùas does Knight Area with the release of this █ █ album. █ █ Now, an admission, a confession. IÆm a █ █ professional historian (among other things), █ █ although my area is the American Old West. But █ █ IÆm attracted by projects of historyùand D-Day is █ █ that, in spades. Not just in the music, but the █ █ liner notes, written by Jan Willem Ketelaers, are █ █ very well done and give even greater depth to this █ █ album. And his lyrics are great as well. The █ █ other guys in Knight Area did well when they hired █ █ him. █ █ This is not your fatherÆs Knight Area, the one █ █ founded by Gerban Klazinga more than 15 years ago. █ █ At various points, itÆs been progressive-rock. Or █ █ symphonic prog-rock. Or symphonic. Or whatever. █ █ It has taken on different shades and shapes over █ █ time, as the band and its members have changed and █ █ evolved. D-Day is the most metal album theyÆve █ █ done, but it fits. This project is about war, and █ █ war isnÆt silky smooth. And yet there are swirls █ █ of calm in the insanity, and those, too, fit. █ █ So get D-Day by Knight Area. Get it because it is █ █ a wonderful tribute to an incredible event and the █ █ people who made it so. Get it because it is a █ █ great account of history. Or, what the heck, get █ █ it because itÆs a damn good album. █ █ █ █ Band-members: █ █ Jan Willem Ketelaers - vocals █ █ Mark Bogert - guitars █ █ Gerben Klazinga - keyboards █ █ Peter Vink - bass █ █ Pieter van Hoorn - drums █ ▓ ▓ ▒ ▒ ░ 1. New Horizon 6:27 ░ ░ 2. Overlord 5:12 ░ ░ 3. Blood on the Risers 5:07 ░ ░ 4. The Landing 4:59 ░ ░ 5. Omaha Beach 5:59 ░ ░ 6. Remembrance 4:07 ░ ░ 7. When I'll Be With You 3:43 ░ ░ 8. Wings of Time 4:34 ░ ░ 9. March to Victory 7:45 ░ ░ 10. Freedom for Everyone 6:50 ░ ░ 54:43 ░ ░ ▒ ▒ ▓ █ ░ ▓ ░ ■ █▄ ░ ██ ▀█▄░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ▓ ░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ░▄██░ ░ ▀████▓█▄▄█████████▓░ ███ ███▓░ █████████▄▄██████▀ ▓ ▓▀▓ ▒███████▀▀ ▀████████▒ ░████████▀ ▀▀███████░▓▀▓ ■ ░ ▄█░█▀▀▄████▄▓ ▀█▀ █▓░ ▒▓█ ▀█▀ ▄████▄ ▀███▄░ ▄█▀░ ░███▀▀▀███▄ ▀█▒ ██▓ ██ ▓█▀ ▄███▀▀▀███░ ▀█░ █▀ ▓██▓ ▄███ ▀█▓ ████ ▒█▀ ▓███▄ ▓██▓ ▀█▓ █▀ ▓██░ ▒██████▓ ▀█ █▓ █▀ ▓██████▒ ░██▓ ▀█ ▒ ▄██ ░███ ▓███▓ ▀░██░▀ ▓███░ ███ ██▄ ▒ ░█▀ ███ ▄▀ ███▄ ▓████▒ ▄███▀▄ ███ ▀█░ ▓█▀ ▄██▄█▀ ░ ██████████████ ▀█▄ ██▄ ▀█▓ █▀ ████▀█▄▓░▄█ ▀██████▀ █▄▓░▄█▀█▄██ ▀█▓ ░ ▄ ██▀ ▀████▀ ▀█▓▀██ ▀████▀ ▀███ ▄ ▒ █░█▓ ██░ █░ █ ░██ ▀██▒█ ███░ ▒█░ ▄ ▓ ▒ ░█▒ ▓███ ░ ▓██ ░ ██▓ ██░ ░██ █▒ ░ ░█ ▀█ █▀ ▓ ░ ░