Biography
KEN'S NOVEL is a 5-piece band from Belgium featuring Patrick Muermans (lead - and backing vocals, drums and keyboard programming), Eric Vanderbemden (electric - and acoustic guitars), Bruno Close (keyboards), Geoffrey Leontiev (drums, percussions, drums programming) and Sebastièn Mentior. In '99 they released their first album "The Guide", this one was boosted by a positive review from the magazine Prog Resiste and a distribution deal from the known French progrock label Musea Records. KEN'S NOVEL played on several progrock festivals and in 2002 two songs from the band could be found on the compilation "Spring Rock Festival 2000". A year later KEN'S NOVEL released the CD "Unplugged?" and in 2002 the album "Domain of Oblivion" was released on a demo. Two years later the band put it on CD, again distributed by Musea. On this CD the band use a wide range of guest musicians (keyboards, bass, backing vocals, lead guitar, violins, cello). The most obvious influences are from STYX and KANSAS.
The music on the CD "Domain of Oblivion" sounds melodic, dynamic and varied with good solos on guitar and keyboards and strong interplay between these instruments. The propulsive parts with organ evokes KANSAS but in general the main reference is STYX, especially because of the vocals and the more polished parts of their music (AOR/poprock). Despite the running time of almost 77 minutes, the music didn't fail to generate excitement: lots of spectacular synthesizer flights, some sparkling piano ("Voices"), sensitive electric guitar with soaring keyboards, metallish guitar work and bombastic organ ("Wisdom Part 3") and a ballad with wah-wah guitar in the end ("Distinctive Signs"). The absolute highlight on this CD is the long title track (more than 16 minutes): fiery electric guitar and sumptuous keyboards, acoustic guitar and piano, a beautiful, bluesy guitar solo and then … it's solo time featuring a jazzy piano, sensational synthesizer runs and a swirling organ, this band 'progrocks' during these instrumental fireworks. This is the best from Belgium I've heard since the legendary MACHIAVEL!
: : : Erik Neuteboom, The NETHERLANDS : : :
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