PTS - Campaign (1996)

Prog Rock band from the Netherlands. Another one of these lost-in-time Dutch Neo Prog bands, PTS were coming probably from the Zwolle area of The Netherlands with an original line-up of drummer Le Coq, bassist Marco Kerssies, keyboardist Simon Veenhius and guitarist Ron Van Kruistum. This formation would record the band's first album ''Nightlines'' in 1992, released privately by PTS. While not particularly convincing, it was good enough for the management of the legendary SI label to sign the group. Second album ''Tides'' comes out in 1994, now with Marco de Haan in the place of Le Coq. De Haan was actually the man behind the lyrics of PTS' first album. As SI went bankrupt around mid-90's, PTS were forced to return back to their private releases, so that's what happened with the band's third album ''Campaign'' in 1996.It seems that after the release the band was put on ice and only five years later they would return with the mini-album ''5EP''. From the band's last effort only Marco Kerssies and Ron van Kruistem are present on this album with the rest of the new core appearing only by their first names on the album's notes. This was also meant to be PTS' farewell studio album with no further signs that the band kept playing after this work.

PTS played an accessible Neo Prog akin to compatriots BRASSE, EGDON HEATH and MARATHON. Melodic, guitar-based music with expressive vocals and light keyboard textures, somewhere between RUSH and PALLAS, an easy choice for the fans of the genre.