KAMELOT [US] - Symphonic Metal

Kamelot @ Trix, Antwerp (BE) - November 6, 2012 - Pictures by Serge De Rous

Line-up changes

Vocals: Mark Vanderbilt (91-98) > Roy Khan (98-11) > Tommy Karevik (12-now)
Guitars: Thomas Youngblood (91-now)
Keyboards: David Pavlicko (93-98) > Oliver Palotai (05-now)
Bass: Sean Tibbetts (91-92) > Glenn Barry (92-09) > Sean Tibbetts (09-now)
Drums: Richard Warner (91-97) > Casey Grillo (97-now)
​In bold: "The Black Halo" line-up

Recommended albums

#1 The Black Halo
2005

#2 Epica
2002

#3 Karma
​2001

#4 The Fourth Legacy
1999

#5 Haven
​2015

Discography

Mark Vanderbilt
01|1995|Eternity
566 (#10)
02|1997|Dominion
566 (#11)
Roy Khan
03|1998|Siége Perilous
620 (#9)
04|1999|The Fourth Legacy
757 (#4)
05|2001|Karma
763 (#3)
06|2003|Epica
766 (#2)
07|2005|The Black Halo
795 (#1)
08|2007|Ghost Opera
689 (#7)
09|2010|Poetry For The Poisoned
US #74 | 676 (#8)
Tommy Karevik
10|2012|Silverthorn
US #79 | 715 (#6)
11|2015|Haven
US #75 | 754 (#5)

Rock Report's choice

The Black Halo

Steamhammer, 2005
Produced by Sascha Paeth, Miro, Roy Khan & Thomas Youngblood
Ratings: PA: 4.13 (265) | RYM: 3.82 (1697)
Total rating: 795
​Updated: 15.10.07

Line-up

Roy Khan (v)
Thomas Youngblood (g)
Glenn Barry (b)
Casey Grillo (d)
+
Andre Neygenfind (D-bass on tr. 6)
Annelise Youngblood (Baby Alena on tr. 4)
Cinzia Rizzo (Cabaret singer on tr. 9)
Geoff Rudd (The Usher at the Theater and Mayor of Gatesville)
Jens Johansson (k on tr. 1 2)
Kamelot Choir: Herbie Langhans, Amanda Somerville, Michael Rodenberg, Gerit Göbel, Thomas Rettke & Elisabeth Kjaernes
Mari Youngblood (Helena character on tr. 6 12)
Miro (k, orcar)
Rodenberg Symphony Orchestra
Sascha Paeth (g)
Shagrath (Mephisto character on tr. 1 12)
Simone Simons (Marguerite character on tr. 3)
Wolfgang Dietrich (ob on tr. 12)

Track listing

01|March Of Mephisto (K)
02|When The Lights Are Down (K)
03|The Haunting (Somewhere In Time) (K)
04|Soul Society (K)
05|Interlude I: Dei Gratia (K)
06|Abandoned (K)
07|This Pain (K)
08|Moonlight (K)
09|Interlude II: Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso (K)
10|The Black Halo (K)
11|Nothing Ever Dies (K)
12|Memento Mori (K)
13|Interlude III: Midnight - Twelve Tolls For A New Day (K)
14|Serenade (K)

Songwriters

K = Kamelot

Rock Report review

Here's a band whose releases I've always awaited with much anticipation. It was no different with their seventh studio album, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed "Epica" (2003) and the second part of their Faust concept, an adaptation of Goethe's well-known opus. Entitled "The Black Halo", their new album is said to be darker and having more drama than its predecessor. This immediately becomes clear when listening to the opening song, the heavy and bombastic "March Of Mephisto", featuring Dimmu Borgir's Shagrath on 'screams' (the first time ever Kamelot goes this extreme) and Stratovarius' Jens Johansson on keys. This magnificent tune perfectly sets the dark atmosphere for the rest of the album, which displays the band in top notch form. Not only is the disc more varied than the already splendid "Epica", it is also catchier, more haunting and more impressive. A minimum of fast songs as "When The Lights Are Down" and "The Black Halo" and powerhouses like "This Pain", the sublime "Moonlight", "Nothing Ever Dies" and "Memento Mori" (the longest track in Kamelot's history) take turns to please the listener. ... And so does the work of the usual production team of Sascha Paeth and Miro, who have outdone themselves on this one. Kamelot may already have had a very strong position in the melodic power metal field, with "The Black Halo" they're heading straight to the top in my opinion. Keeping me amused for weeks now, this album is a strong contender for my album of the year award, for which it'll need serious competition. Let the black halo surround you! 
Stijn Lambert, March 2005     

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