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cover_kamelot.jpgBand name: Kamelot
Title: The Black Halo
Genre: Powermetal
Release date: March 14th 2005
Record company/label: Steamhammer/ SPV





Introduction

Kamelot always garantuees good powermetal. For ages they've stand at the top of the scene and with this new record they will impress even more. When "Epica" came out they surprised a lot of fans with their powerful and bombastic sound. Now, part II of the concept album was released, with an even more impressive sound: darker and with a deeper emotion. Sometimes the songs are not that up-tempo anymore, but the melodic pieces are complex and the album really needs time to grow more. The band recorded the album in the Pathway and Gate Studio in Wolfsburg and the production was in hands of Miro en Sascha Paeth.
 
The “Black Halo” is together with “Epica” (2003 – Noise Records) a concept based on “Faust” from Goethe. That’s a story about the battle between evil and good. Kamelot decided to use that theme and mixed it with their own experiences.
 

Line – up

Thomas Youngblood – guitars
Khan – vocals
Glenn Barry – bass
Casey Grillo – drums
 

Website

www.kamelot.com
 

Song review

 
01.  March of Mephisto – 5:29
The record starts very heavy with this song. A dark intro reflects the powerful structure and it is defenitly the dark site of the story. Roy Khans voice is clear and powerful, especially when Shagrath (of Dimmu Borgir) comes in with his aggressive grunts. There is a stong contrast between the both of them which makes it very dynamic. Also Jens Johansson (Stratovarius) has a role: he played the keybordsolo.

02. When the Lights Are Down – 3:41
The traditional powermetal-sound comes back in this song. The chorus of the song is bombastic and the most strongest part of the whole song: it’s uptempo and the choir arrangements give a deeper dimension to the song. Again Jens did the keyboardparts.

03.  The Haunting (Somewhere in Time) – 5:40
The band made a video of this song what’s very understandeble, because it’s catchy and reflects the mood of the record. It’s a duet with Simone Simons (Epica). Simones uses her voice different and with the power of Khan it’s a perfect song. Emotional and good guitarlines of Thomas.
 
04. Soul Society – 4:17
The most theatral song of the record: bombastic and every instrument has a strong melodic part. You must hear this song more often to discover everything. The drumparts are very impressive, but also the instrumental parts with the keyboard and choir relieved with the high guitarsolos. In the end Roy Khan sings lower what’s new.

05. Interlude I: Dei Gratia – 0:57
A song only based on the piano and some arrangements in the beginning. It creates an atmospehere and is a short peaceful moment.
 
06. Abandoned – 4:07
A ballad with only Khan and the piano. He shows here that he can carry the whole song with a modest voice. Also Mari, who also appeared on "Epica", shows her talent. With a soft voices she is a perfect contrast to Khan. The frontman uses his voice differently: lower and deeper than before.  For the first time the Rodenberg Symphony Orchestra is not on the background anymore. It's a very symphonic and emotional song with some very strong lyrics.

07. This Pain – 3:59
Again a piano intro, but this time also a guitar. The drums are more mixed with the guitar chores and because of that they are the stong basis of the song. Mix that with the voice of Roy Khan and you get a heavy and emotional song.

08. Moonlight – 5:10
This songs proves that orchestra and a metal basis from guitar and drum are a good mix. This is no powermetal, but more progressive. It’s heavy in a totally different way than “This Pain”; it’s more emotional and more technical.

09. Interlude II: Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso – 0 :40
A traditional song, it seems, with an harmonica and a woman's voice. It’s a bit unexpected, but not totally different from the other arrangements.

10. The Black Halo – 3:43
The titletrack of the record is where everything comes together in a strong emotional song. Everything what Kamelot represents is mixed in this song. A stong drumbeat with high guitar chores. Roy gives everything and almost seems to explode inside with all that emotion.

11. Nothing Ever Dies – 4:45
 A compact song in which we recognize parts from “Epica” and where the guitar riffs are very powermetal. It's the song in the story what makes you shiver because you know something bad is happening.

12. Memento Mori – 8:54
It’s a long epic song which starts very calm, but grows to a more dynamic part in the middle. Mari and Shagrath have a stong duel between evil and good. That puts the song on a higher level. Kamelot shows that they have grown in a different way: no more powermetal but the more progressive sound is important, it seems. A good choice because now the emotional side of the whole band is more a part of the song.


13. Interlude III: Midnight - Twelve Tolls for a New Day – 1:21
The last part of the story. Ariel, the central figure dies. He had a queste and now it ends. A bombastic melody with sounds from the daily life makes that you stand still by what happened in the lyrics of 'Memento Mori.'
 
14. Serenade– 8:54
The circle is complete with the last song. For the last time the bands shows what they can: technical strong riffs and choir parts, makes the song light and not too bombastic. It's peaceful and a good end of this concept album.


Extra’s
For the ones who want to have an exlcusive version; In Japan two more songs are added:
Epilogue
(japanese bonustrack)
Soul Society - Edit Version
(japanese bonustrack)
 

Cover Picture

 cover_kamelot.jpg
 

Technical Summary

Total playing time:  58:43
Total songs: 16
 

Conclusion

This band still knows how to make a good song and with “The Black Halo” they brought themselves to a higher level. It seems that the whole band has grown a lot: Khan sings easily every low or high part and Thomas Youngblood is not only a great guitarplayer, but also a good songwriter. The band is stronger as before. When you liked the other records of this band you won't have any problems with the new one. Also, the more progressive metalfans will like this. It’s a complex album but you won’t regret it. When you give it time you will discover that powermetal can be very stong and heavy!


Rating
Music 10
Sound 9
Extra’s -
Total   9

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