In 1991 Kamelot were founded by guitarist Thomas Youngblood and drummer Richard Warner. In 1997, after having released 2 albums, singer Roy Khan (ex-Conception) was recruited, and things started to take shape. One of the most promising "new" bands. Kamelot will appeal fans of such diverse bands as Sonata Arctica, Angra, Vanden Plas and Conception.

THE FOURTH LEGACY (2000) NOISE

After Roy Khan joined this band I heard so many good things about them. So when I had the opportunity to get my hands on this CD for free (pick 3, pay for 2), I was very pleased. But on first listen I couldn't really hear what all the fuss was about. They play metal virtually without their own sound, I was ready to let this band pass in silence. Why listen to a Stratovarius copy, when one have the real deal? Luckily I gave the disc another spin, and soon the doors opened. Kamelot has a lot more to offer than just copying others. They are much more diverse that their Finnish brothers. They have hints of progressive metal, but never more than just adding to the melodic aspect of their sound. The more I listened to the album, the more fascinated I became with this band. Roy's voice turned from "OK enough", to "world class" in no time. And today I find this album to be a masterpiece in melodic power metal. All the songs are well thought through. And the album balance on a diversity I've seldom heard in this kind of music. Absolutely fabulous! A MUST!

Killer tracks: All of them, but check out "Nights Of Arabia", "A Sailorman's Hymn" and "Glory" to be amazed!

THE BLACK HALO (2005) SPV/STEAMHAMMER (Limited Edition Digipak)

Kamelot have become one of those band that always deliver quality albums. And it is a shame that they don't enjoy the same success as bands like Nightwish or Stratovarius. Because, quite frankly, these guys are far better then those bands! So one can only hope that 'The Black Halo' can be the album to change that. And if their label play their cards right, this should not be an impossible task. The track "The Haunting (Somewhere In Time)" should easily appeal to the same fan-group as for the mentioned bands. Kamelot's symphonic metal is just awesome. I love to just sit back with my headphones on, and just take in the theatrical feeling of the entire album. Everything has been taken up a notch since their prior releases, and everything just get's the job done here. There are not many bands around that can showcase as much talent as this band can. Roy and Thomas is a combination made in metal heaven! 'The Black Halo' is partly a concept album, and a continuation of the theme presented on their last effort, 'Epica'. The story is from the classic tail of 'Faust'. On the guest side presented I would say that Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir), here doin' the part of Mephisto,  is the most noticeable. Much can be said about the music on this album, and you could probably use about any positive superlative you can think of to describe it. Just know that this is one stellar album, that will appeal to any music lover, be it power, progressive, symphonic, melodic and dare I say black metal fan. It most certainly will rank high on my top 20 of 2005 releases.

Killer tracks: March Of Mephisto, When The Lights Are Down, The Haunting (Somewhere In Time), This Pain, Momento Mori

GHOST OPERA (2005) SPV/STEAMHAMMER (Limited Edition Digipak w/bonus DVD)

Kamelot didn't exactly make it easy on themselves releasing such a monumental album as 'The Black Halo' really was. How on earth do you even try to match such an album? Thomas and the boys think they have found the solution; just add more of everything! Yes, 'Ghost Opera' adds more orchestration, more female vocals, more choir "action" and more production "stuff". But does this make a better product? Unfortunately, no. Sadly, the task seems impossible, and 'Ghost Opera' is nowhere near as good as it's predecessor. It lacks the brilliantness and the ability to blow me away on each listen. It also sounds very much like a product made in a studio, rather then music that is "alive". Don't get me wrong though, Kamelot still delivers highly competent music, astonishingly played, and arranged by very skilled musicians. It just doesn't sit as well with me as I had hoped. I used more time getting into it, and less time wanting to listen to it again. All of the songs are solid, if you listen to them separately. But as a whole, I almost get a little bored with this CD. Maybe they overdid the "thinking" this time? I was also hoping that this would be a cool concept album. But I don't think any of the songs are written as a continuing story. The band made a name for themselves with 'The Black Halo', and I'm sure they are capable to build on that even more with 'Ghost Opera'. I might even get to like it more and more in time also. But for now, I will most definitely rather put on 'The Black Halo' again. My Limited Edition comes with a bonus track, and a bonus DVD.

Killer tracks: Rule The World, The Human Stain, Love You To Death, The Pendulous Fall

Roy Kahn guest appearances:

Avantasia - 'The Scarecrow'

Related artists:

Conception, Circle II Circle, Doro, Blaze