First, I have to tell you that I have become addicted to this album. Although I have listened to it approximately thirty times so far, there seems to be some kind of magical force that compels me to hear it over and over again. Well, actually it's no surprise since I have fancied their music since Roy Khan took over the vocal department of this American metal band in the late nineties. In my opinion Kamelot is one of the classiest metal outfits of the World at the moment because their epic symphonic (progressive) power metal has more style compared to the music many other power metal bands are making today. More importantly, Kamelot has shown that they are able to evolve musically.

The Black Halo is Kamelot's eighth album and it is yet again inspired by Goethe's Faust just like the previous Epica. The main theme on this album is battle between good and evil - life and death. My favorite songs on this album are 'The Haunting', 'Soul Society' 'Abandoned', 'This Pain', 'Moonlight', 'Nothing Ever Dies', 'Memento Mori' and 'Serenade'. However, also those more typical power metal songs like 'March of Mephisto', 'When the Lights Are Down' and 'The Black Halo' are good.

All in all, this is an excellent album and I recommend it to all of you. If you haven't heard of Kamelot before, now would be a good time to give them a try.

Release dates: March 14th, 2005 (Europe) and March 15th, 2005 (USA)

Visit Artist's Website


- MIZU (March 13th, 2005)

« back

LINE-UP:
Khan, Roy: Vocals Youngblood, Thomas: Guitars Barry, Glenn: Bass Grillo, Casey: Drums Guest musicians: Miro: Keyboards and orchestral arrangements Paeth, Sascha: Additional guitars Johansson, Jens: Keyboards solos on "March of Mephisto" and "When the Lights Are Down" Shagrath: Mephisto character on "March of Mephisto" and "Memento Mori" Rizzo, Cinzia: Cabaret singer on "Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso" Simons, Simone: Marguerite character on "The Haunting" Rudd, Geoff: The Usher at the Theater and Mayor of Gatesville Mari: Helena character on "Memento Mori" and "Abandoned" Youngblood, Annelise: Baby Alena on "Soul Society" Neygenfind, Andre: D-bass on "Abandoned" Dietrich, Wolfgang: Oboe on "Memento Mori" Rodenberg Symphony Orchestra Kamelot Choir: Langhans, Herbie Somerville-Scharf, Amanda Rodenberg, Michael Göbel, Gerit Rettke, Thomas Kjaernes, Elisabeth
Producer:	Paeth, Sascha and Miro
Mixing by:	Paeth, Sascha
Mastering by:	Paeth, Sascha; Colodetti, Philip and Tibes, Michael

	TRACKLIST:
	01. March of Mephisto 02. When the Lights Are Down 03. The Haunting (Somewhere in Time) 04. Soul Society 05. Interlude I - Dei Gratia 06. Abandoned 07. This Pain 08. Moonlight 09. Interlude II - Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso 10. The Black Halo 11. Nothing Ever Dies 12. Memento Mori 13. Interlude III - Midnight/Twelve Tolls for a New Day 14. Serenade Length: 57:23