Kamelot – The Haunting
Today’s MSMOTD
Kamelot – The Haunting (Somewhere In Time) (from 2005′s “The Black Halo”)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Ahhh, Kamelot. I avoided this band for quite some time after it was recommended to me. Because really, Kamelot? With a “K”? Laaaame. Imagine my surprise when I finally gave them a listen and they quickly became one of my favourite metal outfits! I think you’ll like them too if you give them a chance. Beautiful vocal duets, classy orchestral arrangements, memorable melodies and top-notch production throughout. They even avoid typically cheesy metal lyrics and instead explore more literary topics such as Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe’s poetic dramatization of Faust. Check out the songs at the bottom of the post for something heavier and something softer than the MSMOTD.
So delightfully campy. I want that coat!
Now, I have a bit of an admission to make. I really enjoy power metal. Cheesy lyrics, wailing guitars, frenetic drums, bombastic choruses, the whole bit. Kamelot is generally considered one of these sorts of bands, but in my opinion they are several classes above, for several reasons. First of all, they’re from Florida while most other big power metal acts are European. Second, singer Roy Khan (who is Norwegian) is one of the very best rock vocalists in the world. I say that with no reservations. In the world. He’s the smoothest voice in metal and has incredible range without any of the annoying pseudo-operatic tendencies that plague other power metal vocalists.
The fairly cheesy video for the excellent March of Mephisto from “The Black Halo”, featuring Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir on the growly vocals (as Mephisto).
The third reason that Kamelot is special is their songwriting. Unlike most power metal bands, Kamelot’s songs are classy, sophisticated, lyrically interesting and majestic. The Allmusic.com review of “The Black Halo” calls The Haunting a “masterful example of regal, symphonically-enhanced heavy metal”. Their music ranges from mid-tempo masterpieces like that to slow acoustic ballads ala Temples of Gold and faster heavier tunes such as The Edge of Paradise (both featured below). Thomas Youngblood, the main songwriter and guitar lead, is an amazing guitarist, but refrains from the guitar wankery and soloing which typefies much metal, instead choosing a much more restrained approach.
Let me know what you think of Kamelot by leaving a comment!
- Mons
More Music from Kamelot
Kamelot – Temples of Gold (from 2001’s “Karma”)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kamelot – The Edge of Paradise (from 2003’s “Epica”)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Further info about today’s MSMOTD
Official Website: http://www.kamelot.com/
Wikipedia Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamelot
Buy The Black Halo
so some mixed feelings on this band. i totally love the “campy” outfits, and you were right about the smoothness of his voice: i did really like that. i also really like how the lyrics kind of tell a story.
i watched the music video for march of mephisto and it actually kinda freaked me out lol, however i really liked the light versus darkness imagery and i was rooting for the girl in the white dress and i was really happy that she doesn’t cave lol. i might write a poem about that; it’s really good imagery.
i think it was the black stuff oozing out of the creepy guy’s mouth that kind of turned me off, plus how the lead singer stares at you like he hates you lol.
but i think in just listening to it and not watching cheesy music videos, i kinda like them. i think they’ve been growing on me, actually.
also check out my newest response to your Mille post.
i hope you like it!
Well, he’s in character in that video. It’s about Faust, so that’s the dark/hellish imagery, but yeah, it’s pretty cheesy/creepy. With Kamelot, it’s all about the music. I mainly ignore the videos, haha. The video for The Haunting is pretty nice though! Check out more of their music. I think you’d like it. Their Karma and Epica albums for sure, along with The Black Halo.
I had the same Camelot-But-With-A-K incredulity back when I first picked the Karma album up off the shelf, several years ago.
Now, post-Karma and a few excellent releases later, the “Camelot” spelling is the subordinate one in my mind, the once and future king be damned. Funny how a name changes after it’s been attached to an experience. Such a great band!
in listening to them again ( i often listen to bands i have mixed feelings about over and over until i have a definite opinion), i think they are really really really growing on me. in a big way. the opening notes of “Temples of Gold” actually really reminds me of “Dandelion” actually, and i think that’s probably what made the definitive decision, which is:
yes, i actually do like them, to my surprise lol