Kamelot
Epica

THE REVIEW

The Epic Metal genre has always been a niche variant for enthusiasts, but Kamelot is the exception to the rule... capable of blending epic sounds with glimpses of true power metal, their style is truly unmistakable, also thanks to Khan's voice, which makes every Kamelot song their distinctive trademark...

The album consists of songs about 4/5 minutes long, alternating with often recited introductions that seem to come directly from the atmospheres of medieval banquets, of ancient wars... in short, there is a very particular medieval flavor in this album, which however shows some uncertainties... the regular songs are technically good, although their monotonous structure (endless choruses) can be frowned upon. Regarding the revisited genre, we find power metal songs (including the majestic "III Ways to Epica" and the brisk "Descendant Of The Archangel"), slightly sappy but pleasant ballads (On The Coldest Winter Night), and remarkable Epic Rock marches (The Morning After). All of this is surrounded by the enthralling guitar of Youngblood (not a technical monster but still a good guitarist), the excellent drumming contribution from Grillo, while Barry with his bass remains a bit in the shadows...

In conclusion, this surprising Metal band astonishes with the effectiveness of some songs, especially in this LP which is really not bad (superior to previous works like Karma, Fourth Legacy, and Dominion), yet it should be noted that there are still a few too many easy listening and somewhat pop-like influences, but this only helps to attract both metal fans and individuals more inclined towards less hard rock realms...