Kamelot - Ghost Opera

CrazyCatGirl reviews the goth metaller's latest album, but does it hit the high notes?
 
Never judge a band by it’s album cover! This is something I know only to well. I am instantly seduced by a good picture on the front of the CD case and it has led me down many an ill fated road.

Covers that look like they should belong to symphonic metal groups end up as screamo death metal, and covers that look like classic rock/metal turn out to be electronic punk.

I am renowned for my bad choice of album based on the groups name or the picture on the cover. So imagine my, and everyone else’s surprise, when I discovered Florida based progressive metallers, Kamelot, based purely on the cover of their latest album Ghost Opera.

Ghost Opera is Kamelots 8th album, since they formed in 1994. The first time I listened to it I waited for the bottom to drop out! Every song I heard was laced with the anxiety that half way through  would degenerate into punk style screaming or death metal growling. And yet, none did.

There were some surprises, though I doubt you would be as shocked if you had followed the group's career. The album has a good range of songs on it from the heavy, pounding beats of the title track to the gentle, hymn like Anthem. It is a clever album, taking the listener through a range of highs and lows, sitting fast numbers like Up Through the Ashes next to heartfelt gothic ballads like Love You To Death.

The overall effect of the album is powerful, and it would have to be to keep fans onboard after the runaway success of their 7th album, Black Halo. 

Kamelot have already built a name for themselves as the band who put the progressive in progressive metal, “We aimed at a tougher sound in connection with lugubrious melodies that are still extremely catchy.” commented band guitarist Thomas Young Blood in a recent interview to promote their 2008 Ghost Opera Tour. And this album had to be better than most as vocalist, Khan explained “Our aim is always to top ourselves”. 

I have since tried to listen to as many of Kamelot's other albums as possible and though I like Epica and Black Halo, Ghost Opera's combination of haunting lyrics and clever melodies, added to cracking baselines and fast beats has and will continue to make it a firm favourite.

5/5