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It’s now 10 albums into the band’s career and yet categorising Kamelot’s music is as awkward as it ever was. To varying degrees, the band’s music has brought together Progressive Metal, Power Metal and dark, almost Gothic, atmospheric moods. New album “Silverthorn” follows this modus operandi and takes the listener to the musical territory of “Karma” and “Epica”.
Of major interest to Kamelot fans is the band’s new singer Tommy Karevik. Tommy’s singing style is very similar to that of Roy Khan (Kamelot’s previous vocalist) – he’s very good, although not as versatile as Khan. If we’re placing “Silverthorn” amongst early Kamelot albums, this time the songs sound much tighter and polished and the album has a more seamless flow to it. As is typical with Kamelot, we get to hear a lot of keyboard-based intros and outros not to mention a good balance of riffs, solos and evocative instrumental passages. Especially with respect to that last comment, keyboardist Oliver Palotai once again provides a crucial contribution to the music.
So its business as usual and fans should be happy, yes? Well only to a certain extent because, to be honest, being a long-time fan myself I do occasionally miss the freshness of ideas synonymous with the band – that being one reason I had particularly enjoyed their previous “Poetry For The Poisoned” album. And sometimes you’re only as strong as your weakest link.
Luckily there are other qualities that make “Silverthorn” an essential purchase. For example “Prodigal Son” must be the best song ever recorded by Kamelot. The choirs are amazing and the dramatic lead vocals sound like a minor legacy of vocalist Fabio Lione’s temporary tenure with the band. Some catchy riffs make ‘My Confession’ ideal for a live scenario. ‘Solitaire’ is an anthemic Power Metal number that has guitarist Thomas Youngblood in top form – it strikes me that the best moments on “Silverthorn” are also the heaviest. Co-incidence?
Speaking on the album’s conceptual theme, Youngblood is reported to have said: “It’s the story of a young girl who dies in the arms of her two twin brothers, taking the three siblings’ big secret to her grave. The songs on Silverthorn talk about despair, a sense of guilt and the pursuit of truth.” Sounds like a Shakespearean tragedy! “Silverthorn” should be a thorn in the side of Kamelot sceptics. Pun intended! | ||||||||||||||||||
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