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New Shit, Power Metal Party

SO, ANYONE INTO KAMELOT?

 Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 at 3:30pm by

Kamelot are one of those bands that I’ve heard about for-ever and never, ever actually listened to. Why, you ask? I dunno. Probably because they’re called “Kamelot.” That’s one of those band names that tells you everything you need to know before you ever hear a single note. Seriously. I don’t mean to judge a book by it’s cover, but like Doc Coyle said: if you went to see a band called “Fuck You in the Eye Socket” and they sounded like DragonForce, you’d feel pretty misled, right? And we all know what genre any band called “Kamelot,” or whose name is in any way a misspelling of something from a famous legend about knights and shit, is going to to play. But in case you’re a total dolt and are thinking “Grindcore?” right now, keep in mind that their albums always have titles like Epica and Dominion and Eternity for Men, and covers that look like this:

So, yeah. Power metal. And not good power metal, like Mercenary or Communic; power metal so cheesy you could mix it with your macaroni.

And so this bootleg footage of a new song, “The Great Pandemonium,” is the first time I’ve ever actually heard Kamelot, but, sho’ ’nuff, they’re a cheesy power metal band. But they clearly have a following, so… anyone care to defend them? Tell me I’m an idiot for thinking there’s any difference between these cats and Communic? Or at least ponder how this band could possibly be from Tampa and not Germany or someplace like that? Get it out of your system in the comments section.

-AR

[via Blabs]

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  • Ares

    I know Ziltoid is into these guys, he put ‘em on his best of the century list over the summer if I remember correctly. Shit, when it comes to power metal it’s still all about Blind Guardian for me.

    • Ares

      Found it! Here was his list. I don’t agree with his anti-Pantera/LOG flaming, but shit, he’s into some killer bands.

      Kamelot – The Black Halo
      Arcturus – The Sham Mirrors
      Impaled – Mondo Medicale
      Meshuggah – Nothing
      Symphony X – The Odyssey
      Devin Townsend – Accelerated Evolution
      Tyr – Eric the Red
      Mercenary – 11 Dreams
      Strapping Young Lad – Alien
      Mercenary – The Hours that Remain
      Cynic – Traced in Air
      Theocracy – Mirror of Souls
      Anubis Gate – Andromeda Unchained
      Vortech – Posthumanism
      Primordial – To The Nameless Dead
      Amon Amarth – With Oden on Our Side
      Dark Tranquillity – Fiction
      Suidakra – Emprise to Avalon
      Windir – 1184
      Augury – Concealed
      Ne Obliviscaris – The Aurora Veil

      • Lordassenfroth

        i prefer tyr’s Land or Ragnarok myself

        • Kuranes

          I’d almost not even call Tyr “power metal”. Maybe that’s because I like them.

          • http://dmxrr15@hotmail.com IsntaTOTALdouchebag10

            I also remember getting into it with Ziltoid for being such an arrogant douche about music yet liking this band…I mean are you serious?

      • Ziltoid

        Haha, stalking out my list, I see…

        I have to say, I might change that list up a bit if I felt like revising it. I’d probably take off a few things like Dark Tranquillity, Augury, and Tyr and replace them with stuff like Kalisia, Exivious, Cormorant (even though Metazoa came after the list was published…I don’t care), The Chasm, Mirrorthrone, The Ocean, Mithras, Ulcerate, Russian Circles, Edge of Sanity, Emperor, Spiral Architect, Martyr, or Lykathea Alfame.

        • DemonicLemming

          Could leave Tyr, but How Far to Asgaard is a better album from them, I think. Sorta surprised there’s no Turisas (either Battle Metal or The Varangian Way) with Tyr on the list. Also, if you haven’t checked them out yet, from a musical snobbery perspective, Rosetta and Demians both bear a listen.

          • Ziltoid

            I like Roserra’s Gallilean Satellites, and I haven’t checked out Demians yet (they’ve been on my list for awhile). I absolutely hate Turisas with a passion, though. Utterly atrocious crap. Tyr is pretty much the only band of that style that I like.

          • DemonicLemming

            Galilean Satellites is the only one I’ve listened to so far…heard the other albums weren’t as “spaceman” though, so haven’t really pursued them. Demians is very good, closest comparison I can think of is a meeker Porcupine Tree, but that’s not really a good definition. I guess i like Turisas because of the power/viking metal aspect…been listening to both of their albums quite often recently.

        • natsquatch

          Well, Mr. Ziltoid, now that I look at them, these lists basically destroy any arguments that some people have made in the past about you only liking super-obscure junk just because people don’t know it. Most people who are moderately-versed in metal (such as myself) will have listened to, or at least know the names of, most or all of these bands. Just because one knows more than the average Lamb of God, Behemoth, or Gojira fan doesn’t mean he cares more about obscurity than actual quality. Then again, I guess you already knew that :P

          • Ziltoid

            Of course I know that. My top list is not that obscure at all, with the exception of maybe Vortech, Theocracy, and NeO. I do like my share of obscure bands, but a lot of them just didn’t do enough to crack my list.

          • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

            Or you could just like whoever you want and not live off a list.

            Just a thought.

          • natsquatch

            Hammer_Smashed, I know this is a late reply, but who said anything about living off a list and not liking whatever they want?

        • Shaman

          Hey Ziltoid, great to hear you’re into Suidakra, the band that got me into metal and my favorite overall.

          • Ziltoid

            Yeah, they’re great. I got to see them live last year opening for Tyr and Alestorm, and they put on an excellent show. Too bad Crogacht was mixed so badly, though, because the actual music is great.

      • Iosif Eugen

        I think all their albums are the best(only with khan)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Devon-Czekaj/550092101 Devon Czekaj

    Kamelot are great. Listen to The Black Halo or Ghost Opera before you start talking shit about them.

    • Dirtman73

      I won’t talk shit about them, and that’s only because I have no urge to listen to anything they’ve ever done. But that applies to virtually every power metal band.

      • IWRESTLEDYOURMOMONCE

        At least you have an open mind…

  • JustGrimace

    It is what it is. Musically, it’s pretty good, and it’s “power cheez” factor is at tolerable levels. Next to Symphony X, they’re my favorite Power Metal Band.

    And their guitarist and drummer are Americans. At this point, I believe everyone else in the band is from Europe.

  • Sean

    As much as I dislike power metal, I do own their Black Halo cd and think it is pretty good. In fact, its the only power metal cd I own. It’s worth giving a listen.

    • Mike

      Not a fan of most of their stuff but “the Black Halo” is a great power metal album IMO, with great guest work from Shagrath and Simone Simmons.

  • Sean

    I dislike power metal for the most part, but I do have the Black Halo and find its a pretty good listen. Actually, it is the only power metal cd in my collection. I can’t speak for the rest of their stuff

  • coldgraniticbliss

    Nah, Kamelot is awesome, especially The Black Halo. I always thought they did the whole power metal thing really tastefully, and Roy Khan has a ridiculous set of pipes.

  • Cash Bailey

    I’m a fan of the last two records. Quality melodic metal, and Roy Khan has one of the best voices inmetal.

    Cattle Decapitation fans may find it a bit tough to take, but for those of us who like SONGS Kamelot is definitely one of the very best of ‘those’ bands. And I’m someone who also thinks that Blind Guardian is as boring as batshit.

  • Driven9

    i dont know how anyone can get into this lame shit.

  • DemonicLemming

    I like them quite a bit (although that probably really shouldn’t surprise anyone). The Black Halo is a very good cd, and Epica and The Fourth Legacy are pretty decent, too. Not everyone who listens to metal wants indecipherable grunts.

  • Erik

    Or indegripherable cunts.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alec-Scott-Jackson/1521912004 Alec Scott Jackson

    Kamelot is actually one of my favorite bands, precisely because as far as power metal goes, they’re not cheesy. At all. At least now, anyway, as they stopped being a cheesy power metal after their 2001 album Karma. Yes, that cover is fairly ridiculous, but if one simply reads the wikipedia entry on that album (Epica, for those of you not paying attention), you’ll find that it and the following album are actually concept discs inspired by Faust. And their most recent disc (Ghost Opera, my favorite thus far), is really more gothic metal than power metal, in terms of atmosphere and musical style. Their vocalist, Roy Khan, the Norwegian guy in the band, has been aptly described as Geoff Tate with balls. Incredible voice. They are very different from Communic, but I see Communic as more prog than power. Not to mention I find their vocalist extremely annoying. But as far as power metal goes, Kamelot can’t be beaten.

  • SourDeez

    Kamelot is actually one of the only power metal bands I like. I tend to share your views on cheesy power metal, but Kamelot has a few things going for them. One is their badass singer, who sounds nothing like any other power metal vocalist. They also have interesting riffs and a creative sense of orchestration that’s not too overblown. Sure, they’re cheesy as fuck. But SOMETIMES I want to listen to fast, cheesy power metal, and when I do I always choose Kamelot. I’d put them in the same category as Symphony X: Definitely corny, but the music itself is so well-composed that I can overlook the corniness.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jacquelin-Rostad/635209883 Jacquelin Rostad

    I like ‘em… but then, I like cheesy power metal. Their live show is a lot of fun, very dramatic, which I suppose you would expect from a band with album covers like that. They do concept albums, and the mix of that theatricality with a focus on concept albums means that, for me, the albums sound kind of like a more metal version of the Phantom of the Opera or Wicked soundtrack. I suppose that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement in the eyes of some metal fans, but I dig it.

    As mentioned, they’re less proggy than Communic – Kamelot’s songs are mostly short (4-5 minutes) and the traditional structures they use would be familiar to most non-metal music listeners. (This may be why the live shows I’ve been to have had a mix of “metal fan” types and people who look like they’re skipping school play rehearsal.) Communic’s songs are 8-9 minutes long with multiple solos and interludes that go in all kinds of different directions.

  • Captain Wookie

    If you are going to listen to an album of theirs, listen to Black Halo. By far their best work. Their earlier work I can see why you’d stay away from it as it is really cheesy power metal, but when khan stepped in and started writing it started to move away from that. But if the last two albums (and some of the third) are any indicator of the direction the new album it should be worth a listen at the very least.

  • fritz

    Roy Khan is a great vocalist, I love the orchestration in their music, and the odd electronic elements they add in sound pretty good too. Definitely one of my favourite power metal artists, if not my favourite.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Sterner/1335958279 Andrew Sterner

    Coming from a guy who loves listening to Death on a regular basis, Kamelot isn’t terrible. I won’t say they rock off my socks by any means, but a friend of mine is into them, and i don’t feel compelled to punch him for having it on. Power metal sounding for sure, but they aren’t agonizing to listen to sparingly.

  • Rafael

    As many people have already said, try listening to Black Halo, it’s a great record. This also coming from someone who doesn’t like 99% of the power metal bands.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Petrasek/1449952845 Mike Petrasek

    Got into them when I found out Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir) sang on March of Mephisto, the first song off of The Black Halo, which is a great concept album…more info is on the “ever-so resourceful” Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Halo

  • Coonsan

    I don’t understand why MS even bothers with mentioned Power Metal stuff, or at least anything that’s not a more “thrashy-aggressive” power metal like Persuader or what not. If you hate the entire genre as a whole, why even bring it up? Of course one of the cornerstone bands in Symphonic Power Metal (and one of the first American bands to do it) is going to sound bad to you if you don’t like Symphonic Power Metal.

  • inhumanrampager

    I like my power metal like I like my mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, and bacon cheeseburgers: Super cheesy, with bacon, and a side of fucking awesome.

  • http://bloodandthumbsticks.blogspot.com/ The Overmatt

    I actually find them a hell of a lot less cheesy than bands like Rhapsody or DragonForce. I mean they’re over the top and have lots of symphonic stuff, but Roy Kahn isn’t going for a falsetto on every note, and a lot of Thomas Youngblood’s riffs are pretty tasty and headbang-worthy.

    The Black Halo is one of my favourite albums of all time, and Ghost Opera’s pretty up there too.

  • Ziltoid

    Cheesy power metal (hereby referred to as flower metal) tends to suck, but Kamelot plays it very well to the point where they are easily one of the top bands in all of power metal. I tend to like ballsier power metal like Persuader and Imaginations-era Blind Guardian, but Kamelot has put out some fantastic power metal records that show how to play the genre correctly. The vocal melodies are soaring, yet with a vocalist like Khan, they’re not upbeat or nearly as cheesy as lots of power metal vocals. The guitars, while playing a lot of the general 16th power metal notes, also play some very nice and subtle riffs. Nothing that will blow your mind or anything (unlike The Chasm’s most recent album, full of death metal riffy amazingness), but riffs that really accentuate parts of the music well, while also giving it an specific element of rhythm that a lot of power metal lacks, and the lead guitar melodies tend to work very nicely when harmonized with the vocals (e.g., Center of the Universe, Forever, Elizabeth Pt. III, etc.). Also, the solos fit very nicely into songs, and are never wanky in an unnecessary way. The bass and drums play the usual role that they play in power metal and are fine for that. The keyboards add a good layer to the sound without being overbearing, which is really important.

    Check out Karma and The Black Halo for their best two albums. This is top tier power metal. And I have no clue how this band is from Tampa and not Europe.

    • SourDeez

      Actually, Khan is Norwegian.

    • http://bloodandthumbsticks.blogspot.com/ The Overmatt

      Yeah I’m told half the band is from Norway while half is from Tampa.

      Great description of them Ziltoid, you pretty much summed up what makes them great.

      What’re your thoughts on Ghost Opera? I wouldn’t call it their best album but I think “Rule The World” earns it a recommendation alone.

      • Ziltoid

        Ghost Opera has some catchy songs, but they dropped much of the power metal aspects of the guitar riffs. I’m really not fond of the chuggy riffs on there, but they still executed it quite well. It’s not nearly as good as TBH or Karma or Epica, but it’s solid.

  • Dan

    Well is Communic really power metal at all? I’m not feeling it.

    Roy Khan’s easily one of the best clean vocalists in metal today, that’s reason enough to like Kamelot, and then you’ve got the music as well which is also fantastic. And with some of them being american they manage to keep the cheese to a minimum as well.

    This new song’s sounding pretty damn good too.

  • Vakarm

    there are two kinds of power metal that have emerged: the cheesy kind like Kamelot, Stratovarius and Rhapsody. The other is the less cheesy kind, i would include Communic, Firewind and the like. But hey, i fuckin love all that stuff. Thank god i’m not lactose intolerant

  • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

    Kamelot is sorry, saw em live at Sonisphere in Holland last year, they replaced Mastodon who couldnt make it. Talk about a FUCKING LET DOWN.

  • Oden

    Kamelot can be fun as long as you dont take yourself too seriously to enjoy GOOD cheezy power metal.

    • Oden

      Cheesy Power-Metal Rules More Than Your Mom’s $5 BJs

      Symphony-X (The Oddyssey)
      Stratovarius
      Rhapsody
      Blind Guardian
      3 inches of blood (in moderation)
      Brainstorm
      Dream Evil
      Falconer
      Turisas (Folk Power Metal)
      Heavenly anyone??!?
      SONATA ARCTICA

      • DemonicLemming

        You forgot stuff like Epica, Within Temptation, and some other bands I can’t think of now that are like those (my brain is fried from loud noises at work).

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Anderson/576580493 John Anderson

    are you sue this is a metal website anymore, anyone in metal knows Kamelot and saying you don’t like Fear Factory while giving some shitty bands space on this. the articles have been so poor recently aswell , this site going to the dogs i tell ya.

  • http://thatdevilmusic.blogspot.com Rob Liz

    I’ve made mention of Kamelot a few times on my own blog site. The biggest problem I have with them is the name. It screams “Generic cheesy ass power metal band” and they’re not anymore. I think they would get more listens if they had changed their name after getting rid of the original vocalist who was a dead rip off of Geoff Tate.

    There are no dragons and wizards in their music in fact there is almost a romantic feel to almost every song and album they’ve done since Roy Khan became the vocalist. Their concept albums had to do with Faustian lore instead of Lord of the Rings or Nostradamus (yes I went there).

    In a nutshell, if you like symphonic elements, actual songwriting with real singing, and music to bang a chick by, this band is for you. Otherwise if you’re brootal you can keep on keeping on.

  • http://thenumberoftheblog.com DemiGodRaven

    Mocking Kamelot is heresy. They are in a class of their own when it comes to power metal. It’s not overtly cheesy, and they actually make some damn good music. Roy Khan is a hell of a vocalist as well.

    As for me, I started on Ghost Opera, but Karma, Epica, The Black Halo, and Ghost Opera are all awesome discs and I’m looking forward to the new one.

  • http://myspace.com/miniferret Miniferret

    I’m not really a big fan of power metal, but Epica and The Black Halo are fantastic concept albums!

  • Cash Bailey

    Of course, the God of this kind of melodic, progressive metal is the great Arjen Lucassen.

    If you like Kamelot then don’t hesitate to buy the first record of his side project Stream of Passion. The record is called ‘Embrace the Storm’ and is an utter masterpiece of the melodic metal genre.

    Shame their Arjen-less follow-up record wasn’t that great.

    • joshkid

      I heard “The Fame Within” once before. Awesome stuff dude.

  • eden

    i actually found kamelot on accident when searching for music for epica. sine they have an album called epica i guess that’s how it got mixed up? either way i loved it. Haven’t listened to them in a long time though.

  • Todd

    Power metal is my least favorite metal genre; the really good albums are fantastic, but the vast, vast majority (vast!) is crap. Kamelot is the absolute apogee of pure, non-prog power metal (so I’m not comparing them to Symphony X, who are in a different universe of awesomeness altogether). They don’t do anything especially different from the other power metal bands, they just do everything about as well as it can be done within the constraints of the genre. Solid songwriting, great vocals, and epic without being so over-the-top that it can only be enjoyed on an ironic level. I love it.

    I’ll also note that I didn’t care for Black Halo until I listened to the entire album straight through. Part of the draw of their music is the way the album’s arc ties all of the songs together.

  • quess

    The Black Halo was, imo, one of the best rock/metal albums of 2005. I love heavy; but symphonic, lyrical heavy is appealing to me as well. And my wife loves Khan, so it’s a win/win for me!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Livingston/25310975 Robert Livingston

    Khan has to be the BEST clean vocalist in all of metal. Hands down. Ghost Opera really got me into Kamelot. Cheesy, but quality band!

  • Katia

    they’re ok, i like a few songs, but I must agree they’re nothing extraordinary. Not worth defending

    • Cash Bailey

      Or condemning.

      Good band with quality songs.

      Full stop.

  • Carbonthief

    I’m going to defend Kamelot on this basis: it’s the only power metal band I’ve ever heard that I can actually take seriously. Their first few albums with their old singer is pretty cliche but after Roy Khan joined the band, they took a completely different lyrical direction.

    It’s not all about dragons and legends and being epic. Most of their lyrics are pretty abstract now. Give Ghost Opera a good listen, the album not just the song, and tell me that’s typical power metal material.

    • dot

      ditto. love epica, black halo was ok, haven’t listened to them since. will check em out again.

  • Cash Bailey

    Looks like Metal Sucks took on the wrong opponent this time.

    Kamelot are a great melodic metal band, and the overwhelming majority agrees.

  • Scourge441

    I don’t feel like typing out a reply to why Kamelot are awesome, so I’ll let When The Lights Are Down, the first track from The Black Halo, do it for me:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qiuni_38MkQ

    Pay special attention to the part starting at 2:19.

  • villanj1

    Fuck. All my comments lately are in defense of Power Metal bands. I don’t even like it that much. I like Kamelot though. I have to agree with Ziltch, The Black Halo is excellent.

  • Justin

    close-minded much? kamelot might not make great metal the brutal way many like it, but they can and do make pretty good music.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Loudden-Mathias/1457846893 Loudden Mathias

    I absolutely adore Kamelot. Epica and Karma were both BRILLIANT albums.

    I remember listening to Epica for the first time and being in legitimate suspense. Needless to say, The Black Halo was a letdown and ruined the story for me.

    My only real complaint is that I wish they would stick to Power Metal and not make half-assed attempts at Progressive music.

  • http://salsicha.wordpress.com Gabriel

    Neber liked this band. Sucks just like any otehr power metal act…

    • Iosif Eugen

      It’s more simphonic metal dumbass!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kelly-Wayne-Miller/1231733283 Kelly Wayne Miller

    Love, love, love this band. I used to listen to them every day but to be honest it’s pretty easy to get burned out.

  • http://new-worthless-hack.blogspot.com Kratz

    I too am a fan of Kamelot. If a poor quality version of one of their songs is all you’ve heard, it’s time to listen to something else. My favorite song of theirs is “Center of the Universe” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOVW9GezQ0k) from Epica. Also, check out their bad-ass video for “March of Mephisto” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0yYxOV-bRU).

  • Yellow

    After all, it´s only music…

  • hi my name is mark

    You’ve never hear of Kamelot? They’re an awesome band, “Black Halo” is one of my favorite metal albums of the past couple of years.

  • gjriron

    How can you run a metal site and never heard of Kamelot?? And they are NOT cheesy power metal…

  • bekilicious

    it’s like the classic epic braveheart shit that dragonforce and all the viking lovers get some manly grunt out of. i’m not a man and i don’t need that. but it’s funny to watch u suckers fight about it.

    yeah they do suck, so does this site, and i f*ing love it. there’s a spot on my plate for mac’n'cheese every once in a blue; i wouldn’t appreciate it if it was every day, but i still appreciate it. it keeps my palate expansive and full-bodied. who cares if it’s “power metal”. personally, i get black halo, don’t really get their other stuff. but u gotta taste & see, cheers u suckers!

    • Iosif Eugen

      fuck u man….

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Colgan/26800545 Chris Colgan

    They absolutely are cheesy power metal on their early albums. The Black Halo is an amazingly crafted power metal album and is one of the best releases in the genre, in my opinion. Kamelot is probably the best straight-up power metal band out right now.

    And yes, I do like Mercenary and Communic too, but they aren’t pure power metal. Mercenary is power/melo-death and Communic is power-prog. There are big differences.

  • Shimbo

    Yeah, Kamelot are cheesy. But so is every other genre of music on this fucking Earth that has ever existed. You think some sweaty guy growling his face off isn’t cheesy? It’s good damn hilarious.

    Kamelot is delectable cheesiness. They are an excellent and professional band and one that is at the top of their respective genre. Listen to some of their latest stuff and be you’ll be surprised.

    • DemonicLemming

      Pretty much this…I think it’s hilarious that guys who go to watch guys paint their faces, wear fake spiky bracelets and shit, and grunt “lyrics” about wanting to bring about the end of the world, those same guys try to talk shit about power/prog metal. I guess they think people take the death metal band members seriously when they’re wearing their little costumes and Halloween paint…

  • TheSentinel909

    Kamelot actually have one of the best male vocalist in melodic metal at the moment. I don’t think they are cheesy at all – come on, most power metal bands are way cheesier than Kamelot, who’ve released 2 concept albums based on Goethe’s Faust…better than fucking unicorns and emerald swords

  • Marcel

    Kamelot!

    It’s only a model.

    Ssh!

  • Iosif Eugen

    cmon dude….go and fuck urself……..they are the best band ever. U look at the cd cover?? JUST OPEN UR FUKING EYES….Listen to at least 1 of their songs man……forever, center of the universe, the human stain. U said that the grate pandemonium(it will apear in september this year) doesn’t sounds good……fuck urself man…..kamelot is a brand….not dragonforce……open ur fucking years and look at their LIVE album to hear what’s there. they are the best band live. They are singing better live than in the studyos. half a planet loves kamelot and Roy’s fucking wanderfull voice and u come to explain us that u found their name on an salamy comercial. just listen to them…pure joy…The world’s best voice, one of the best drummers, hell of a guitar man and gr8 basist……best band ever and u look at a cd cover….dumbass…u can put on the same level with iron maden and metalica only that they are even better. And Epica and The Black Halo are concept cd’s and they can’t put all the grafics they want on them…look at Ghost opera, Ghost opera:SC and Poetry for the Poisoned…..fuck I love those guys….kamelot 4 ever