Ghost opera

I always preferred the live sound of Kamelot, finding the sound to produced and muffled in the studio, but this album has improved vastly on the past ones, with the sound clear, and well-produced.

Ok, the classical opening does seem to be becoming a bit of a fad, strange how this album follows an album by Dutch rockers (and Kamelot friends) Epica with an orchestral opening, but I like it, and fad or not, it is certainly not something I object to.

The title track is a highlight for me. I loved the different time signature, rather than the usual poppy 4/4 used by most bands.

Song such as "Love You To Death" and "The Human Stain" had me singing along very happily.

The slow song of the album, "Anthem" was one of few that I can really get into. It didn't seem to be put there by necessity, or because the studio told them to. It felt considered, and worked on.

I do have a few niggling problems with the album. First and foremost being that on the song "Blücher" which is a fantastic song, but I was saddened to notice that Simone Simons beautiful vocals were pushed so far into the background. So much so that I didn't notice them until I read the booklet.

Another problem is that some of the songs struck me as a bit weak, and filler. But then, it may be that I just haven't given them a chance...you tell me...

Am I the only one who noticed that some songs did sound curiously like Epica songs? I am not sure if I object to it or not, I do like Epica, after all.

It is certainly good to see Kamelot develop, and progress beyond tried and tested formulas of the past, and come out with a fresh, certainly darker album than before. I certainly can't fault the guitar playing of Thomas Youngblood and Sascha Paeth. or the vocals of Roy Khan, who sounds more powerful than ever. In fact, I think his voice has developed a more mature and manly sound than before.

Khans miming in the video has improved as well.

ICED EARTH, ACCEPT, and KAMELOT (Vinyl Reissues)

It's the 25th anniversary of SPV / Steamhammer Records, the German based rock and metal label who are one of the leaders of the genre. To celebrate they're taking batches of classic albums and reissuing them on lovely, lovely vinyl, with some of the records making a debut on the best ever format.

Iced Earth - The Crucible Of Man: Something Wicked Part 2

The Crucible Of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 from American power metallers Iced Earth came out in 2008 and, as the title suggests, was the concluding part of their ongoing Something Wicked saga. It picked up where Framing Armageddon left off in 2007 and saw their best loved vocalist Matt Barlow, firmly ensconced in the band again, replacing ex Judas Priest man "Ripper" Owens, alongside guitarist and songwriter Jon Schaffer. Barlow contributes some amazing vocal lines to what is a dense work, and not the easiest way to get into the music of Iced Earth, but there are some amazing riffs to savour on tracks like "Crown Of The Fallen" and "The Revealing". It's gloriously presented here as a double album in a gatefold sleeve, with stunning artwork across the full cover spread and will definitely be a collector's piece.

Accept - Restless & Wild

Next we leap back to my childhood and the classic Restless & Wild album from Teutonic heavy metal band, Accept. A defining album in metal history, it contained what is arguably the first ever speed metal track, in the shape of opener "Fast As A Shark". The demented, air raid siren vocals of Udo Dirkschneider remain as peculiarly compelling as ever, a quarter of a century down the road, and allied to the fabulous guitars of Wolf Hoffman and Jorg Fischer on tracks like "Shake Your Heads" and "Flash Rockin' Man". this is proper, classic heavy metal, the way it should be done. A lovely gatefold sleeve gives you good cause to remember why those trousers and that haircut were always bad ideas.

Kamelot - Ghost Opera

Best of the lot in this batch, though, is Ghost Opera by Kamelot. When it came out a couple of years back, I reckoned it was the finest prog / power metal crossover I'd heard in absolute aeons, and it's remained a favourite of mine ever since. Extended to a double album, with only three tracks on each side, the power of the music just leaps out of the speakers, in a manner that says all albums should be made this way. Songs like "Rule The World", with its off-kilter riff and the Gregorian chant enhanced "Mourning Star" are just built for this kind of treatment, with the guitars of Thomas Youngblood sounding bigger and louder than ever before, on the excellently mastered vinyl. A true masterpiece, this one won't be leaving my record deck for a long time yet. Again, the gatefold sleeve and inner sleeve designs are works of art, and it would be worth buying a turntable just to appreciate this.

There are more vinyl reissues to come, and if this batch is anything to go by, they will be essential collector's items in years to come. I can't think of a better way to mark your birthday and, hopefully, some other record labels will take note.

Before I bought this album, I only had one CD by Kamelot and that was "Karma". I enjoyed this, but I found that some of it was a little hard to get into. However, on a recent buying spree, I bought "Ghost Opera" and boy am I glad I did.

Some people may think that the orchestral beginning is a little cliched, but I still like it and it runs really well into tracks one and two. I did notice at this point that the first two tracks were a little more commercial than I had expected, but they are both excellent songs and I always find myself singing along.

I have actually listened to this album almost constantly since I bought it and there are a couple of songs which are losing their appeal slightly, but the majority are still easy to listen to. As well as the first two tracks, I particularly enjoy the tracks where the female vocals complement the male.

I want to finish by singling out two tracks. Firstly, there is "Anthem" which is the obligatory slow song, but as other people have mentioned, it doesn't seem to have been added because it should... It really fits in with the album and the vocals are very emotional.

Finally, "Pendulous Fall" is my favourite track, although I can't quite put my finger on why. It's just that whenever I listen to the album, I'm always looking forward to it and when it does come on, I can't help but sing along, especially in the car.

All in all, an excellent album.