Review: Kamelot 'The Awakening' (power metal)

[@MrJericholic]

I think it's their best of the Tommy era! I love this band and this album is phenomenal 🤘

[@antoniodesousa2555]

Agree

[@davidstonerook3868]

The new Kamelot album is absolutely amazing New Babylon is the stand out track on the album I really enjoyed Opus of the Night ( Ghost Requiem) and Midsummer's Eve Tina Guo Is a great addition to the two songs every song on the album is great Kamelot always delivers 🖤🦇💀⚡️🤘

[@mikeryanmikeryan4740]

Hi Pete. Great review. This album sounds interesting, I will have to give it a listen. I think The Black Halo is a masterpiece IMO. I am a fan of Kamelot.

[@thevarietychannelofyoutube4769]

This is the first Kamelot album I've ever heard and I think it's incredible. Listening to it does make me pretty mad about the fact that this stuff never charts though.

[@thedarkwizardroom]

Yea I gave a listen online and this KAMELOT is one that grabbed me too of the Tommy Karevik era. It's a great cd or vinyl of work. Probably get the cd as Kamelot albums I have in that format and I will have and get this. I have been with Kamelot getting into them since the excellent debut gem back in 1995. Don't have all the albums but to fill in when ever I can or would want, Great review Pete. TC folks.

[@rocioiribe5841]

Just bought this album this weekend. Can't wait to sit down and do a dedicated listen. Been listening to this band since 2005

[@suddone]

Hi Pete I wondered if you would check out Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds it’s a fantastic prog album. I don’t think it did anything in the US check out who the artists are Phill Lynott, Justin Hayward Chris Spedding,Chris Thompson with Richard Burton doing the narration. It was a chart topping album in the UK. It was always one of my favourite albums. Love you to discuss this album in The Prog Seat

[@bullwyrk]

Melissa Bonny does the harsh vocals on New Babylon! It's possible she does the harsh vocals on more tracks but didn't listen to all. You think they would credit the backing vocals tho!

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Another thanks, Pete, for these weekly new product shows. All three mentioned today sound interesting so they're on the full listen list.

[@robmlisanti]

Had this day one I think it's one of my fave Kamelot albums and the best in the last few yrs 👍😎

[@guillermomaldonado6277]

This you should have done it with Chris Alo, I know he hates "the american band with the swedish singer", it would have been hilarious 😆 Been listening to Youngblood's band since around 2000 and they have never disappointed, of course my favorites are the Khan era albums but they have always maintained such a high level. Still one of my favorite melodic Metal bands. Thanks! 🍺🤘

[@davidclark2208]

Hi Pete I have just seen Kamelot live in Germany and it was great and the other bands was great as well 😊

[@iainhead9898]

Been a fan since Siege Perilous, and I agree with Pete, there's not a bad album in their catalogue. Been living with this one for a week and yup, it's an absolute humdinger. Reviewing while cooking? Sounds interesting... Needs a music themed name though... Freak Kitchen? Dark Side of the Spoon? The possibilities are endless...

[@briansf7012]

Hope to see them live in Canada again. Since Tommy lives here now. They might make it happen. Very good album. I like that it features Tommy's wife Kobra and Tina Guo.

[@robc1394]

It’s a really good album. Heard it twice so far. I hope this gets Kobra and the Lotus going, they need some new music !

[@mattmarino8248]

Great review, Pete. Another killer record from this awesome band.

[@timfrancis2130]

Pete, I’m pretty sure Melissa Bonney does all the growls on this album. In her band Ad Infinitum she does both clean and growling vocals.

[@andrebrazz8408]

I believe you are correct . Ad Infinitum a band very much worth investigating btw folks

[@adammorris1943]

Great album, hope they do a full US tour

[@tonyziporlin4240]

They are in the fall I believe

[@rocioiribe5841]

The US tour is in full swing! I'm going to the LA date this Saturday!

[@TABL3SIX]

As always coming late to the party, but I did listen to this album. George did recommend it. All I can say it's a great listen. We'll see if it makes my top ten for the year. It's a contender for sure.

[@Bondrkmz]

Great band, love this album too.

[@garyjoyce2160]

Any review with the mention of King ALO, Jamie. And GEORGE is a banger. Lol. Thx. Pete 👍💯

[@georgelamie7001]

Never listen to GEORGE. The Prinicipal knows that.

[@garyjoyce2160]

@@georgelamie7001 / saw you looking 👀 for me on live chat 900am. /. Mia/ sick / home from school. See ya tomorrow though. And. GEORGE knows !!! 👍💯

[@georgelamie7001]

@@garyjoyce2160 Best to Mia.

[@garyjoyce2160]

@@georgelamie7001 / thx brother. She missed her softball varsity game. I will tell her 👍💯

[@ronaldeccles5147]

Very good album - and, yes, easy to get into. Subjectively I have sometimes seen Kamelot a bit between 2 spaces I tend to prefer more - out and out symphonic and out and out power metal. They are a little bit more power metal, and less symphonic than most of the expressly symphonic bands - and not power metal enough compared to say Helloween or Blind Guardian. This album is really good though - and the above is only about what I like. There will be people who will like Kamelot exactly due to the space they are in as symphonic leaning power metal.

[@747jono]

Great album a return to form ❤.

[@markm9240]

Pete, Awesome review. Kamelot rules. As for the slipcovers, unless I need them to hold an oversize booklet, I toss them. I hate them as well.

[@independenceltd.]

I only own "Epica". It's good, but I find symphonic power metal tends to wear out its welcome pretty quickly with me.

[@jeffkimball5365]

Been looking forward to this one

[@skallagrimr_kveldulfsson]

Since it is a power metal review, I'd like to recommend the new Lovebites album Judgement Day to everybody. Best power metal album that I've listened to in a very long time.

[@briansf7012]

Alissa White of Arch Enemy has done harsh vocals. But I didn't see her credited this time.

[@guarddl9522]

Listened to this album twice...had an extremely difficult time getting through it. Maybe European tinged power metal, symphonic metal, or any hybrid isn't my thing. I loved Tommy's work with Seventh Wonder, it was my favorite album last year. I'll try another time later.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Strange-to me, Seventh Wonder and Kamelot aren't all that different, other than Kamelot being a bit more over the top and dramatic with their symphonic arrangements.

[@guarddl9522]

​@@seaoftranquilityprog The Seventh Wonder album from last year came across to me as stronger, more anthemic. The playing on it to me was incredible. I thought the Seventh Wonder album from last year was everything classic progressive metal should be--good playing with catchy hooks. Stylistically, this one is quite a bit different. I listened for a third time today, it was better. The last song before the outro is very good Symphonic power metal has never fully been my thing, but I'm always looking to expand horizons which why I watch the channel. Tommy Karevik drew my attention to this one, a great singer...

[@luxetveritas9196]

Khan era will forever be supreme, but this is a very good album.

[@richmichaud85]

Not the same since Khan left. Black Halo is perfection!

[@MrFrostien]

I didnt like The Shadow Theory at all, but this album is AMAZING

[@RWalters81]

I don't think all the Kamelot albums are as good as you do, but I do think this was a step up from the last few and probably the best from the Tommy era. Surprised by this one as I didn't expect much in regards to expectations.

[@timfrancis2130]

I like all the Tommy era albums much more than the last few with Roy Khan. That band seemed to be running out of steam. Which is probably one reason Roy left. I still love the classic era of Roy the best… The Fourth Legacy, Karma, Epica, and The Black Halo. All are perfect.

[@RWalters81]

@@timfrancis2130 Completely agree with their golden era. I'll still take those last two with Roy over any of the Tommy albums but agree those are step down from their peak 4 album run.

[@damienfoyer]

Hate digipacks and slipcase, etc. Storage of large collections is a pain in the neck.

[@sadekx5251]

I have been a fan of the band since Karma and this one is a step down again of the Tommy's era. it's the same re-hashed stuff from from the past 3 albums. They are clearly following the Arch Enemy formula unfortunately.

[@flameslingeralex3549]

I don't really care for the cover art generally. It doesn't matter and you could just take it out so you see the actual artwork

[@teamdata]

Slip covers suck and only add cost

[@FunboyMacphallush]

Kamelot turned into a boi band along with móst power metal.

[@independenceltd.]

*european power metal

[@kevinm5957]

Funboi? 😂

[@FunboyMacphallush]

@@kevinm5957 Funboy

[@eldorado852]

Had a listen. I am so annoyed by this singer.😅

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Just out of curiosity, what's so annoying about the vocals?

[@eldorado852]

@@seaoftranquilityprog The style, the way his voice cracks at the end of each line, and I feel he tends to sing a lot higher than he should.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

@@eldorado852 that's his natural singing voice. Listen to any Seventh Wonder or Kamelot album he's on. Oh well.