KARMA

Karma is one of the best KAMELOT albums, if not the best (i really am a bit indecisive between this one and Black Halo, since both are amazing). This is not as "prog" as you'll think it is only because of its presence in this site, but why should it be? While not a prog album, this is still very good music, and that's what matters. The songs here really ROCK, and you never get bored of them! (Okay, maybe after a LOT of listens you WILL get bored of' em, but this album lasts a long time, as with the band's music in general, it seems to never get old!...and that's an EXCELLENT thing on my book - noticed the number of capital words in this review? It's coz i'm listening to it right now so it makes feel ecstasic!).

On Karma we have almost everything that the band can offer. While Fourth Legacy has a more focused style, and actually a more original one, Karma is a lot simpler but has more variety in terms of melodies and it's also much more accesible. Starting with the "Apertura", making an "epic" entrance to this wonderful world created by KAMELOT, we soon feel the energy of "Forever" and "Wings of Despair", both are strong and catchy power metal tunes, and never fail to please me whenever i listen to them. Angry without being offensive, noisy or annoying, the metal made by KAMELOT is so unique despite its technical simplicity as they focus more on emotion, and this is really what matters when it comes to art, the emotion it transmits, and not the wank party bands like DREAM THEATER love to do to please their huge audience. Meh, this album alone is not even prog and will destroy all your D.T. discography, especially your beloved "Scenes from a Metropolis". Okay, back to Karma. "The Spell" is incredibly catchy, you will listen to it over and over and over again and never get bored of it! It has a sticky melody you'll not easily forget. "Don't You Cry" is an effective mellow moment, leading to the album's emotional highpoint - the title track, which is impressive, it is the kind of song that revives my soul when i feel bad, everyone should give this a listen when not in a happy mood. Believe me, it helps a lot. "The Light I Shine On You" is not one of my fav from this album, but it is still good. I love the first half but don't care much for the second. And then we are led to another beautiful moment, as "Temples of Gold" open with its killing melody. The fact alone that the ballads here are not cheesy mindless commercial tear-jerkers makes KAMELOT a band of true respect. "Across The Highlights" is a dramatic rocker which doesn't go to many places, and it is at the same level as "The Light I Shine On You", that is - a bit weaker than the other tracks. "Mirror Mirror" is touching and shows a great vocal performance backed by its dreamy melody. "Requiem for the Innocent" is a neat rocker, at the vein of "Memento Mori" from their last album, and leads to the album's closer "Fall from Grace", which is the heaviest tune here although its first half is not as interesting as it could have been. On its second half things change, though, as we are led to an impressive finale, when ROY repeats the vocal performance from "Mirror Mirror" ending the album in a high note.

This is one of KAMELOT's strongest albums and definitely a cornerstone on metal. Everyone should give Karma a listen, even if they don't care for this genre, as its beauty surpasses any prejudice one could have towards "power metal" music.