EPICA

Kamelot is by far one of my all time favorite bands. And Epica is but another one of their masterful albums along side Karma and The Black Halo. These guys may be more of the power metal criteria, but they also have some impressive musician skills (Kahn, Youngblood) and have plenty of progressive elements to definiatly consider Prog Metal! Epica is as it says and Epic. It's a story about a man (Ariel) who's lost intrest in religion and seeks something else. After overcoming various temporal addictions he travels beyond the paradises of hte world into a world were he meets a vile being (Mephisto) and is lured into making a pact with him. The pact tells him that he can have anything of the flesh pleasures, but once he dies his soul is given to him. In blind stupidity Ariel does, and once he falls in love with a beautiful women (Helena) everything falls apart and he no longer desires the pact, it's a tragic tale with incredible music. Give it a listen, it's a masterpiece in it's self. The Black Halo continues this epic tale, and this album contains incredible songs such as Center of the Universe, Edge of Paradise, Descent of the Archangel, Lost and Damned, Wander, On the Coldest of Winter Nights, Lost and Damned, Feast for the Vain, The Mourning After, and II Ways to Epica. Pretty much, the enitre album is incredible with cool little interludes that I really actaully like. At first they kind of annoyed me, but then I actually found that they're really cool. Give Epica a listen because it's a masterpiece. They have different moods and every song, though short, are lovable and unique. Kamelot is a band of significant report! 5/5 stars, masterpiece!