EPICA

An exciting entry into progressive metal arena which manages to stand out above its peers thanks to irresistible hooks/riffs, boundless energy/passion, and a touch of symphonic-- making "Epica" a theatric and enjoyable listen. For starters, the musicianship is legitimately excellent, with each member cranking out memorable sounds, although its hard not to acknowledge the infectious vocals of Khan as the show-stealing performer; the inclusion of the occasional female voice and classical instrumentation goes far to demonstrate band's the versatility in song-writing, and "Epica" seems to have a perfect mix of heavy rockers and ballads to please just about everyone. The praise aside, there is still a lot of prog-metal clichés throughout Kamelot's playing, but their few distinct qualities are still enough to elevate them above the mire, and make "Epica" a worthy purchase for fans of the genre and as good a starting place as any for those curious in the band.

Songwriting 3 Instrumental Performances 4 Lyrics/Vocals 3 Style/Emotion/Replay 4