THE BLACK HALO

Yes it has to be said. Kamelot did actually succeed to keep up the good stuff after Epica was released. Epica was my first album of Kamelot and I liked it at an instant. I was kind of nervous when I first put this cd in my stereo. At first I didn't like the album. I usually dislike music when I hear it for the first time, so later on I gave it some more listens.

..the bad things..

It turned out to be a good solid record with just a few mistakes, in my opinion that is. We will first talk about bitter things before talking albout the glorius aspects of this album. Well, the production is way to loud! It could have sounded much better if recorded 10 dB lower in volume. This is the big problem with almost all metal records, so I don't blame Kamelot for it. It does make it hard for me to listen this record till the end, for I am an audiofreak. Another point I don't like about this album is the last song 'Serenades'. The album should have ended with Memento Mori, wich is a great track. Serenades however is one of the worst Kamelot recordings of the last 5 years. I wouldn't have put it on a bside of an single. But OK..

..the good things...

All song show off great musiscianship! Not only do they contain great riffs, nice solos and great vocals. They also got catchy chorusses so you will remember the songs. This makes Kamelot one of the best powermetal bands I know about. Roy Khan sounds a bit darker on this album. The whole album is more in minor then Epica. It somehow represents a dark feeling everyone has sometimes... like revenge.. angry and not giving up... Bitterness might be a good word. And in this mood you will find compositions perfectly fitting in the concept. This is the real power of The Black Halo. They kept up this mood for the whole record wich makes it distinct from the older albums. This is very important, powermetal has it's big weakness: It all can sound like the same. Not on this album, not today! Kamelot made their second great achievement.

..the conclusion..

Kamelot at their best. Enough progressive influences to be noticed by the progfans. If it had been a bit more progressive and better produced it could have become a masterpiece, but for now I'll give this four stars. Powermetal in it's glorydays!