EPICA

This was my third CD of the band that I purchased after "Karma" and "Fourth Legacy". Through this album, Kamelot has pushed their music forward into a prog vein while still maintaining their style in power metal with its upbeat tempo. The symphonic influence has even intensified in this album and it can be seen through a more dynamic works on keyboard parts and orchestration. I admit that I am a great fan of Kamelot since I listened to "Karma" at the first time. According to me , this album is the only prog album by Kamelot. I hope the band would produce another prog album on their next release.

Unlike the previous albums, the orchestration part under Prologue is no longer a full orchestra piece - rather, it's a very quiet orchestration sound that welcomes the next high-energy track Center of the Universe with a power metal rhythm (double pedal drum in a fast tempo). The orchestration sounds very obvious in this track altogether with guitar work. Khan powerful voice enters the music and brings us to an excellent music harmony. Once a while the orchestration at background appears obviously during transitions and quieter passages. The changing time signatures has proved how prog this track is. The inclusion of piano and female backing vocals have helped create an uplifting atmosphere of the tune. Despite its fast tempo, this tune produces wonderful melody that we tend to sing it altogether throughout this track.

The music turns into a faster tempo during the intro of Farewell and it turns into a quieter passage where Khan starts to sing. The band still maintain a strong orchestration piece to strengthen the composition of this track. Even though it does not happen frequently but there exist shifting tempos.

Interlude I (opiate soul) is opened by a sound exploration that sets the nuance of the next track. It is followed by a choir of male voices overlaid by the female voice. It continues with Edge of Paradise in a medium tempo but still demonstrates a high energy and melodic music. The transition into quieter passage has a strong influence of classical music that brings us to the choir again. The guitar solo then follows.

In Wander offers the marriage between power metal with neo prog vein. Why? It starts with a melodic and mellow intro with excellent voice of Khan. The guitar fills remind me to the old 70s Hackettian guitar style. It's not exactly like old Genesis but the overall flow of this track reminds me really to neo prog! The inclusion of violin has created a symphonic nature of this album. This tune reminds me to an epic "Elizabeth" from "Karma" album.

It continues with a short music Interlude II. "Descent of the Archangel" continues to bring us with a faster tempo track in power metal vein. This track has a very minimum (or none?) prog element but it's a very interesting track to enjoy. Luca Turili (of Rhapsody) contributes the guitar solo on this track. (That's what I like most, musicians collaborate with other bands - music unites people! I know that Thomas Youngblood can do a great job but he gave a chance to other to fill in.).

A Feast for the Vain looks like a normal power metal music if we merely enjoy the opening part. But in the middle of track the band has inserted a quieter music passage that demonstrate the orchestration part. The music then returns back to the original tagline rhythm and melody.

On the Coldest Winter Night is a mellow track in the vein of the band's previous album Karma's "Don't You Cry". The difference is that this tune is much prog. It's truly prog to the bone! The song is composed without drum works. The drum stools is replaced by a percussion work. It's full of symphonic elements.

Lost & Damned opens with a classical style piano work followed in crescendo by an upbeat power metal style but it is performed very dynamically, augmented with excellent guitar work. You can feel the power through the double pedal bass drum sound. When vocal enters in quieter passage, there is a beautiful violin sound and piano work. The music then turns into faster tempo with orchestration and slowing down again for next vocal line. It's an excellent and powerful track with (again) melodic music. I think this track would be accessible to most music buffs. The break into quieter passage with sad vocal augmented with light orchestration is really wonderful "Helena don't you cry? .".

Helena's theme is a short track with a nice melody of female vocal in high register notes; with light orchestration at background. The orchestra then takes the lead at the end of the track, continued with Interlude IV (dawn) that contains only a male voice narration. It then flows beautifully to an orchestration that remarks the next track The Mourning After that opens with eastern like music style. The orchestration dominates the music and the vocal of Khan starts to roll . "I just have a dream ..". Uughhh mannnnn ... what a fantastic melody this track is!!!! The music flows in a medium tempo with intense appearance of orchestration. The music even gets better at approx minute 2:40 just before stunning guitar solo. "Carry On . Carry On .". The second part of guitar solo reminds me to the traditional 70s guitar solo typically performed during interlude part.

III ways to Epica is the concluding track for the album. It starts off with a dynamic drumming followed by soft guitar riffs and symphonic style keyboard work. The guitar solo then takes the lead melody in a power metal beat. The composition of this track has been crafted in such a way that makes this track is well positioned to play a role as an "encore" to the overall music concept. The structure is not straight forward power metal vein, there are many shifting time signatures - therefore this track is completely a prog tune!

My CD is the Limited Edition with digipak design,Quicktime multimedia track, temporary tattoo (that I don't use it) and bonus track Snow (got nothing to do with Spock's Beard album!). It's a very enjoyable track with great melody and power metal beats - plus some prog touches.

Well, I highly recommend you to buy the Limited Edition CD! This album is really worth collecting as it has a beautifully composed music - marrying symphonic orchestra and power metal style with rather complex structure and catchy melody. Miro and Sacha Paeth are both still involved in this album and other guest musicians. I'm not exaggerating to say Kamelot rulezzz ....!!!! - My personal advise is that you better purchase this Kamelot's CD than any Radiohead album! Keep on Progging ...!!!!!"

"If the war by heavens gate released desire. In the line of fire someone must have known. That a human heart demands to be admired. But in the Center of the Universe we all alone ." - KAMELOT "Center of the Universe".

Progressively yours,

GW - Indonesia

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