Kamelot - The Fourth Legacy

Year of Release: 2000
Label: Noise Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 48:25:00

Kamelot was founded back in '91. They have released three albums and are well known in the metal and prog metal community. Their last album Siege Perilous was their first to feature new vocalist Khan (ex-Conception) on vocals. This time Khan has had more time working with the guys and also participated [in the] writing [of] the music, lyrics and arrangements with mastermind and guitarist Thomas Youngblood.

With The Fourth Legacy we are presented with a whole new version of Kamelot, musically speaking. Gone are most of the progressive influences that distinguished the last album, TFL has more POWER! The CD is produced by Sascha Paeth and Miro (Rhapsody, Angra, Mob Rules) of Heaven's Gate fame, and this has of course marked the sound of this CD. Musically this is, roughly speaking, a blend of melodic metal meets power metal with some progressive elements. The guitars are heavy, catchy, intelligent and playful. The characteristic mid-to high ranged vocals by Khan is absolutely awesome, coming off a lot better than on the last CD. You get pounding double-bass, tasty bass lines and the keys by Miro are excellent as always and add the final dimension to the songs. Elements of folk, baroque, etc. are superbly mixed into the music together with flutes, strings, acoustic guitars, d-bass, female voices, etc. What more can you ask for? Melody-lines and choruses are absolutely addictive. And what impresses me is that they do indeed avoid to sound like a Rhapsody rip-off, only occasionally you can hear some similarities when the folk music steps in. But Kamelot has absolutely pulled this one off nicely, coming across fresh and energetic. The lyrics are strong, the songwriting and arrangements are topnotch; it's powerful, catchy, melodic, beautiful, symphonic; the songs have feeling and atmosphere, and a tremendous production. I even occasionally hear slight Conception resemblance, which is cool.

I guess I have made things clear by now. This is a masterpiece and a must for all power fans. Prog fans might be disappointed though. I for one certainly prefer the new Kamelot approach to the style of Siege Perilous, although that was a good CD, too. This is however very consistent and 100% professional.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
New Allegiance (0:54) / The Fourth Legacy (4:55) / Silent Goddess (4:15) / Desert Reign (1:39) / Nights Of Arabia (5:26) / The Shadow Of Uther (4:45) / A Sailorman's Hymn (4:05) / Alexandria (3:53) / The Inquisitor (4:35) / Glory (3:42) / Until Kingdom Come (4:11) / Lunar Sanctum (5:57)

Musicians:
Thom Youngblood - guitars
Glenn Barry - bass
Casey Grillo - drums
Roy Khan - vocals

Additional musicians:
Miro - keyboards
Sascha Paeth - guitars
Fallersleben String Quartet
Farouk Asjadi - flute and percussion
Simon McTavish - flute

Discography:
Eternity (1996)
Dominion (1997)
Siege Perilous (1998)
The Fourth Legacy (2000)
The Expedition - Live (2000)
Karma (2001)
Epica (2003)
The Black Halo (2005)
One Cold Winter's Night (2006)
Ghost Opera (2007)
Ghost Opera - The Second Coming (2008)
Poetry For The Poisoned (2010)
Poetry For The Poisoned & Live From Wacken (Limited Tour Edition) (2011)
Silverthorn (2012)
Haven (2015)

One Cold Winter's Night (DVD) (2006)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: February 14th 2005
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website: www.kamelot.com
Hits: 2841
Language: english