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Concerts: Kamelot Taps Amaranthe Singer For N American Tour; Kahn Falls Ill, Tour Goes On

Posted on Sunday, September 05 @ 00:00:00 UTC by nightowl

Swedish vocalist Elize Ryd of Amaranthe has been selected to fill the female singer spot on Kamelot's upcoming North American tour in September/October. She will also take part in Kamelot's VIP meet-and-greets during the trek.

Elize previously performed with Kamelot on the recent "Summer Pandemonium Tour" and the band's European tour in April/May.



In related news, posted to the Kamelot website on Sept 3, Kamelot singer Roy Kahn fell ill. As the news item goes: "The band and crew are all here in Tampa rehearsing for the tour ? Visas have been cleared and the guys are in good spirits and ready to party with all of you. However, during rehearsals, Roy became severely ill. Due to this, as yet undiagnosed, illness, Roy reluctantly has been forced to head back home to Norway. He is currently under his physician?s care, but unfortunately these circumstances will prevent him from joining us on the North American concert tour. Of course, we want Roy to take care of his health as priority one for now and for the future.

After much consideration on how to proceed, all of us in Kamelot feel strongly about keeping our commitment to our fans, promoters, and support bands on this tour! We are all ready and excited about playing these shows, we have flown in people from around the world to be apart of it and it has been in the works over a year! Therefore, we are working diligently with a fantastic singer willing to step in at the eleventh hour in order to make this tour a reality ? our good friend Michael from Circus Maximus (Norway) has agreed to fill in for Roy! And we are excited to announce a special guest: Swedish vocalist Elize Ryd from Amaranthe will be joining the band on the North American Tour. She will also be part of the VIP meet and greet! Elize toured with us on our Summer Pandemonium Tour and also the European tour earlier this Spring. Also as a special thank you to our North American fans, our friends at ESP guitars have donated a beautiful ESP guitar which will be signed by Thomas Youngblood and given away at the end of our North American tour ? this contest is open only to North American tour concert goers. Fans can enter for a chance to win this exclusive item by signing up in the designated area at each show! More surprises are in store at many shows including special guest appearances and more.

Sample of Michael's Vocals

"Roy especially would like to add:

I am terribly sorry that I cannot do this upcoming tour in North-America this fall. We have our most fantastic album ever coming out in September, and the timing could have been better I guess. The band has my full and unconditional blessing to go out there and kick ass regardless, and I feel we have found a good replacement in Michael. He is a very good singer and long time friend. Be good to him! Hope to see you soon! All the best from Roy Khan.

"Michael states:

Roy and I go way back, so when he called and asked me to help him and the rest of Kamelot to do their long planned USA tour, I told him, 'Sure bro, I am there for you.'

It will be big shoes to fill, but in his honor I will do my best to give the Kamelot fans a show they have long awaited. So grab your earplugs and come join the party!

"We cannot thank you enough for your tremendous support over the years, and look forward to being out to meet more of you on the road! Please join us in wishing Roy a speedy recovery, and swift return to us!?

Poetry For The Poisoned, the highly anticipated ninth studio album from Kamelot, will be released in North America on September 14 via the group's own label, Kamelot Media Group (KMG Recordings), and in Europe on September 10 through earMUSIC/Edel. Marquee/Avalon Records will make the CD available in Japan.

Recordings took place in the familiar Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro. Additional tracking also took place in Tampa, Florida as well as various studios in Sweden, Greece and the U.S.

Poetry For The Poisoned features guest appearances by Simone Simons (Epica), Gus G. (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind), Bj?rn "Speed" Strid (Soilwork) and Jon Oliva (Savatage, Jon Oliva's Pain). The artwork was created by many great artists, including Seth Siro Anton, Natalie Shau and Michal Loranc.

Poetry For The Poisoned will be available in three versions:

* Regular CD edition
* Digipak CD with bonus DVD
* Two-LP gatefold vinyl edition

DVD bonus material:
* "The Great Pandemonium" video
* Exclusive and in-depth interviews with each Kamelot member
* "Pick and Play" for the song "The Great Pandemonium"
* Poetry For The Poisoned background images
* Exclusive video footage from Norway Rock festival 2010
* Bonus song "House On A Hill" (uncut version)

Kamelot recently tapped Swedish director Owe Lingvall of Village Road Films for the video shoot and production of the song "The Great Pandemonium".

In a posting (at Blabbermouth) on Sep 1, more info on this video was shared:

["The Great Pandemonium" video] is three-and-a-half-minute medley of tracks that will appear on Poetry For The Poisoned [that] can be streamed on the band's MySpace page [and can be viewed here or here ...].

Kamelot's reputation among fans and media alike is marked by enthusiasm as well as esteem, with each of its eight studio albums to date surpassing its predecessor in terms of songwriting, production and commercial results. As one of the most difficult-to-categorize artists on the metal scene, Kamelot is ready to release its most insightful and ambitious album to date, Poetry For The Poisoned.

Throughout the recent years, Kamelot's releases have achieved cult status around the world, and Poetry For The Poisoned will "once again raise the bar for others to follow," according to a press release. "The new studio album blends their trademark Kamelot sound with new elements and a creation of musical art that will set a new standard in the genre."

"Poetry For The Poisoned was mostly written in the remote woods of Norway to the final songwriting sessions in a remote region of Germany. The compositions take the listener through many emotions and dynamics that touch the soul and the mind.

"I think this album is by far our most diverse, fusing new ideas and elements along with the traditional Kamelot sound and style that we have established over the years," states Kamelot guitarist Thomas Youngblood.

"Poetry For The Poisoned is a mix of progressive elements, modern rock, dark arts and also power metal," states Youngblood. "It comes at a time where many people around the world are searching for something to grab on to spiritually, including myself. I recently lost my mother and to be honest it was very hard on me. So there are some melancholy moods reflected on this album."

Frontman Roy Khan assures that Poetry For The Poisoned will both please the band's existing following and expose the universe of Kamelot to a whole range of new fans. "Poetry For The Poisoned is our longest and toughest production so far, but when I hear the result I know it was well worth the struggle," he says.

Amaranthe will enter Hansen Studio in Ribe, Denmark in October with producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Mercenary, Nightrage) to begin recording its debut album for a spring 2011 release via Spinefarm Records.

[Source: Blabbermouth, Kamelot website]



Note: I don't dare say it in the main article, but... given the album's title... if I were Kahn, I'd be a little suspicious about falling ill... - (not all that serious) conspiracy ed.

Posted in Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)