Kamelot - One Cold Winter's Night (2006)Release ID: 2272
There's no better way to celebrate the release of Kamelot's new album than with a blast to the past with their live album One Cold Winter's Night! It's their second live CD but their first live DVD, showing the next chapter of their evolution. Throughout their 2-CD setlist, they've played songs from their best era; the albums Karma, Epica, and The Black Halo, and one song from The Fourth Legacy. And it was the best time to record a live album after the immense success gained from The Black Halo.
They play most of the incredible songs well, and the production is in clean balance. Vocalist Roy Khan unleashes his singing energy, while guitarist Thomas Youngblood soars with his impressive leads, as the other members follow.
The Italian cabaret intro "Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso" (A Very Silent Murder) has no use except being part of the original story. The driving title track of The Black Halo is one of the best ever Kamelot songs. "Soul Society" has a radio-friendly chorus while soaring through epic progressive sorrow. "Edge of Paradise" isn't as fast as the first two full songs, but it's worth heavy headbanging. The haunting orchestra and choir from the first interlude returns before the solo, all surrounding by mid-tempo riffing and drumming. Then "Center of the Universe" brings back the fast heavy action, but then it slows and quiets down for a melodic piano bridge with Khan singing alongside Mari. Then the heaviness comes back for the soloing and final chorus. What an epic banger to introduce us to the world of Epica. Then it segues to a nostalgic favorite of mine, "Nights of Arabia", continuing the Middle-Eastern themes and reliving the story of Shahrazad. The female vocals by Cinzia Rizzo mark the first of many guest vocalists Kamelot would have over the years.
"Abandoned" is a true power ballad, far greater than Blind Guardian's overrated "The Bard's Song (In the Forest)". The vocals of Roy Khan are good enough in the first half, but when the song builds up towards the end, his vocals pour out in heavenly grandeur that most other bands try to accomplish but ends up becoming wishful thinking for them. Returning from Epica, Thomas Youngblood's wife reprises her role as Helena, (SPOILER ALERT!!) Ariel's true love who drowned herself in Epica. Then comes a personal favorite of mine, the fast "Forever", still remaining a live staple for the band, though it's messed up a bit by the extension for audience participation, while not as long as in the other live album I Am the Empire - Live From the 013 (2020). After that is a "Keyboard Solo", in which keyboardist Oliver Palotai shows off his impressive classical piano skills on his keyboard. "The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)" is the most likable single here, a nice melodic contrast with the heavier tracks. The character Marguerite is sung by Simone Simons from Epica, that band who named themselves after the previous Kamelot album. I would enjoy this live version more if it wasn't the radio edit. "Moonlight" starts with an ethereal ghostly touch before stomping through the heaviness the listener wants more of.
That concludes the first disc of the CD version, and the second disc starts with "When the Lights are Down" with a catchy chorus with background choir, once again accessible yet dynamic! It sounds more ambitious and complex than anything the band could've done in Karma, having a Symphony X-like feel in the crescendo of melodies. Then we have a soloing battle between Oliver Palotai (in place of Jens Johansson) and guitarist Thomas Youngblood. Then the 3-part 12-minute epic suite "Elizabeth", based on Elizabeth Bathory, begins with the atmospheric "Mirror Mirror". The female vocals return in the second part "Requiem for the Innocent" which I still enjoy as much as a lot of the album. The catchy final part of the suite and album, "Fall From Grace" ends it all on a fast sinister note. Continuing magnificently is the pounding "March of Mephisto" showing both intricate sound layers and dark aggressive Iced Earth-like mid-paced riffs, as well as complex melodic vocal construction. More detailed yet more accessible! Dimmu Borgir vocalist Shagrath does some growling as Mephisto, lip-synced and acted by Snowy Shaw. But for some reason, they didn't include the progressive keyboard solo originally played by Stratovarius' Jens Johansson. Either keyboardist Oliver Palotai doesn't know how to play it himself, or AGAIN they are just playing its radio edit. Better not be the latter!
The female vocals shine again in the title track of Karma and sound quite eerie. Nonetheless, it's my ultimate favorite of the album, and one of the best Kamelot songs I still enjoy. After that, drummer Casey Grillo performs a wild "Drum Solo" before the grand finale... "Farewell" also starts fast with crushing riffs and drums. When Khan's beautiful vocals come in for the verses, it goes slow before speeding up again. Now that's a finale that you can say farewell to! The "Outro" is where the end credits play, along with a mostly instrumental version of "Abandoned" with the only vocals appearing being the female singing from Mari.
Fans of Kamelot will certainly have a nice treat despite the radio edits and the unnecessary extension in one of the songs. Whether you get the CD and/or the DVD, it's one of the most essential releases for fans of Kamelot and progressive/power metal!
Favorites (one per studio album in each disc, plus new track, despite its radio-edits and unnecessary extensions): "The Black Halo", "Center of the Universe", "Nights of Arabia", "Forever", "March of Mephisto", "Karma", "Drum Solo", "Farewell"
