Kamelot - The Awakening (2023)^{Release ID: 43178}

Hindsight is going to be gracious for Kamelot this year because I did not expect much from The Awakening, but was pleasantly surprised. This new album seems to have refined a few quips that many noticed about the last record, The Shadow Theory, with how same-y it all sounded. An extended break between albums allowed for lackluster records from Within Temptation and Nightwish to drop uncontested and Kamelot knew better than to make those same mistakes.

The first half of this record is very good, from "The Great Divide" until "Midsummer's End". These tunes have variety and the choruses are well constructed and easily memorable. I was quite disappointed by how soft in the mix Tina Guo's cello is on their two features, especially "Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem).

The back half of the album is much more hit and miss. Tracks begin to blend together when they have the same tempo and style like "Bloodmoon" and "Nightsky"; which structurally sounds horrible when these two songs are back-to-back. "New Babylon" features some counterpoint vocals from Melissa Bonny and Simone Simons, which was nice to hear; the rest of the record does have harmony vocals as well, but it was a welcome change of pace when those backgrounds were by someone other than Tommy Karevik.

The album is bombastic and powerful (as it should be) and when it hits its moments, Kamelot are firing on all cylinders. But the frequency in which these happen is not as frequent as I would have liked. It draws from Epica, but cannot perform its dynamic swells as concisely as an album such as Omega. A strong recommendation for fans of symphonic power metal, but then it's up to you to pick out the eye opening moments.

Best Songs: The Great Divide, One More Flag in the Ground, The Looking Glass, New Babylon, My Pantheon (Forevermore)

It's amazing how when a band ends up missing earlier recording/release deadlines due to issues like the pandemic, the result is still wonderful. Although some other bands like Trivium record an album right after releasing the previous one, Kamelot took the time to strengthen their songs into perfection, barely having any rush. With that, the wait was definitely worth it with their first album in 5 years, The Awakening, released on March 17!

I guess you can consider this album Kamelot's reawakening. As amazing as this is, I find some slight disappointment that knocks a half-star off the otherwise perfect score that would've made it the band's best release since Ghost Opera. See, the minor issue is, the band has modernized their symphonic metal sound in two of the albums from the era of current vocalist Tommy Karevik such as Haven and The Shadow Theory, as they try to reinvent the genre's wheel. While there's a slight bit of that in The Awakening, the rest of what they have now is a return to their earlier majestic melodies and emotions. They've awakened after 5 years of silence and brought back their roots!

The "Overture" is the instrumental intro that serves as an epic setup for the symphonic power metal action to come... The grand "Great Divide" kicks it off and rides like a cinematic rollercoaster. Kamelot is indeed back! Heartful single "Eventide" has restored the joy and confidence I've had for this band that has allowed me to still follow their power metal along with DragonForce. The anthemic "One More Flag in the Ground" pulls you straight through power metal, though I must admit, my thoughts there are mixed. "Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem)" has reminded me of the band that got me into the symphonic metal part of my epic metal taste 10 years ago. The guitar harmonies and orchestra make a fantastic combo. The song itself is like a sequel to the title track of Ghost Opera! Tina Guo performs beautiful cello soloing. An unbelievable single!

"Midsummer’s Eve" is a beautiful atmospheric Celtic ballad. A warm addition to that track is some more of the cello/violin by Tina Guo. "Bloodmoon" works well in the storytelling lyrics, though a bit faulty. Then there's the emotional yet heavy "Nightsky". That's followed by a progressive favorite, "The Looking Glass".

A true world-building anthem "New Babylon" shows you the Kamelot you know to love. The guest contributions by Simone Simons (Epica) and Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum) add in stellar dynamic. Wow, that's like "Sacrimony" all over again! Another piano ballad, "Willow" has the delicate passion of Nightwish's ballads, but it's a bit forgettable. "My Pantheon (Forevermore)" has the most impressive guitar and drums in killer balance with the earlier softness. The outro "Ephemera" is a pleasant orchestral finale.

With all that said, The Awakening marks a full comeback for the signature elements of Kamelot, with the best moments worth praising. However, it would've been perfect if a couple tracks didn't sound too recycled in the chorus and melodies. That was the small problem I've had with most power metal bands recently, which is why my revisits to the genre ultimate didn't pay off. Cliche tropes aside, The Awakening proves that Kamelot is a respectable band with all their wonderful grace. They're still on top of the game when it comes to European power metal to America. I'm glad this reawakening worked out so well!

Favorites: "The Great Divide", "Eventide", "Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem)", "The Looking Glass", "New Babylon", "My Pantheon (Forevermore)"