Review: Kamelot - Ghost Opera [Metal]

Kamelot is one of metal's most unique, influential and prestigious acts to come along in decades. The group has already released 7 albums and has a large dedicated fan base. Ghost Opera is their latest effort including guest appearances by musicians as `Simone Simons' from Epica and `Amanda Sommerville'.

The album opens with the intro `Solitaire'; an instrumental track mostly consisting of strings and keyboard. The intro leads to the song `Rule the World' and continues to be a sort of a foundation of this song. `Rule the World' is a song about the problems we face in everyday life. Khans powerful voice really strengthens this track.

`Ghost Opera' is the first single of the album. A logical choice, this being a `typical' Kamelot song. Powerful riffs, catchy chorus and the finishing touch of Amanda Sommerville's outstanding voice. Though only heard chanting at the chorus this song wouldn't be half as good without her. I just have to add that I especially love the video for this song, it's perfect!

The 4th song is `The Human Stain'. Lyrically truly outstanding but instrumentally perhaps uninteresting. The intro is good but the same riffs throughout the song get boring, a solo and an amazing verse after make up for this though.

Simone Simons joins Kamelot once more on `Blücher'. A song about war and the lost love because of it. This song reminds of `The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)', another duet with Simone Simons on The Black Halo. Perfeclty built-up and the stunning voices of Simons and Khan make this song almost perfect.

`Love You to Death' is another song with Amanda Sommerville. It tells the story of two young loved ones, the girl already knowing she is going to die soon. The song is told from both views of the boy and girl, characterized by Khan and Sommerville. In all, this is a beautiful slow song.
Moving on to number 7.. `Up Through the Ashes'. The sound typically Kamelot, epic but also catchy. It deals with the problem of religion. One of the things I particularly like about this song is the line ``I don't need your blood''.

Amanda Sommerville lends her voice once more on `Mourning Star'. The song starts with a (male) choir chanting, the guitars kick in after and it proves to be another 'typical' Kamelot song. This track is also about the war and the questions it brings. Sommerville joins in at the chorus. I find this song most interesting for the lyrics really let you think about it.

`Silence of the Darkness' starts with a fast guitar riff and slows down at the first verse. The song being pretty much the same all the time, I find this one of the weakest songs on Ghost Opera.
One of the few slow songs on the album is `Anthem'. The Anthem of life that is. Khan uses his voice really good and emotionally, but the overdone orchestra part at the end of the song ruins that in a way.


`EdenEcho' is a song about lost love. Instrumentally uninteresting and the lyrics abit overdone the first 2 minutes aren't a real pleasure. The verse `Remember my name, and paint the darkness with your light. You'll sing your song for all broken hearted, like Eden echoes in my head. The unforgiven gave you all' accompanied by the stunning choir makes up for most of the song, but the chorus just can't bother me.

In conclusion this is once more a very good album by Kamelot. Though it sounds pretty much like The Black Halo, they did make progress. If you have the time be sure to check out the video for their first single; Ghost Opera!

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