Review Summary: It's power metal, but not as you know it.
Background: Kamelot are a melodic metal band with members hailing from the US, Norway and Germany. This is their 5th album release, and marks a transition from the more traditional power metal sound to a slightly darker one, and a branching out in use of other instruments and production.
Music: Continuing on from The Fourth Legacy, this album contains a lot of strong power metal tracks, such as Forever, Wings Of Despair and Across The Highlands. Generally, the music is very melodic and certainly a lot of the tracks have a headbang factor about them. They have also included two ballads, the one a heart-rending acoustic song dedicated to Youngblood's father (Don't You Cry), the other a multi-layered pseudo-ballad with a slow tempo and soothing effect.
This leads me to mention one of the main transition points between this album and the previous: The band have really tried to show progression from their old sound. In some ways, this has been successful, with the multiple layers, exotic feel of one or two songs (The Spell comes to mind), and the use of other instruments (the shakuhachi on Regalis Apertura and African-style percussion on Fall From Grace). They also wear their influences on their sleeves, as Khan points out the classical remaking of Solveig's Sang by Grieg into the live staple "Forever". I should also give special mention to the title track, a blistering blaze of power metal touched with a tinge of gothic influence, and another live staple.
I must also praise the band on the trilogy suite that concludes the regular album. "Elizabeth" is nothing short of genius, based around the concept of Elizabeth Bathory, a woman alleged to have bathed in the blood of virgins to preserve her looks eternally. This suite, although admittedly standing out a bit next to other lyrical themes covered in the song, is a ride starting from the tender tinkling melody and Khan's operatic vocals that open it, through the roaring blasts of metal and fading out with a soothing percussion and Khan's ethereal vocals once more. For those who get the Japanese version, Kamelot prove that they did not leave their old style behind with a song that would fit right into The Fourth Legacy: Once And Future King.
However, there are one or two musical flaws on this album, starting with the feeling of repetition with some songs. Forever, Wings Of Despair and Across The Highlands have a quite similar feel, and on multiple listens it can seem like the same song. There are also one or two filler tracks such as The Light I Shine On You and The Spell. The former could have gone as a bonus track with Once And Future King, the second one seems to lack energy.
Vocals/Lyrics: Khan's vocal and lyrical ability have always been one of the talking points of the band, and on "Karma" he does not disappoint. From the powerful lows to the soaring highs, he is on top form (see the title track, Don't You Cry and Mirror Mirror). For those who get the American version, there is a French version of the song, which although musically is identical, is very interesting to hear and shows a desire to do something different.
Lyrically, there are some far darker moments in this album, such as the line "Don't you want to die/Walk beside me ever more" from Mirror Mirror. Khan's poetic lyrics are marvelous to read as stand-alone poems, with the exception of The Light I Shine On You, which I feel is lyrically weaker than the rest of the album.
Production: Production-wise, most of the songs have had the standard power metal treatment: Soaring melodic guitars, high drums and keyboards flying all over the place. There are one or two songs, however, where the drums are mixed far too high, which can be distracting from the main song, such as during the verses of Forever.
On the other hand, the band have gone for some versatility. They let the keyboards rest for most of Wings Of Despair, before bringing them back as powerfully as the other instruments. Songs such as "The Spell" and "Mirror Mirror" show this band is not afraid to branch out from the boundaries set by previous bands and to try something different.
Conclusion: The name Kamelot has been hidden in the shadows for much of their existence, under the radar from most metalheads. However, this does not dampen the band's ability to make very strong albums, of which "Karma" is no exception. There is a clear sense of progress from the previous album to this one, shown in a level of maturity and versatility that permeates this CD. Definitely a band to try if you like melodic metal.
Rating: 85/100
Songs to try: Karma, Temples Of Gold, Fall From Grace
