KAMELOT – The Shadow Theory [deluxe digipak 2 CD] (2018)

For over 20 years, KAMELOT have maintained a remarkable level of consistency, ensuring American melodic power metal remains on the worldwide radar. “The Shadow Theory” is their 12th studio effort to be released tomorrow in various formats, including this deluxe digipak  a bonus CD.

As someone who listens to a large amount of music every year, I’ve piled up a ton of favorite bands, some of which I’d say I can always rely on to produce an excellent album, while others fall into more of a long shot category, where sometimes they’ll disappoint me, but other times they’ll pull through and blow me away. One of the main bands I place into that category is American band Kamelot, one of the most well known and prolific power metal bands in all of North America.
They’ve released a couple of great albums in the past, but also some disappointments.

Since their earliest days their take on melodic power metal has been swanky and upper-crust, and its only grown more polished over the years, adopting neo-classical influences and pompous orchestration.
“The Shadow Theory” marks the band’s third release with Tommy Karevik behind the mic, a capable vocalist who provided a more melodic approach, often at the expense of the heavy and the metal components of their sound.

Kamelot 2018 is mostly midtempo melodious power metal with lush orchestration, high-level musicianship, stellar vocal arrangements and a slight progressive edge.
After the mandatory pomp and circumcision of opening chamber music piece “The Mission,” we get down to burnished brass tacks with “Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire).” It’s rote by Kamelot standards, but it works well enough on the strength of Tommy’s larger-than-life vocals, some aggressive, quasi-core riffing and the talent of all involved.

There’s more lively cuts like “Ravenlight,” and especially “Amnesiac” getting the blue blood pumping thanks to some heavy-ish riffing and less focus on neo-classical fluffery.
From here the album tries to find the proper balance between lighter and more strident fare. The scales tip toward the former, with softer, semi-ballads like “In Twilight Hours” and “Stories Untold”, turning the album pretty accessible.

“The Shadow Theory” is a pristine sounding melodic power metal outing, quite commercial and not ‘so’ heavy. Most notably, the keyboards seem to be a greater focus than ever before. Obviously, they were always there on past albums, but this time around they become the main focus a bit more often.

The one element of Kamelot that’s consistently been excellent is the vocals, and of course, “The Shadow Theory” is no exception.
I’ve always loved Tommy Karevic’s vocals, and while I personally prefer his more emotional, higher ranged vocals he uses with his other band, Seventh Wonder, he’s done an excellent job of fitting in with Kamelot’s sound over these past three albums, and each time he sounds more and more comfortable.

“The Shadow Theory” definitely one of their most varied releases to date, while also feeling fresh in spots, and after their previous album let me down, this one managed to win me over once again.
This digipak comes with a bonus disc, including the bonus track “The Last Day of Sunlight” plus various album tracks in its instrumental version.
Strongly Recommended

01 – The Mission
02 – Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)
03 – RavenLight
04 – Amnesiac
05 – Burns to Embrace
06 – In Twilight Hours
07 – Kevlar Skin
08 – Static
09 – MindFall Remedy
10 – Stories Unheard
11 – Vespertine (My Crimson Bride)
12 – The Proud and the Broken
13 – Ministrium (Shadow Key)

Bonus CD:
01 – Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire) (Instrumental Version)
02 – RavenLight (Instrumental Version)
03 – Amnesiac (Instrumental Version)
04 – Burns to Embrace (Instrumental Version)
05 – Kevlar Skin (Instrumental Version)
06 – The Proud and the Broken (Instrumental Version)
07 – The Last Day of Sunlight (Bonus Track)

Tommy Karevik – lead vocals
Thomas Youngblood – lead and rhythm guitars
Casey Grillo – drums
Sean Tibbetts – bass
Oliver Palotai – keyboards, orchestral arrangements
guests:
Lauren Hart (Once Human) – guest vocals
Jennifer Haben (Beyond the Black) – guest vocals on “In Twilight Hours”

PRE ORDER;
www.amazon.de/Shadow-Theory-Kamelot/dp/B079LJ4BCG
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