Kamelot to release new album "Poetry For The Poisoned" in September (updated)

[cramx3]

Ill have to remember to check out the samples when I get home, glad to see positive reviews so far. Im pumped for September 15Th.

[Arcaeus]

Rambling first listen impressions without giving away details on what the songs sound like:

First two songs, The Great Pandemonium and If Tomorrow Came, bored me. Starting with The Zodiac (though many may not like that song, I'm a Jon Oliva fanboy and love this track), things get vastly better. Hunter's Season is better than anything on Ghost Opera and one of my favorites from the album. House On A Hill is the obligatory power ballad feat. Simone Simons with a cool guitar solo and a nice flamenco guitar outro; if people like The Haunting and Love You To Death, they'll like this. Necropolis has plenty of cool sections, but didn't really grab me otherwise. My Train Of Thoughts is very solid, but nothing special. Seal Of Woven Years... I'm not sure how I feel yet, it's a lot different than a lot of their work, and I won't be able to accurately judge it until I've heard it multiple times, but I definitely like parts of it, particularly the solo towards the end.

The title track(s) is one of the best things they have ever done, as expected, and the highlight of the album. Not sure why they split it, it wouldn't be over ten minutes combined, and it feels a lot shorter than it actually is.

Once Upon A Time, the closer, slays, and is actually pretty energetic -- making it very refreshing, as a lack of energy is what made Ghost Opera and a small handful of the lesser tracks on this album so dull. Another one of my favorites. Thespian Drama, the Japanese bonus track, is a four minute instrumental that is absolutely great (aside from a keyboard solo that feels out of place) and has some of Thomas Youngblood and Oliver Palotai's best work -- it may be one of my favorite Kamelot songs.

I give the album a solid 7.5-8/10, though I feel the rating will rise upon further listens.

Final verdict: A lot fuckin' better than Ghost Opera.

[wolfking]

Final verdict: A lot fuckin' better than Ghost Opera.

That's all I need to know.

[TheVoxyn]

Listening to it right now  . Only on the second track though. Unlike Arcaeus I liked 'The Great Pandemonium' but I have to agree that the second track is kinda boring.

[Adami]

Ok, so I just saw the video for The Great Pandemonium.

Two thumbs up, I gotta say. I love the darker feeling, but at least this song (unlike most of GO) had tons of energy to it and was relentlessy agressive. The melodies are  great, khans high operatic voice is great behind the heavy stuff and the guest singer dude was cool, although shagrath would have been cooler. The video was insane as well, definetly one of the better videos for this style of music.

[MykeHavoc]

https://video.aol.com/aolvideo/aol-music/the-great-pandemonium/600325181001

For those curious. I like it. It will take some time and a few listens to absorb. Some interesting stuff going on in the song rhythmically.

[Arcaeus]

The Great Pandemonium is growing on me, but it's still in my bottom half for the album, I think.

[wolfking]

I really enjoyed the song and clip on first listen.  Probably one of the best metal vids that has come out for quite a while.  Loved the heaviness, really loved the harsh vocals and Youngblood's solo was excellent.  Good to see him shredding it up, I feel on Ghost Opera his work was very plain and uninspiring, this is a great step up.

[wolfking]

and the guest singer dude was cool, although shagrath would have been cooler.

That's Bjorn Speed Strid from the great Soilwork.

[InTheNameOfGod]

Getting into it a lot more now. Didn't really enjoy it at first, but it's getting better with each listen. 

I don't know what all the hate for Ghost Opera is all about. Minus one or two songs, I thought it was a pretty damn good album.

Love You To Death 

[wolfking]

Getting into it a lot more now. Didn't really enjoy it at first, but it's getting better with each listen. 

I don't know what all the hate for Ghost Opera is all about. Minus one or two songs, I thought it was a pretty damn good album.

Love You To Death 

It certainly wasn't awful, it's just really average, especially by Kamelot standards.

[ariich]

Love You to Death would have been such a good song if it weren't for the awkward phrasing.

[MykeHavoc]

I like Ghost Opera just fine. It has some real good songs. But there's no denying that it was a step down as far a quality. That's fine. Its hard to top what will likely go down as their best work. But everything I've heard so far from this record seems like a step in the right direction. I'm looking forward to picking this up and hanging out with the band in a few weeks.

[cramx3]

Quite dissapointed with The Great Pandemonium.  Granted it was only one listen, but I would have rather a GO sounding song that the darker type of song we got.  I really didnt like the other vocals.

[InTheNameOfGod]

Quite dissapointed with The Great Pandemonium.  Granted it was only one listen, but I would have rather a GO sounding song that the darker type of song we got.  I really didnt like the other vocals.

I'm enjoying it a lot more after repeated spins.

Maybe it will be the same for you too.

[DarkEternalNight]

Pt. III All Is Over's intro reminds me of War Inside My Head.

[Arcaeus]

I don't hear that at all, really.

And regardless it's a much better song

[In The Wake Of Poseidon]

All I know is that So Long might be their best song.

[Arcaeus]

Definitely top 10, Khan, Simone and Amanda kick all kinds of ass on that song

[GuineaPig]

"Poetry for the Poisoned" has about enough ideas to be like a 12-14 minute song.  It feels really constrained, and really, bursting as it is.

[cramx3]

The second half of this album kicks the first halfs ass big time.

[Genowyn]

The Great Pandemonium reminds me of The Black Halo a little, which is good, because The Black Halo is fucking awesome.

Also, due to the whole release date thing I feel as though this thread is the only place where I can say "Gee, I wish I lived in Japan" without sounding like a huge weeaboo.

[Adami]

GOD DAMNIT!

ROY ISN'T DOING THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR, SOME FRUIT FROM SOME BAND CALLED CIRCUS MAXIMUS IS FILLING IN!


GOD DAMN EVERYONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Arcaeus]

GOD DAMNIT!

ROY ISN'T DOING THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR, SOME FRUIT FROM SOME BAND CALLED CIRCUS MAXIMUS IS FILLING IN!


GOD DAMN EVERYONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FUCK

FUCKING FUCK

[Zook]

That's sucks yet it's awesome at the same time.

[Adami]

That's sucks yet it's awesome at the same time.

You know what sucks about it? The god damn vocalist that made Kamelot what they are isn't going to be there.

You know what's awesome about it? God damn nothing.

[MykeHavoc]

Yeah, this literally ruined my month.

Khan is what makes the band leaps and bounds better then other bands in a similar vain. Without him, it really feels like a great deal of the magic is lost. My excitement level has plummeted to a 0. I had the intent to get the new record to know all the new tracks...now I don't even know if I care. My buddies band is opening the Worcester show, so I was gonna roadie and hopefully hang out with the bands and such. Now I'm just...gah...I'm truly bummed out.

[Adami]

Well I obviously will still get the new album, but I dunno if I'm gonna see them. Well I guess I will, cause I paid 100 bucks for the ticket and backstage pass. But, jesus I'll get to meet 2 members of kamelot, some new odd looking bassist, the douchebag keyboardist who gets to put his german army helmet into Simone Simons, and some dude I don't give a cocks foreskin about.

[MykeHavoc]

Sean the bassist is awesome. He's been playing with off and on for like 4 or 5 years since Glenn was bailing a lot since the Black Halo tour. I saw them with him and he's a solid player and a great personality to have on stage. You can tell he really loves his job.

I also got a bad vibe reading the info. No one has clarified what "illness" he has. If he is actually sick, it must be severe, so that worries me. If he isn't sick and this is a cover story to hide that there may be some internal issues, then I'm even more upset. I hope I'm just paranoid and that he'll be back soon. But I really don't wanna wait another fucking 3 years to see the guy.

[Arcaeus]

Sean, the "new" bassist, was one of the founding members of the band. and yeah, he has a great presence on stage. I think I prefer him to Glenn, though I never saw Kamelot live with Glenn present he always seemed to be just "there".

But yeah, not seeing Kamelot live this tour, I don't mind the Circus Maximus vocalist but I don't like him one bit either.

[MykeHavoc]

Yeah but he wasn't on any albums.

[Arcaeus]

Oh, I thought he was on the first two with Vanderbilt on vocals, but you're right.

[axeman90210]

boo hiss on Roy getting sick. I had planned to go to the NYC show, but now I think I'll just wait for next time they tour around here

[wolfking]

That's bad news.  Hope Roy is okay.

On another note, I am the only one that hates Oliver!!??  I hate this guy.  The way he talks makes me want to punch him in the face, and his snobbish attitude with his "I am a classical musician" way of thinking and talking pisses me off.  I was dissapointed when Kamelot made him a permanent member and why Simone would fuck this guy is beyond me, she could easily have her pick of guys.

/end skitzo rant.

[Zook]

I like Michael Eriksen and think he's a fine replacement and even sounds like Khan at times (beginning of A Darkened Mind). I hope Khan gets better as he make up a great deal of the magic of Kamelot but since I've already seen them live, I wouldn't mind seeing them with Michael. They aren't coming to AZ anyway though so it doesn't matter...