THE BLACK HALO

I discovered Kamelot a couple of years ago by chance. I came upon the song "Karma" set to some clips from a movie. The movie was horrible.. but that's not the point. From that day on, I downloaded every song by Kamelot I could find. Since their albums aren't sold where I live, I had to pirate them. Eventually I got a bank account and started rapid-firing orders from Amazon. First Karma came in, then the Fourth Legacy, followed a week later by Epica. I had already been thoroughly introduced to progressive metal through the works of bands such as Dream Theatre. Before Kamelot, Petrucci and the rest of Dream Theatre gave my speakers the most stress. Ever since I received Epica, I have gone through 8 speakers in my car. Complete replacements TWICE. I've probably suffered some loss of hearing too.. but that's okay, as long as I can keep getting more speakers that can blare Khan's vocals louder and louder. On the Epica album, my favorite song was Center of the Universe primarily because of the infusion of Mari's vocals near the end of the song.. "I have a tale to be told won't you listen tonight. Follow me into the core of the fountain of light. Try to imagine that hope is a ship for your soul. [Over the ocean the quest of your life lies ahead] Maybe together we'll find there's a place for us all [Follow the star in your mind, sail along sail along]" ... that whole part. Euphoric. Absolutely euphoric. I then realized that the boys from Florida were releasing a new album in 2005. I pre-ordered it from Amazon. I received it. I listened to it. And again. And again. There isn't a low point in the ENTIRE album. I was worried that they couldn't surpass the combined success of Karma and Epica. Oh, how I was wrong! From the sound of a gathering army in the very beginning of March of Mephisto to my favorite song, Abandoned (and it's prelude) where Khan's voice is released in all its beautiful range to the beautiful Italian singing in Un Assassino Molto Silenzioso, to Momento Mori (9 minutes seemed like seconds), to Serenade's perfect ending, every instrument is played flawlessly, every note is sung with perfect clarity. I especially love how they made this album a continuation of Epica's story and characters. That's what makes some consider them progressive. I would give them 4 stars because they aren't exactly progressive music. But I would give them 6 stars in a power metal rating.. so to balance things out, I gave them a 5, because I believe that even the most devoted, narrowminded Prog metal enthusiast (how can you even be narrowminded when you love progressive metal) would enjoy this album thoroughly.

"Love, Love is the only truth. Pure as the well of youth. Until it breaks your heart. You took me higher than the mountains I have climbed. You, you waited all your life for me. You left me all alone behind. But we'll meet again. We will meet again."