POETRY FOR THE POISONED

Kamelot Poetry For The Poisoned

I was looking forward to this album ever since Ghost Opera. Even though Ghost Opera was more gothic then I generally liked my music to be I considered it a good album. I find Poetry for The Poisoned just as gothic if not more so. There is more of an evil vibe then Kamelot's earlier albums but, if you can get past that it's a decent album. One thing I love about this album is that every song has a different style to it. They still are all Kamelot, and most of them have the dark vibe but, there is fast and slow metal songs and a ballad. All metal fans will find something they like in here from the death metal cookie monster vocals like in "The Great Pandemonium" and power metal fans will love "Hunter's Season". Prog fans will love the orchestration of the symphonic elements which are better in this album then any of there previous albums. One of the coolest things about this album are the vocals. There are some great guest female vocalists on this album and Roy Kahn is still the best vocalist in Metal though, it seems he has started to lose some of his range. The downsides of this album is that the guitars take a back seat to the symphonic sounds and to Khan. Make no mistake, everything should take a back seat to Khans vocals but, its sad to see the band stray from there power metal roots even further. The songs also aren't as catchy as there past works were and i had a little trouble getting into it but, after i gave it another chance i liked it more. I would give this a 3.5 but, I cant so I'm going to round up to a 4.

Less Metal, More Prog

I got connected to Kamelot since I spun their album 'Karma' that blew me away to the bone right away when I heard the opening 'Regalis Apertura' - 'Forever'. Wow man! It was a terrific experience when I got their music for the first time. I was so impressed that what so called 'metal' was actually had a sense of good melody in their music. I thought metal music was just the music that is played loudly sacrificing the melody part of it. In fact the strength of kamelot music is on its ability to create a memorable melody. I f you don't get me, try their 'Karma' album and enjoy the opening tracks. You would get exactly what I mean! Since then I purchased almost all of their albums, especially with Roy Khan as lead vox. Their follow-ups album I always pre-ordered starting from Epica until this album.

When kamelot released 'Ghost Opera' and its follow-up 'Second Coming' my metal colleagues started to complaint the musical degradation of kamelot. I understand why they say like that because their opinion were based on the way Roy sing is no longer using high register notes. But I disagreed with the musical degradation as I think their music is progressing into the new horizon with a darker nuances, using mostly the low to medium register notes and no longer exploring the high ones. It is in line with Roy Khan who is getting older. But the overall musical composition is still masterpiece for me. Well, music is very subjective - that's why I tolerate any differing views.

Less challenge to Mr. Grillo?

If you compare 'Poetry for the Poisoned' with 'The Fourth Legacy', 'Karma' or 'Epica', of course this new album is different as you will find less double pedal bass drum work in high speed like you find in 'Forever' or 'The Fourth Legacy' tracks. This album has much less in terms of that speed and this probably gives Mr Casey Grillo with his drum stools. Does it? Well, I don't think so. I find his dynamic drumming is around in many segments of this album. Even though less metal, the music is having a higher density as the band has added components that was not present in their previous works. You can find it rightaway when you spin the CD through the opening track 'The Great Pandemonium' where you can hear the nice additional vocal from Björn "Speed" Strid. The additional vocal provides musical accentuation throughout the song. I love the track since the first time I spun the CD. The combination of guitar solo by Mr Youngblood and drums by Grillo is really great.

'If Tomorrow Came' is by nature a power metal track with pondering double pedal bass drum with relatively high speed in the beginning and it slows down when the vocal line enter the scene. Here I can find the bass guitar work played by the new (not really as he was with the band long time ago) bassist Sean Tibbetts. I still can find sound exploration as well here. 'Dear' Editor is basically a monologue with smeagol-like (the one in Lord of the Rings movie) voice. 'The Zodiac' is really a very good song with very strong melody and tight composition, featuring Jon Oliva. Well, I love this song very much and it's one of the reasons why I keep spinning this CD more than 25 times in its entirety. I like the way the vocal is sung in sort of growl style by John Olivia. The guitar solo does not really relate to any power metal music and it's really stunning.

Uriah Heep plays power metal?

As far as logic says there is nothing to do between Kamelot and Uriah Heep. And why do I say so? Spin 'Hunter's Season'! You will find strongly that the guitar solo reminds you to the legendary Mick Box style in Uriah Heep albums. Of course there is nothing that shows exact style however you will find there is at least the nuances of Mick Box work in, say 'The Magician's Birthday' guitar solo. It's really a stunning guitar solo. Bravo Thomas Youngblood! The song itself is beautifully crafted with great melody and nice orchestration. This song has become one of my favorites.

'House On A Hill' connects me to 'Don't Cry' from Karma album because it's basically a mellow song that features a very nice voice of Simone Simons from Epica fame. It's hard to say if people do not like this good melody song. 'Necropolis' brings the music back to power metal in medium speed. 'My Train Of Thoughts' reminds me to the music of Peter Gabriel at the outset especially with the background music when Roy Khan sings his first lyrical verse. 'Seal Of Woven Years' is another excellent track with relatively fast speed power metal style. again, the song wins on its catchy melody. The double pedal bass drm work by Casey Grillo is very nice.

Too short for an epic

The album title track was composed as an epic that comprises four parts. Unfortunately, each part is very short in duration with the longest is 3.24 minutes. Why must it be broken-down into four parts if it's too short? I got no idea why the band decided like this. As a whole the epic sounds very nice with excellent orchestration as well as dynamic work of the drums. The epic should have been made as one song titled as 'Poetry for The Poisoned.

the album is concluded beautifully with a normal power metal music 'Once Upon A Time' that reminds me to the style they play in 'Karma' album. Casey Grillo plays his role in an excellent way. Roy khan sings in various tones where his voice sounds heavy. Casey Grillo drumwork is very nice during the interlude.

My copy is a digipack version with extra DVD on it. Unfortunately I still had no chance to watch the DVD becaue I am very satisfied already with the music - what's the point looking at the DVD? But I will do later.

It's still an excellent album!

One of the reasons why I kept delaying to write a review of the album was because I was in the middle of making the mark about it. Emotionally all tracks provide me with great melody and excellent composition that pushed me to tend giving a full five stars rating. I think they deserve it because the tight composition they make. But is it really a masterpiece? Maybe not. But for sure this album is very close to 9 (out of 1) rating. Let's make it for an excellent addition of prog music. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Definitelly,with this new album,KAMELOT,are proving to be on top of their maturity under all aspects!Honestly,I think that this band has a special status in today's music!Even,being an American band considered,well,with a NORVEGIAN vocalist,this guys have a very European touch!The music is so diverse and perfectly composed and performed,that album after album they continue to deliver astonishing music!ROY KHANTATAT aka ROY KHAN is one of the most amazing vocalists,with a heavenly voice and even the most pretentious rock conaisseur has to admit that this guy is very talented and sings in an unique way!His wide range of vocal expressions is trully spectacular-from furious uptempo rhythms to sensitive ballads,where this man is absolutely fabulous!Musically speaking,the symphonic power metal of this band has an unique personality and Mr's Youngblood 's mastery to compose such suprbe music is growing album after album!KAMELOT is a guarantee for high quality music and you get what you expect album after album!This new one is simply perfect,very prog orientated and truly close to perfection!Impossible to find a weak song-all are fantastic!Almost all songs are midtempo and the ballads are waking the Gods and touching the hearts of all sensitive persons!500 STARS if possible-PURE MASTERPIECE!

'Poetry For The Poisoned' - Kamelot (6/10)

While I'm of the belief that the speed and grandiose leanings of power metal has been to-date, a game for the Europeans to dominate, there are usually exceptions to any rule. Although they possess a very European sound about them, American act Kamelot are one of the few bands on the Western side of the Atlantic that I care about, and one of even fewer that rank as being kings in power metal. With each new album now, the expectations of their fans are always high, but the band generally manages to uphold their level of quality. 2010's 'Poetry Of The Poisoned' offers nothing new to Kamelot and shows very little development to their sound, but as usual, this band creates a very melodic, epic piece of work that should please the majority of their fanbase, and possibly catch the ear of a few more fans.

As with many of Kamelot's releases, there is the impression here that the songs are bound by a concept and storytelling narrative, although the lyrics and subject matter seem to dart around quite a bit more than usual for the band. Opening with the single-worthy 'The Great Pandemonium,' the listener is instantly brought on a dark, yet very melodic journey. The musical highlight here and throughout many of the songs is always the beautiful operatic tenor voice of singer Roy Khan, whose voice shows little sign of aging, and belts each note out with either grand force, or a vulnerable beauty. A soaring chorus, an exotic central riff and plenty of effective melodic hooks baked into the symphonic structure of the music works very well. Most of the other great songs on 'Poetry For The Poisoned' share the same strengths as the opener, including the intense second track 'If Tomorrow Comes' and the beautifully dynamic 'The Zodiac.'

Unfortunately, there are a handful of tracks here that don't share the same memorable quality, and therefore pale in comparison to the tracks that came before, despite the majority of the songs here sharing a similar formula. The fact that there is little variety beyond the operatic, melodic and chorus heavy anthems can lead to the album feeling a bit too one-tracked for it's own good, despite the fact that the band uses the formula very well. Towards the end of the album is the four-part title track, which despite efforts to give the appearance of being an epic suite, unfortunately isn't. Each track comprising the 'Poetry Of The Poisoned' suite generally sits around the two minute mark, leading one to wonder if it was really necessary to break the piece into sections. In any case however, the suite is welcome due to the fact that it allows the band to break out of their typical song structure, and try something a little bit different, although the suite is no far cry from the rest of the album.

'Poetry Of The Poisoned' is far from an excellent album overall, but the high marks here rest very high indeed, making the album a good addition to their consistent discography. There's no denying that the members of Kamelot are very skilled in their craft, and as one might come to expect by now, their skills and distinct brand of power metal continue to work pleasantly. Now, if only the band would break out of their comfort zone and do something a bit different, something absolutely astounding might be in store.

This is my first Kamelot record. I have bought the album because there was a special offer at my local record store and because I have heard many positive things about this band. I also liked the album cover and was looking forward to listen to the collaborations with the legendary Jon Oliva and Simone Simmons.

As I know listen to this album, I must admit that I expected more. There are many average songs that are produced way too soft and not edgy enough. Roy Khan's voice sometimes sounds too smooth and almost emotionless. The instrumental parts on the album are well done but I'm really missing the emotions in here. This melancholy atmosphere is dominating the whole album and becomes somehow the concept of it. Even after multiple listenings, many songs just don't stay on my mind and aren't catchy or outstanding at all like the very weak opener "The Great Pandemonium" or "Necropolis". The whole concept and atmosphere of the album grew on me every time I listened to it again, but a real killer is missing on this album.

The most interesting songs on the album are the catchy, dreamy and soft "Hunter's season", the beautiful duet "House On The Hill", the diversified and progressive title track "Poetry For The Poisoned" that has been cut into four pieces as well as the orchestral and epic "Once Upon A Time". But none of these songs is an innovating masterpiece or something fresh.

This is a good album to listen to in the background with its smooth atmosphere, but you can also get drowned into its very melancholic atmosphere which is a very positive points. The album only works as a whole piece, but the single songs are quite mediocre and sometimes even boring.

I would not recommend to get introduced to Kamelot with this album and rather choose an older one. I would also only recommend this record to the fans of the band and not to everyone who likes melodic power metal. If you are not sure, you should listen to this album before you consider buying it.

Originally published on www.metal-archives.com on October 28th of the year 2010.

While it won't score points for creativity, Poetry for the Poisoned maintains Kamelot's stellar reputation for quality, giving us one of the band's most exciting and enjoyable albums to date. This is a gem of melodic prog-metal: well-written, impeccably performed and produced, and genuinely fun to listen to. Taken has a whole, Poetry for the Poisoned sticks to Kamelot's winning combination of intense (though never overbearing) metal, a dark tone, dynamic songwriting, melodramatic lyrics and lots and lots of memorable guitar and vocal highlights.

"Great Pandemonium" opens the affiar very predictably but very powerfully. It's a crowd- pleaser, as is every opening song on Kamelot albums, but the mood and precision of the song sets the bar high. Luckily the group keeps things consistant, with an excellent mix of dynamics and melodies which follow. Youngblood gets some fantastic soloing in, while the rhythm section stands out during the many tempo changes throughout, lending a lot to the dramatic feel of the band here. The keyboard work is very subtle, nothing at all like the up-front work of Rudess or other more symphonic prog-metal groups. Palotai uses his many keys for textures and sweeping tones, which is probably the biggest element of the band's "power-metal" feel. He is clearly more into contributing to the whole rather than trying to steal the spotlight, which I think is actually present in the whole band, and is meant quite complementary. Kamelot's music isn't ostentatious, it's just really really good. The whole band feels like they work very well together, and are more concerned with making an excellent record than anything else. The centerpiece of the album, the 13-minute title piece, is a highlight in the band's songlibrary. Great stuff.

Kahn's vocals deserve special mention as well-- this guy is amazing. His voice is exceptionally elegant, very un-metal but fitting into the chugging intensity and furious drumming perfectly. He is joined by his usual collaborator Simone Simons, whose beautiful voice adds a perfect element of feminine grace.

So, while I acknowledge the overall similarity Poetry for the Poisoned has to the band's previous records, I am confident that Kamelot fans will acknowledge it as one of the band's best so far-- nearly as good as the excellent Black Halo. I hope the band takes the success of this release and runs with it, striving for more ambitious works in the future!

Songwriting: 4 Instrumental Performances: 4 Lyrics/Vocals: 4 Style/Emotion/Replay: 4

If I include "Poetry For The Poisoned" then I own the last five studio albums from KAMELOT and I must say this is the first time i've been disappointed. I know a lot of people said that about the previous album "Ghost Opera" but in my opinion there was enough there to warrant the four stars. Not here though.

"The Great Pandemonium" kicks in hard quickly and vocals come in after a minute and they will come and go, as will the growly spoken words. I much prefer the instrumental sections on this one. "If Tomorrow Came" is uptempo to start then it settles with vocals in a hurry. It does pick back up and I like the heavy sound before 3 minutes. "Dear Editor" is a short piece with samples of rain and street noise. "The Zodiac" is heavy to start then a calm with spoken vocals comes in.Very cool to hear guest vocalist Jon Oliva (SAVATAGE) come in singing.You know it's him right away. A tasteful guitar solo comes in after 2 1/2 minutes.

"Hunter's Season" has double bass drumming with Khan singing over top on the chorus. I much prefer the versus though. Check out the guitar solo before 3 1/2 minutes. Wicked stuff right there. "House On A Hill" has male and female vocals and is laid back but powerful at the same time. "Necropolis" is my favourite. It's a heavy onslaught and I like Khan's vocals better here too. "My Train Of Thoughts" gets better as it plays out.

"Seal Of Woven Years" has a cool atmosphere to start then it turns heavy a minute in then it picks up speed. It does settle back when the vocals arrive but the tempo continues to shift. "Poetry For The Poisoned" is a four song suite that is really a mixed bag. I enjoy parts 1 and 4 but parts 2 and 3 are ballad-like. "Once Upon A Time" ends it, and this is Power-metal all the way.

Not a bad album by any means, it's just not up to the quality these guys usually produce.