Band:	Kamelot
Album:	The Black Halo
Style:	Symphonic power metal
Release date:	March 14, 2005
A review by:	Jeff

01. March Of Mephisto [feat. Shagrath]
02. When The Lights Are Down
03. The Haunting (Somewhere In Time) [feat. Simone Simons]
04. Soul Society
05. Interlude I: Dei Gratia
06. Abandoned
07. This Pain
08. Moonlight
09. Interlude II: Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso
10. The Black Halo
11. Nothing Ever Dies
12. Memento Mori
13. Interlude III: Midnight - Twelve Tolls For A New Day
14. Serenade
15. Epilogue [Japanese bonus]
16. Soul Society [radio edit version] [Japanese bonus]
17. The Haunting [radio edit version] [limited edition bonus]
18. March Of Mephisto [radio edit version] [limited edition bonus]

A new Kamelot? I know that all the Power Metal fans are awaiting it? After the great "Epica", which is one of the best albums of the style, it was really hard for the Americans to do something amazing like this precedent album, but impossible is definitely not equal to Kamelot. You understand me very well, they did it, Kamelot certainly just produced their best album so far, no doubts for me?

The album begins with the great and epic "March Of Mephisto", and after only one minute you already know that you're in front of THE album of Kamelot? this time they did something more than amazing. First the album was one more time recorded in Germany by Sascha Paeth and Miro and the production (sound like artwork) is perfect but the newness this time is the legion of guests: Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir), Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Simone Simons (Epica), Mari (Masqueraid) to give some names. Like on the last Angra, these guests are really important and evidently you know that these very talented musicians can only give something great to the album and the band (which however? don't need help at the base?). But anyway, like each time with Kamelot, Khan and his band mates did something really amazing and this Black Halo is really surprising. Don't worry this is always Power Metal, with the fast tempo and double bass but this time, this is definitely more Progressive and above all dark and black. I think that the band understood that Power Metal can also be something a bit different, and we all must congratulate the guys because this album doesn't sound cliché and that's a great point for me you can't imagine it?
This is fast ("When The Lights Are Down"), this is sad and slow ("Abandoned") or really Symphonic near to be Progressive ("Memento Mori") but every time really this is different and I'm thinking about it, I don't know and find a lot of Power Metal combos which are able to do this kind of original compositions. The songs aren't linear, and even if all is linked especially for the story (this is a concept Album) evidently, we have a pure diversity in this release and I listen to it (again and again) since January and in any way I find and think that this album will give me this bad feeling of annoyance.
The story is the following of Epica, I don't want to tell you more because you'll have some good surprises evidently but one more time all that is really catchy with a good main theme very well written.
At the end, Black Halo is just a wonderful journey in the world of Kamelot, something magic which can only give shivers to all the fans of Power Metal. These guys are great and talented, they know how to diversify their music, and each time they know how to surprise their fans. If you don't believe me, really I think that you should buy this album quickly to understand that I'm serious and that "The Black Halo" is one of the best Power Metal releases of the 10 last years.

This album is my favourite release by Kamelot and it is also their best in my opinion. I just don't give the maximum rating because I believe (I would like to see it too) when I see their impressive evolution that they can/will do something better and better in the future. Honestly, if you like Heavy Metal and Power Metal, The Black Halo is a little jewel, a must? Kamelot is not only the name of the castle of a famous legendary King... this is also now, the name of the Kings of Power Metal?