Let me tell you a little story, I've been a fan of KAMELOT since 2000 after listening to "The Fourth Legacy" but I really got into KAMELOT after seeing them live in 2007. KAMELOT's music has always been sophisticated, epic, powerful and with a top style but after seeing them live I really understood what this band is all about. KAMELOT are storytellers and they will do whatever it takes to get you know what their music is all about and the mix of their very theatrical show and the almost soundtrack sound music you'll get the feeling you're watching and listening to something very special.

KAMELOT are back with "Silverthorn" the first album with new singer Tommy Karevik that replaced Roy Khan and KAMELOT's 10th studio album. Straight up from the first song and the new single "Sacrimony (Angel Of Afterlife)", you'll notice that Karevik's voice is very similar to Khan's but in my opinion his vocal range is even broaden and more powerful. Also after seeing a bunch of live recording on YouTube I can tell you that he's a hell of a frontman! He is definitely a modern Bruce Dickinson and even though it is very hard to replace a longtime frontman, especially someone like Khan, Karevik has managed to fill those big shoes perfectly.

Another great thing about this record is that keyboard player Oliver Palotai has taken some part in the writing and you'll hear some intense solo duels between him and KAMELOT's mastermind Thomas Youngblood that even if you already knew how good of a guitar player he is, on this record he will just blow your mind like on the solo on "Solitaire" and all around the record.

The rhythm section of Casey Grillo and Sean Tibbetts is tight as hell and compliments the music perfectly and the female voices from Elize Ryd (AMARANTHE) and Alissa White-Gluz (THE AGONIST) who also does some screaming vocals takes this composition to another level.

Production wise Sascha Paeth has done it again but this time not like on the last record "Poetry For The Poisoned" the music is perfect too and had been a concept album from beginning to end KAMELOT takes you to a musical journey of this story (On the special edition you'll get a full book on the storyline).

In conclusion amazing album, in my opinion this is one of the best Metal concept albums in the vein of DREAM THEATER's "Scenes From A Memory" and QUEENSRYCHE's "Operation Mindcrime" and for me a great comeback to melodic KAMELOT, a must for every music lover.

VASILIS ODONTIDIS (7/10)

It has been two years since officially things started going wrong for KAMELOT and a year since the departure of their singer, the legendary Roy Khan. Now the time has come for them to release their first record after settling the internal turbulence with a new singer the Swede Tommy Kaverik of SEVENTH WONDER fame. Khan in my opinion was a key part in the band's success. Not only because of his composing contributions but also of his charismatic voice (hopefully he still manages after the voice breakdown). In KAMELOT as in CONCEPTION (oh what a band!) his performance was outstanding and helped them both define their sound.

I don't think I can name any band that parted ways with their singer and came through this process as solid as before without needing the right amount of time to settle and eventually return in their normal creative mood. Another common fact in such cases is that a band tries to differentiate voice wise from their previous singer. Say it need of change, need of distance from the previous singer it is still a fact.

Enough with the blabbering though let's get to the point which is "Silverthorn". 56 minutes of music and a sympathetic cover but nothing really special. In the cover is Jolee who is the main character of the conceptual story presented here. The record has everything that made KAMELOT famous; pompous compositions, middle east elements, operatic choirs, lots of guests and of course lots of progressive elements in the music. But there is something I can't get out of my mind. I think that the band tried to use the successful forms of their music and move on already explored territories. Even Kaverik is trying to sound like Khan whenever he can. I don't know if that was intentional by the band or it is how he felt singing but this is how it sounds to me.

So what I am trying to say is this. The record has some good points like "Sacrimony", "Veritas", "Silverthorn" or "Prodigal Son", the performance of the band is outstanding but the record lacks in composition-wise. There are hardly any parts that will stick in your head and to me the absence of Khan's haunting, dominant voice is obvious. It is not that Kaverik is bad. He is really good, but different and has a much warmer and soothing voice. "Silverthorn" is the third KAMELOT record in a row that does not live up to my expectations and I have quite high from them.

DORY KHAWAND (8/10)

Our symphonic superheroes are back this year ladies and gentlemen! And this time with yet another outstanding/synth oriented masterpiece entitled "Silverthorn". This time they step out of the limo with a new vocalist Tommy Karevik, and he's got his vocal chords fired up for his KAMELOT debut. So remove your granny's earplugs and prepare to enjoy "Silverthorn".

KAMELOT as usual, are great at their composition. Each track feels like it's composed for a purpose, and more importantly, to satisfy the listeners with their trademark sound which is a similar offshoot from "Ghost Opera", which was very entertaining. I found some amazing synth keyboards scattered here and there on the album which heavily pleased my ears turned this album slightly modern, rather than traditional.

Masterpieces found on this album include Song for Jolee and Prodigal Son, which display extremely professional musicianship and a perfect trademark KAMELOT sound. Also, on "Silverthorn", we have many featured artists such as Elize Ryd from AMARANTHE, and Alissa White-Gluz from the Metalcore giants THE AGONIST. These 2 chicks add some flavor this progressive release and it sure tastes great.

A personal delight I found in this album is the keyboards. I swear, some parts are pure genius and are absolutely marvelous to the ear. "Sacrimony" and "Ashes to Ashes" are the most perfect examples for the orgasmic keyboard performances which Kamelot are able to display.

"Silverthorn" is a release you Must grab if you're a fan of Symphonic and Power Metal. It's nothing out of this world, but it's absolutely entertaining and worth your time. The new singer is not bad at all and fans will enjoy his great vocal performance on this release. Buy this shit.

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