If you come across KAMELOT's discography you'll realize that this band has been growing and evolving since the very first album entitled Eternity that was released in 1995. They started playing mainstream Power Metal and found their way through orchestral Heavy Metal with many Progressive Metal additions. Well, to be more specific the orchestral parts were introduced in Karma, settled down in Epica and expanded their role in the most impressive Black Halo. Can KAMELOT go beyond Black Halo with Ghost Opera? Don't expect to find the answer between these lines, since I don't intend to follow the game of comparisons because I think by doing this you're loosing focus on the music itself.
In Ghost Opera KAMELOT chose to be more straightforward and less complicated in terms of complex melody lines and compositions. Additional, they've taken away some (not all!) of the aggression found in previous albums. The band has concentrated in making distinct and memorable melodies that can stick in the listener's mind after a couple of CD spins. The album opens with a violin based intro that leads to the uplifting and guitar-driven excellent track Rule The World. Next, there is the homonymous track that is also the first video from the new album. The song is classic, with bombastic orchestration and powerful guitar work.  Khan delivers his theatrical and powerful vocals supported by some female opera ones. The bass guitar opens for the emotional The Human Stain, with a solid rhythm section and a very good guitar solo. Some minor complaints arise from the fact that there are too many effects on Khan's voice.
In the next track, Blucher we find the familiar voice of Mrs Simone Simons, from EPICA, who plays the backing vocals role. The song has an almost gothic atmosphere (in the good sense) built by the very good keyboard work by the latest lineup addition Oliver Palotai. Love You Death is deeply emotional, featuring the male-female vocals approach introducing Mrs Amanda Sommerville. The building tension finds the excellent outlet through the wonderful guitar solo near the end. The lead guitars come front in the mid-paced track Up Through The Ashes while the male and female vocals on the Mourning Star present once again the band's melodic profile. KAMELOT remember their Power Metal past in the fast breaks of Silence Of The Darkness when Khan's voice, a piano and some orchestration create the melodic and atmospheric Anthem track. EdenEcho adds nothing really special and closes the album comprising a mid tempo a staccato rhythm and a catchy chorus.
The limited edition comes with the The Pendulous Fall bonus track, which is pretty good featuring some experimentations with some electronic sounds and effects. Additionally, there is a bonus DVD where you can find the Ghost Opera video and a 'making of' that is nice but nothing really special.
KAMELOT continue to deliver powerful music and have maintained the momentum that was built with the Black Halo release. The good thing is that they are still searching and experiment with their music producing good and inspired music.