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KAMELOT
London, Islington Academy, 4 April 2008

Due to an early start missed the opening band and just caught Firewind into their second song. Formed around legendary guitarist/producer Gus G they certainly had many of the crowd on thier side.

A couple of songs grabbed my attention but the vocals got lost in the mix at times and they are just a bit too samey song wise for me. But good luck to them as I reckon based on crowd reaction alone they will be headlining venues this size sooner rather than later.

Kamelot took to the stage with a big drum set, raised platforms for the female backing vocalist and keyboards player Oliver Palotai - suitably grandiose for the band's epic music.

Opening with a couple off last year's excellent 'Ghost Opera' album the band soon hit their stride despite this being the opening date of their second European tour promoting the album.

This being the case we get to hear world live premieres - 'Pendulous Fall' (off the recently released 'Ghost Opera - The Second Coming') and 'Serenade'. The crowd go wild on the all out metal of 'When The Lights Go Down' and again on the second encore 'March Of Mephisto'.

Some wonderful guitar soloing from Thomas Youngblood and of course in vocalist Khan you have the voice many metal bands would love to have in their ranks! Lots of power, but melodic and no need to resort to screaming.

An early curfew meant a pre-10pm finish but still time for two encores and three songs including the wonderful 'Ghost Opera'.

Only one gripe the vocals sounded very low in the mix at times and despite a strong set of pipes Khan was still very quiet in some songs.

Another fine live performance from a band who have shot right into my favourites both live and on album since first hearing them back in 2005.

This is what epic/symphonic metal is all about and none do it better.

Review by Jason Ritchie

Photos by Noel Buckley/GRTR!

Kamelot set list

Solitaire - Rule The World - When the Lights are Down - Soul Society - Pendulous Fall - Descent of the Archangel - Abandoned - The Human Stain - Instrumental - Serenade - Elizabeth - Keyboard solo - Forever - Eden Echo

Encores:
Ghost Opera - Karma
March of Mephisto