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KAMELOT - EPICA
2003 Noise Records
EPICA is a grand album as the name implies. It is sweeping and broad in scope. I ordered the album directly from Noise Records in Germany and got it before it was released. I've had a while to listen to it off and on, but my conclusion is still the same as my initial reaction: THIS IS A MASTERPIECE. In a perfect world, Kamelot would sell 10 million albums and sell out concert venues worldwide. True believers, this is one of the finest releases so far this year. Is EPICA better than KARMA? Definitely. Is it better than THE FOURTH LEGACY? Possibly.

EPICA is a concept album loosely based on "Faust" by J. W. Von Goethe. EPICA "is a product in the vein of previous Kamelot works, including band members' personal experiences and also references to contemporary movie directors like David Lynch in its extreme expression." The album opens with "Prologue," which boosts the listener's curiousity, then thrusts them into "Center of The Universe," a pummeling track typical of classic Kamelot. The album has several interludes that show a lot of work and the excellent songwriting ability Kamelot are known for. The songs are more "epic" and orchestral than previous Kamelot albums. They are also heavy and fast, and surely as sophisticated as Metal comes. Some of my favorites are "Center of The Universe," "Lost and Damned," and "Descent of The Archangel." There are many guest appearances on the album as well, such as guitarist Luca Turilli, Sasha Paeth, Miro (the team who also masterfully produced the album), and a female vocalist named Mari.

A brief word about the album art: The digital art and layout by Mathias Janke is superb. Also, another great cover by Derek Gores.

Bottom Line: This is POWER METAL at its finest. Kamelot are true artists in every sense of the word. They put their heart and soul into this album. The entire package is top notch. I highly recommend EPICA.

DISCOGRAPHY:

ETERNITY (1996) Noise
DOMINION (1997) Noise
SIEGE PERILOUS (1998) Noise
THE FOURTH LEGACY (2000) Noise
THE EXPEDITION (2000) Noise
KARMA (2001) Noise
EPICA (2003) Noise
Click here for the Official Kamelot Homepage.
Click here to hear song samples and to buy EPICA.