Hey guys - this is Mark “The Fuzz-Man” Doss coming at you with a review of Kamelot’s newest album, “The Shadow Theory, here on The Great Metal Debate podcast.
Now guys, before I go into any detail on this album, I want to let you know something personal about myself. I just became a parent about two months ago, and I’ve got to say it’s one of the best things ever… it might be the greatest thing ever to happen to me. And this album was actually the album I was listening to on the way to the hospital, considering it came out the day before she was born.
So, I was on my way to the hospital to be with my fiance during her labor, and this was also the album I was listening to taking them both home. Anytime I listen to this album it always brings me back to that time… it was a feel-good moment for me. You know, I believe music is a very healing factor in life, and it’s just a natural high that we all have in common.
“The Shadow Theory” came out on April 6, 2018, and, you know, I’ve heard a lot of people saying “It’s Kamelot… it‘s still Kamelot, blah, blah blah.” Well, of course it is, and I’ll tell you why. Well, if you think about it, a lot of the great bands like Pantera, Van Halen - even modern bands such as Revocation - have their own style that they have imprinted into the world of music. And when you listen to something on the radio and you can immediately pinpoint it, then you know that they have their own style, and Kamelot do that exact thing and have been doing so for the last twenty or so years - since they’ve been a band.
I’m just going to warn you guys: yes, this is a Kamelot album. It is no different than any other Kamelot album from, say, the Epica era. Epica, The Black Halo, Ghost Opera, Poetry For The Poisoned; even the Tommy Karevik albums; Silverthorn, and of course their last album, Haven. That doesn’t mean this is a bad album - at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Now, there is one thing I do have to say: I’m not a big fan of the song Static because it kind of reminds me of a very poppy, soft… it’s not Kamelot. It sounds like something that might be played on a ‘light’ radio station or a pop music, top-40 billboard hits. It’s not Kamelot to me. It might be Kamelot so some people; some people might like that - it’s all opinion. To me that was the only flaw on this album.
Now, another thing about this album that is interesting is that Kamelot has two new female vocalists. That’s a Kamelot staple - having a female vocalist as a guest, featured artist on their albums. This time we have Lauren Hart, vocalist from the band Once Human, and Jennifer Haven from Beyond The Black. Lauren appears on the second single on the album, which was Phantom Divine, and also on mind-fall remedy, and I’ve gotta tell you she kills it. Me personally, I prefer her over Alissa White-Gluz any day, and they’ve released some great music with her too. Now Jennifer Haven, I haven’t really listened to her band much, but listening to the ballad on the album - In Twilight Hours - it’s beautiful. It is amazing.
This album also doesn’t include Casey Grillo on it. Casey Grillo was the original Kamelot drummer, and he announced his departure back in February. So, he’s doing his own thing now and best of luck to him and his future endeavors. Now they have Johan Nunez from Firewind on drums. I’m a big Firewind fan, and you can definitely hear that he has put his own spin on the album. A little bit of Casey, a little bit of Johan Nunez - I think it’s the best of both worlds, in my opinion.
For those who are looking for a unique, different approach to a Kamelot album; hold your breath and just listen to the music. “The Shadow Theory” - I would give this album a 7 out of 10 rating. Nothing crazy; it’s just Kamelot doing their thing, and then the Static song that I’m not really that into. But yes, give this thing a listen and form your own opinion on it.