Kamelot

Time Flies!: June 2015

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Welcome to the latest edition of Time Flies! It’s my version of a monthly update, where I recap the past month’s accomplishments and articles, share news and random things from my offline life, and hint at what may be coming in the month ahead.

Is anyone else having a hard time believing that 2015 is now halfway over? Insane, isn’t it? But so far, 2015 has been an awesome year. Creatively, personally,… and now statistically! Because of your visits, comments, social media shares, and reblogs, this site has already topped 2014’s total page view counts – meaning it’s having its best year EVER. Thank you all so, SO much for your support and feedback. It means the world to me. And that’s going to make next month’s blogoversary that much sweeter. 😀

Which reminds me: I’m still taking questions for Eva’s blogoversary character interview! Submissions will be accepted through 11:59 pm on Friday, July 3rd. Click here for details and to see which questions have been asked so far.

Now, on to this month’s summary!

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New at Sonic Cathedral: Staff Reports on Kamelot + Delain + Eklipse North American Tour

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Kamelot NA 2013 Tour Poster

What happens when several Sonic Cathedral staff writers attend different shows on the same tour? They collaborate on a tour report! Four of my SC colleagues and I share our experiences with Kamelot’s recent headlining tour in North America, featuring support acts Delain and Eklipse. The article covers shows in Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Worcester, Massachusetts; and Anaheim, California.

Click here to read our report on the Kamelot / Delain / Eklipse North American tour.

Coming Soon: As previously reported, my review of The Mariana Hollow’s EP Scars, Not Wounds should be online at Sonic Cathedral later this week!

Five Years at Sonic Cathedral – A Retrospective, Part 4: Artists #5 through #1

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We’ve reached the end of the Sonic Cathedral Retrospective countdown! I’ve been listing my 20 favorite artists that I’ve covered in my five years of writing at the Sonic Cathedral WebZine. And today, it’s time to reveal the top five – including the artist I chose for #1!

First, in case you’ve missed the previous installments, here they are:

Part 1: Artists #20 through #16

Part 2: Artists #15 through #11

Part 3: Artists #10 through #6

So if we left off at #6, that means we’ll start tonight with…

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My Favorite Music of 2012

/ saraletourneau / 2 Comments

Hello!

I hope your New Year has gotten off to a promising start. The end of 2012 was a busy time for me, between various writing projects, the holidays, and other things. However, I made sure to consider which albums from 2012 I considered as some of my favorites.

I always make two lists: a personal one that combines all of the music genres I listen to, and one for Sonic Cathedral that focuses exclusive on female-fronted rock and metal. Now that the Sonic Cathedral Best of 2012 article is online, it’s time for me to share my picks for both lists! And – ready for a shocker? – for the first time in a couple years, my #1 picks for both lists are different albums. Then again, that just goes to show how incredible some of 2012’s albums were.

So, here are the lists!

My Personal Top 10 Albums of 2012

Anathema Weather Systems cover2

1. Anathema – Weather Systems

2. Beyond The Bridge – The Old Man & The Spirit

3. The Mariana Hollow – Velvet Black Sky

4. Xandria – Neverworld’s End

5. Astral Tears – Hypnotic

6. Lyriel – Leverage

7. Kamelot – Silverthorn

8. Ideal Zero – Ideal Zero EP

9. Atoma – Skylight

10. Arjen Lucassen – Lost In The New Real

My Sonic Cathedral Top 10 of 2012
(click here to read the full article by the SC staff)

BTB-Booklet v3.indd

1. Beyond The Bridge – The Old Man & The Spirit

2. The Mariana Hollow – Velvet Black Sky

3. Xandria – Neverworld’s End

4. Astral Tears – Hypnotic

5. Lyriel – Leverage

6. Ideal Zero – Ideal Zero EP

7. Leah – Of Earth & Angels

8. Venturia – Dawn Of A New Era

9. Vajra – Pleroma

10. Akoma – The Other Side EP

Blog Exclusive: Kamelot’s “Silverthorn” A Welcome Return To Form

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With a new singer, the multi-national symphonic power metal band goes back to their comfort zone with renewed energy and confidence.

NOTE: I had intended to publish this review with Suite101 this weekend. However, the website is currently experiencing kinks and bugs that will make it impossible to publish the review there before the album’s release date on Tuesday, October 30th. So, I’m posting the review here instead. Enjoy! And feel free to comment about the album or my review below.

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When Kamelot’s long-time frontman Roy Khan left the band in 2010, fans and critics alike were nervous. Khan was part of the band’s songwriting nucleus; and his deep, velvety voice had woven itself into Kamelot’s symphonic power metal trademark. What would his departure mean for the band? Would there be a drastic change in sound? And, would the new singer be able to rise above the metal world’s mountainous expectations? With Kamelot’s tenth studio album, Silverthorn, the answers to those last two questions are respectively – and firmly – “no” and “yes.” Continue reading →

Kamelot Interview at Sonic Cathedral

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Oh, am I thrilled to share this new article from Sonic Cathedral with you!


Kamelot have been one of my favorite bands for years. I bought (what I consider to be) their masterpiece, The Black Halo, in 2007 and was instantly smitten by their melodic, intelligent brand of power metal. But it wasn’t until last week that I went to my first Kamelot gig in Worcester, Massachusetts. The band was opening for Nightwish’s North American headlining tour. And Kamelot put on a fantastic set! They had so much energy and passion during their 45-minute set (which should’ve been longer!), and the entire crowd felt it. I already can’t wait for their own headlining tour next year.

Before the show, I sat down with new Kamelot frontman Tommy Karevik (center in above photo) for an interview. We talked about the Nightwish tour, Kamelot’s upcoming concept album Silverthorn, and the latest female singers to be featured in Kamelot’s songs (tying the interview in to Sonic Cathedral’s focus on female singers in rock and metal), among many other topics. It truly was a pleasure to talk to Tommy and to see in person how this softspoken young man with such a powerful singing voice is excited and humbled to be a part of this band.

Click here to read my interview with Tommy Karevik of Kamelot.

Another Sonic Cathedral article is coming very soon! Until then, have a good night.

~ Sara

The Best of 2010 – Sonic Cathedral and My Personal List

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So 2010 has come and gone – which means it’s time for those ever popular end-of-the-year lists! So Sonic Cathedral recently posted its best-of-2010 list.  And what an interesting list it is.  It features a healthy mix of veteran musicians (Arjen Lucassen, Tristania, and Tarja) and popular newcomers (Diabulus in Musica, Seven Kingdoms, Magion, The Mariana Hollow).  Click here to see who made the cut!

Also, here is my overall Top 10 list for 2010. Continue reading →