The anticipation that surrounds a new album is almost tangible. With Kamelot returning for their final run of the Silverthorn cycle at Islington’s o2 Academy, along with a handful of other shows, fans alike are eager for their new release, Haven. Set to be released May 4th, the new record boasts truly larger than life sounds, emotive melodies and phenomenal musicianship. Shortly before their set in London back in March, we caught up with Sean Tibbetts Kamelot’s bass player to discuss the new album, what it’s like to be in Kamelot and what the state of the music industry is truly like in the modern day!
The Metalist : How was the process of writing the album? Are there any elements in Haven that might not have been there before?
Sean : Alright, well, the honest truth is that every Kamelot album is a little bit different. You can take any album of Kamelot and compare it to another one, its really, there’s always that underlying Kamelot feel to it. Just because of the style of the writing, but there are big differences in every single album. Some have more of a dark feel, some are more of commercial feel. Some are really heavy, if you listen to the old stuff, it’s just old school metal.
80’s kind of style?
Yeah, exactly, well you know everyone grows a little bit overtime.
With this being the eleventh album, how do you remain creative as a band?
Y’know its really funny, because Thomas (Youngblood) and I know a couple of other guys in the band too, we really don’t listen to a whole lot of outside music. Really the music comes from us, I don’t really listen to a whole load of stuff. I listen to my old stuff, the classic stuff I really like you know? Stuff you listen to over and over and over again.
Like the Judas Priests?
Yeah man, you know I’m a really big Zeppelin fan. So I listen to a lot of Zeppelin a couple of other bands that I really dig, usually we don’t really listen to a whole lot of stuff off the radio. So we’re not really influenced in what goes on outside, I think that probably plays a big role in why our stuff sounds different on the albums. You’ve gotta really dig deep and challenge yourself.
Well that’s good,I mean you want to try and evolve as much as possible. Silverthorn was more of a concept concept. Though there isn’t a specific concept going, is there an underlying theme?
There is, it didn’t start off that way honestly, it started off that we were just going to do some songs. We just came off a concept album so we thought that well maybe we’ll write some songs. It started off in one direction, then the next song kinda led into that one and it started feeling good. Started feeling right, so there is a little bit of a concept there. Its kind of built around a little political too , about where the world is going a little bit of of how technology is influenced people, for instance social media.You go into a room and you know everyone is on their iPhones and nobody is talking so how social is that? I’m guilty of it myself! It’s my toy, you know? When you’ve got nothing else to do!
Its about that, a little bit of a political not really good versus evil but there’s a power struggle. you guys are going to dig it, the video we just shot are going to relay some of that too, those are going to be really interesting we shot them just the other day.
Can I ask what it is?
I’m not gonna say, I think its better that I keep that quiet until I get the ok!
Music as complex as Kamelot is it hard to orchestrate as a band, or has it become a more straight forward?
We’ve all been playing so long together now that everyone has a real good feel for it. Everyone’s playing, Casey (Grill0) and I we stop and start songs all the time without even looking at each other in different spots. I mean its like we have ESP or something you know, it’s the weirdest thing, but its pretty cool that we’ve really got a feel for each other.
As you’ve mentioned before in the new album you talk about modern technology in the new digital age. So what is your opinion on streaming downloading music?
This is a pretty sore subject for me, I’m sorry that it is and I’m not going to lecture everyone but for me, I’ve never downloaded anything personally. I’m not saying that to boast or anything, I see how hard I work and how hard other musicians work people have no issue with downloading and stealing all this hard work. I mean it takes months to write these songs that get recorded and for somebody to just come steal it and not pay something. It’s just awful. They have an issue with stealing a shirt or a pair of pants or food or something like that there is a moral dilemma. But when it comes to music there’s no issue at all and then when you confront people and say “hey! you know that’s illegal” their attitude is “hey, everyone does it”. That doesn’t mean that its good, its a shame really.
I’m quite an anorak myself I love anything like a deluxe edition, do you think that fans attach themselves more to the deluxe editions of the album or do they not really care that much?
I don’t really know, I mean we sell out of ours pretty quick so I guess they like them haha! I think its great, because its something unique you can have and this new deluxe thing that we’re doing with ours. I just signed two thousand posters yesterday. Its really personal you know we’ve touched everyone of those and the whole band has signed them A lot more goes into it than people might think. Poetry on that album, we signed 1,500 – 1,700 7 inch vinyls. I’m pretty sure that were doing it for this one (Haven)
You’re from Florida, which is THE death metal state. You’ve got Deicide, Death and whole host of other bands. How is it being the Power metal band from Tampa? Do you get recognised when you go out?
It is, Tampa specifically that’s where were from! It’s a cool place to live, I actually moved out of there a couple of years ago. Im up in Kentucky now, but Thomas and Casey are still there. We’re pretty spread out now. I’ve been recognised a few times (in Kentucky) when go down to Florida and see my friends and hang out with them I get people like “oh my god”, I get that. That’s kind of neat.
Having listened to Haven, there were elements, particularly “Fallen Star” and title track “Haven”. It reminded me of film scores. Do you have any influences from film soundtracks?
No, but you’re right they have that kind of feel don’t they! There are a couple of other songs that have that kind of vibe too! I hope that a film company listens to Haven and calls us up because that would be a great pay check haha! Give us a call for all you guys out there!
New singer, Tommy Karevik whilst being in Kamelot is also in Seventh Wonder. How does that work logistically? Is it manageable?
No it’s fine! Honestly, Seventh Wonder doesn’t do a whole lot of touring. I just saw them at Prog Power when they played in Atlanta and I drove down for that and they were awesome man, they’re such a great band. It’s a totally different feel than Kamelot, Tommy sings different, the band has a totally different feel than us, so it’s really wild to see him play with them. Because I know how he is with us but then its a different person up there man, it’s really cool. They’re a really great band man good times and good friends!
As we were talking about concept albums earlier on, have you got a favourite concept album?
(Without hesitation) Oh Mindcrime for sure. Queensryche baby!
What kind of music did you listen to growing up?
Well that would be one of them! I was really kind of heavy, into heavy stuff, you know? Like the guys, I listened to Death. Actually when I was really young I was listening to classic Van Halen, Led Zeppelin you know stuff like that? I got into more like Maiden and stuff.
Did you find that Steve Harris was a big influence?
Not really, I was really more into Geddy Lee, but Steve Harris is a great player! But Geddy man, his chops are just amazing, when I got into high school I got into more like Slayer, Testament and stuff like that and really started to get heavy and then it just progressed from there.
So you’re a Rush fan! What’s your favourite album by them? 2112 and Hemispheres are one of my personal favourites!
Oh yeah, I’m a big Rush fan. Well I have a lot of their albums! Moving Pictures is wonderful too, every song on it is just amazing.
So what are your plans for tour, what countries will you be hitting up. Playing London tonight and then…
Yeah well we go home, tonight’s the last show, it was really quick. We were actually hoping to have the album out earlier,but you know, you’ve got your ideas of days that you’re going to finish and then reality sets in and “hey, you know it doesn’t look like it’s going to make it”. So we had to push it back a little bit but its coming out very soon, it’s coming out on the fifth (of May). So when we actually booked these shows we thought that the album would be out. So we did these three shows, we did Dublin, Wales and then London tonight. Then we head home, where we’ve got a little over four weeks off. We’re going to change up the whole show, so everything’s going to be different when you see us again. We’re changing the set all up, the stage, everything is going to be different. Yeah it’s going to be a whole new show. We do the US as I was saying, then we’ve got a little more time off again, then we do the summer festival tours. Then we’re doing Europe in the fall, and then its off to the United States one more time for one more round of the US. By then its going to be the end of the year, then we’re taking off again shortly after that, but I don’t have the confirmation of those dates yet.
Its going to be exciting! We’re gonna be really busy man, it’s great!
Things are really starting to pick up!
It really is man, you know we’ve had a year off to write this album and I gotta tell you these three shows have just put it back in our blood man it feels great to be back in the saddle.
With these sort of shows, they seem a bit smaller than they are kind of normally, it must be nicer to be in an intimate setting, not as intimate as a sweatbox but its nicer than playing the slightly tempermental festivals.
Festivals are fun, but these kind of settings are really nice too. You get a better sound here than you do at a festival, usually the sound on stage the stage sound is not very good but just the fact that you’re playing to those giant crowds, you know there’s nothing like that rush. That’s what every musician dreams of. When you’re learning to play guitar, when you’re in the garage with your buddies you’re thinking about playing Wacken or Sweden Rock. To be lucky enough to have the opportunity to be able to do that is just wonderful.
When you come by, you said Europe, will you be hitting up the UK again?
I’m not too sure because I haven’t seen the tour schedule just yet. I don’t know if we’re coming back to the UK because we just did it, I would have to look at the schedule!
What would be the average day in Kamelot, besides waiting around!
Oh yeah man, we are professional waiters, those people that get your food at the table, they’re not waiters. We are the waiters haha. We do a lot of waiting. Average day on the road, I just woke up and its about between 10 and 1 o clock you get up go eat some food real quick, scrub down a little bit maybe. Then maybe do soundcheck about 3 or 4 then you do some interviews and some pictures haha then dinner, then you play. Then afterwards you do some autographs and say hi to everyone, get on the bus and head out and do it all over again the next day! Might have a couple of hours to hang around town.
Do you ever get to check out the sights and stuff?
Oh yeah! We usually get anywhere from two to four hours something like that! If you’re walking around you can usually find me somewhere I gotta get out and move haha!
After speaking to our bass player, we parted ways only to be reunited with a sold out Islington Academy along for the ride. Witnessing the sheer triumph that Kamelot portrayed in their fantastic live performance is just the beginning. Whetting fans’ appetite with the world premiere of “Veil Of Elysium” set to be their biggest release yet, Haven will see even more doors open for this truly fantastic band. As the final notes ring out signalling the end of the evenings proceedings, the throes of metal heads depart, myself among them. Shortly before leaving remembering our chat I decide that Rush’s Moving Pictures will be a fitting soundtrack to the way home…
