Now in their twentieth year, having been touring extensively on the final legs for their Silverthorn ventures. Kamelot begin their eleventh chapter in May with their brand new album Haven. Having played Port Lympnne the day previous, the band treat us to their stadium sized sound in London’s Islington Academy. Kicking the proceedings off are female fronted Skarlett Riot. Living slightly up to their name they create enough energy to the weary crowd. Made up of an older fan base Unfortunately the band aren’t able to make as many heads turn simply because they’re all in the pub! Luckily our audience seems to pick up slightly for the Firewind strings master.
People filtering more and more throughout the band’s set. The line up complete with a special tour appearance from Henning Basse perform admirably. Compromising their set between the lyrical bellow of their singer, moving into the more instrumental side of the guitarists’s genius. Before tagging the singer out, the band launch into a fierce Firewind classic double whammy of “World On Fire” and “The Fire And The Fury“. Instrumental bands in particular tread a fine line between, amazement and boredom. Though there are some moments where the audience’s proverbial eyes begin to wander, the band bring it back with inclusion of Skarlett Riot‘s Chloe Dinkwater for the ballad “Long Way Down“. Returning for his encore our singer seems to be the missing link between the enthusiasm felt. Instantly ramping the band right back up the quartet end with a triumphant “I Am The Fire” and have well and truly set the bar for tonight’s headliners.
The lights dim, shadows take to the stage, proverbial and not. The slow trickle of band members are fed through the back stage building the anticipation to fever pitch. Bursting forth the critical mass explode with “Sacrimony (Angel Of Afterlife)” spearheaded straight to fan favourite “When The Lights Go Down“. Although at first glance you would argue that singer Tommy Karevik is cocky to the point of blatant arrogance,over the course of the evening the singer is revealed to be undeniably fantastic at working the crowd. Towering over the audience the signer rhetorically asks “Do you like to jump?” When the floorboards announce with a resounding yes to “The Great Pandemonium“.
Often navigating through the labyrinth of sound that comes with the more ambitious of bands, keyboards are swallowed whole, guitars lost in the mix or vocals dominate. Tonight, the sound is completely on point, despite slight technical difficulty with Youngblood‘s guitar which is quickly forgiven, with the guest appearance of Karevik‘s phone… Mixing perfectly, each instrument with crystal clear clarity. Slowing down with “Song For Jolee” returning back with “Rule The World” the previously arrogant lead singer becomes more and more likeable, brushing off the persistent phone as a comedian would a heckler. But it’s not just about the charisma of the singer, his vocal prowess is undeniable. Tearing through classics “Center Of The Universe” and “Ghost Opera” Karevik has more an proven himself.
The art of Kamelot‘s attack it seems, lies within balance. With each member able to flaunt his or her skills at some point in the set, from the drum solo to the constant rumbling of Tibbett’s bass work to the unexpected Keyboard solo near the end of the performance. The band surprise fans with the guest appearance of Gus G on “Hunter’s Season” and saving the best for last, premiering brand new song the majestic “Veil Of Elysium” before charging headlong into finisher Epica classic “March Of Mephisto“. Arriving as a skeptic, Kamelot have well an truly gained a new fan. Performing admirably and most importantly smiling in the face of adversity the band conquer the sold out Islington Academy.
