Artist: KAMELOT
Album: THE AWAKENING VINYL (2LP BLACK)

Release date: 17.03.2023
EAN/UPS: 840588172719
Media type: LP

"As one of the most innovative and prestigious bands in modern symphonic metal, heavy icons KAMELOT have reigned supreme with the release of internationally top-charting melodic metal pinnacles such as The Fourth Legacy (1999), The Black Halo (2005), Silverthorn (2012), Haven (2015, #1 US Hard Rock Albums), and most recently 2018’s acclaimed The Shadow Theory (#2 US Hard Music Albums, and an album Metal Hammer dubbed, “so epic it could be a film soundtrack”), and by headlining tours worldwide and delivering massive performances at top festivals around the globe. Now, the quintet set their sights beyond formulaic confines with their most introspective, uplifting, vital release to date - their first full-length in five years, 2023’s aptly titled The Awakening. The album shines as a massive and diverse offering mixing symphonic, melodic and power metal styles, yielding some of the heaviest tracks in KAMELOT’s history.

KAMELOT is one of few bands in the symphonic genre to fully embrace the dark, but of course, there can be no light without it. Inspiring, engaging lyrical themes of determination, strength, overcoming personal battles and growth are abound on The Awakening, provoked by extreme societal shifts and the overwhelming realization that we have such a brief time to be true to ourselves and live life to its fullest. With crystal clear modern production helmed by the band and longtime producer Sascha Paeth, plus mastering by Jacob Hansen of Hansen Studios, KAMELOT’s score-like 13th studio album is accented by guest contributions from the likes of Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum) and renowned instrumentalists like violinist Florian Janoske and Grammy nominated, soundtrack-featured cellist Tina Guo.

Side A:
01 Overture (Intro)
02 The Great Divide
03 Eventide
04 One More Flag in the Ground

Side B:
05 Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem) feat. Tina Guo
06 Midsummer's Eve feat. Tina Guo
07 Bloodmoon

Side C:
08 NightSky
09 The Looking Glass
10 New Babylon feat. Melissa Bonny, Simone Simons

Side D:
11 Willow
12 My Pantheon (Forevermore)
13 Ephemera (Outro)

LINE-UP:

    Tommy Karevik – vocals
    Thomas Youngblood – guitars
    Sean Tibbetts – bass
    Oliver Palotai – keyboards
    Alex Landenburg – drums, percussion

Additional personnel:
    Tina Guo – cello (tracks 5 and 6)
    Florian Janoske – violin
    Simone Simons – guest vocals on "New Babylon"
    Melissa Bonny – guest vocals on "New Babylon"