New Kamelot album: HAVEN

Haven comes out today in the U.S. 
Anyone have it yet or interested? 

I've only heard the two singles. I think this one is the better of the two. The video is a little predictable with this whole distopian thing going on, but I think it's a good song. 

I got it.  I've only listened to it twice so far, so it's a little hard to judge, but I like what I am hearing.  It sounds like you'd expect from Kamelot.  Several songs are stuck in my head, so that's a good sign of catchiness.  It still floors me how similar Tommy Karevik's voice is to Khan in places.

Yeah, it's pretty good. I still think Silverthorn is better. Tommy still sounds like Khan, which I had expected to lessen over time but not so much.

Khan has been one of my favorite vocalists since his days in Conception, so no complaints from me for Tommy trying to emulate him (since he does a pretty good job at it).

I guess I was expecting the sound of Seventh Wonder to mix in with Kamelot, which is a bit unrealistic I guess. Which reminds me, I wonder how the new Seventh Wonder album will turn out. The single was a bit cheesey for my tastes.

Trying to digest the new album, listened to it a couple times now.  It's good, but I'm not sure if I like it more than Silverthorn. One thing I wish they'd get rid of is the growling/screaming female vocal parts…getting old!

Agreed, I don't think the growls works on Haven. I did think it was tastefully done on "Sacrimony", but there it was very brief.

As much as I dig Tommy's voice, I still have not checked out Seventh Wonder.  Any recommendations on a song or album to start with?

It's funny, I don't mind the growls on Haven.  If you'd asked me 20 years ago to listen to something with any hint of growling, it would have been an immediate turn off, but now I actually enjoy them in small doses, depending on the song.

Yeah man, this one is probably my favorite. It has a good dose of power metal! 

Wow.  Tommy sounds much less Khan-like on that song.  I like prog as much as power metal, so they may be a good band to explore further.

Yeah, check out this album and the next two. Probably the best is Mercy Falls, which is a concept album. If you like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Shadow Gallery etc. that's what to expect. Really good though, I thought Tommy was one of the best metal singers before he even joined Kamelot.

Shouldn't this band be in the Christian section?  

Neither band is openly Christian, but you do hear Christian themes from time to time. Roy Khan is a Christian though.

Friday13th wrote:Yeah, check out this album and the next two. Probably the best is Mercy Falls, which is a concept album. If you like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Shadow Gallery etc. that's what to expect. Really good though, I thought Tommy was one of the best metal singers before he even joined Kamelot.

I like all three of those bands, actually. DT was my favorite band for almost 20 years until Theocracy took the top spot.  They still take up almost 10 percent of my CD collection (of over 1000 CDs).

Parched Earth wrote:

Friday13th wrote:Yeah, check out this album and the next two. Probably the best is Mercy Falls, which is a concept album. If you like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Shadow Gallery etc. that's what to expect. Really good though, I thought Tommy was one of the best metal singers before he even joined Kamelot.

I like all three of those bands, actually. DT was my favorite band for almost 20 years until Theocracy took the top spot.  They still take up almost 10 percent of my CD collection (of over 1000 CDs).

Same! Except for the 20 years part. That would mean I was digging DT since I was a one-year-old.   I think we might have talked about our love for DT and Theocracy in another thread. I have about 300+ CDs, and yeah I have the most of DT and Rush. Can't wait till the next Theocracy. It's killing me!

Friday13th wrote:Same! Except for the 20 years part. That would mean I was digging DT since I was a one-year-old.   I think we might have talked about our love for DT and Theocracy in another thread. I have about 300+ CDs, and yeah I have the most of DT and Rush. Can't wait till the next Theocracy. It's killing me!

You mean you weren't rockin' to DT at age one?  Banging your rattle in odd time signatures?  I love Rush, too, but still have more DT CDs with all the singles (except "Lie"), live releases, official bootlegs, fan club CDs (except the first one), etc.  Thankfully to my pocketbook, I have not been as anal a collector of other bands, sticking mainly to studio albums.   I am also very much looking forward to the new Theocracy!

Friday13th wrote:I thought Tommy was one of the best metal singers before he even joined Kamelot.

It's funny that this was my thought as well, except replace Tommy with Khan.   I was very excited when Khan joined Kamelot (though sad that it meant Conception was done).

Parched Earth wrote:

Friday13th wrote:I thought Tommy was one of the best metal singers before he even joined Kamelot.

It's funny that this was my thought as well, except replace Tommy with Khan.   I was very excited when Khan joined Kamelot (though sad that it meant Conception was done).

Haha cool, we're both a couple of metal hipsters I was definitely too young for that switch.

I just got the double CD Mediabook version
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Kamelot/Haven/493502