Good return to form after the last two.

PFTP actually slightly outdid the new one, but that just goes to show how much momentum Kamelot had built up to that point, and how much of a career catastrophe Khan's departure could have been. This chart showing is a testament to how well Youngblood rallied the troops and made a career-saving choice in new vocalist Tommy Karevik.

I like the new album quite a lot, though it did take several listens for me to really connect with it. Not that's it hard to digest, more that I was undoubtedly listening with some trepidation, fretting some jarring stylistic curveball or perhaps worse, an attempt to borrow too heavily from past glories---or to find that Tommy just didn't "fit" for me. Once I got past that and was just "listening", Silverthorn offers a pretty strong collection of songs.

That said---I think people that are calling this a grand slam and on par with Karma, Epica or The Black Halo are going overboard and overreacting to the welcome return of some quicker tempos and a few more uplifting melodic hooks as equating to "instant masterpiece." Go back and listen to those albums. Silverthorn certainly compares favorably, but it's not in the same class.

Plus, reading a lot of reactions to this album I feel as though, of their last two albums, Ghost Opera in particular has been a bit unfairly written off. After a string of towering power metal opuses, they decided to not beat that formula to death and try something a little structurally different on Ghost Opera. That minor shift in and of itself was an automatic turnoff to many fans, but there are some very inspired songs on that album that have been overlooked IMO.

The songs on Silverthorn are pretty uniformly strong, the only notable exception for me being the interesting---but just not as catchy and memorable as the others---title track. I also think "Prodigal Son", while a respectable extended piece, remains a little too downcast and grim even as it crescendos to serve as the album closer. That brings to mind too that the opening and closing instrumental tracks are fine enough complimentary pieces, but this album would have felt much more complete with one more proper song.

If I had to pick my number one track so far it would be "Falling Like The Fahrenheit" which has a great, moody vibe and just a transcendent refrain. I only wish they had chosen this track (instead of "My Confession") as the candidate for a fade-out ending as I think there was a missed opportunity to let this chorus ring out a few more times and for Tommy to go off and riff some on top of it. (That would be my suggestion for the live treatment of this song).

As for Tommy: he sounds great and he fits. Like others have noted, there are those few moments where there's an almost uncomfortable channeling of Khan's phrasing and timbre. (Hard to ignore the resemblance lyrically and in the vocal delivery of the line "tell me every little detail" in "Sacrimony" to Khan's "down to the detail" line in "March Of Mephisto.") In contrast, however, you can really hear Tommy's distinct influence on the vocal melodies in tracks like "Torn," the strong ballad "Song For Jolee" and others.

All in all I would say this album is strong but a bit safe---and perhaps understandably so given the circumstances. While some of the melodies and tempos do recall their best albums, I think closer listening finds there isn't quite the depth and adventurousness in the arrangements and execution here as on those albums. What this album says best is that Kamelot is alive and well and has a bright future with a new frontman who can both uphold their legacy and help take them to new places.

Has anyone noticed "Solitaire" was already a track from 2 albums ago? WTF? Couldn't they just call it Part 2 or something?

Spot on review of the album - I agree completely.

\m/

after those last few. Maybe even one of their top 3 best ones.