Review: Kamelot at Playstation Theater
Kamelot’s return New York City was an all mighty return. The power Symphonic Metal group returned to shock and awe long time New York City fans once more for a night of fantastic melodies that soon won’t be forgotten. It’s been about four years since i last saw Kamelot live and I’m really glad I got to catch the show! Also joining this incredible trek for the second leg of The Shadow Theory Tour is Sonata Arctica and Battle Beast! For you power metal fans, this is a tour that you can’t skip out on at all.
Kamelot puts so much time into their live production values before every show. They make sure to give it their all for every night that they take to the stage to wow fans with their incredible prowess of well crafted music. Current vocalist Tommy Karevik has such an incredible range. His melodic opera shrills and soothing tenure really get the fans in such a very involved mood. He is definitely one of the most versatile vocalists in the world. Plus, guest vocalist Lauren Hart from death metal band Once Human took to the stage to occasionally sing along with the rest of the band! Founding guitarist, Thomas Youngblood plays huge melodies that plenty of excitement and imagination to the live shows. While Sean Tibbetts plays very accomplished baselines that really add on to the virtuoso like quality’s to Kamelot’s live setting. Kamelot’s set featured many staples like “Karma” and “Forever”! With many newer hits like “Insomnia” and “Phantom Divine” also being part of the set-list! Kamelot played a very diverse that really made sure the exit to stage right truly paid off at the end of the show!
Sonata Arctica really managed to warm up the crowd before Kamelot took the stage. With very happy circle pits and a chant about Vodka, The Finnish power metal group really wow’d newcomers and fans alike! Lots of calming guitar patterns but plenty of sick shreds really keep Sonata Arctica a band that is really enjoyable in the live setting. Vocalist Tony Kakko made sure to keep all of his fans enthralled throughout the show. With hits like “X Marks the Spot” and “Life”, Sonata Arctica keep the fans ready for more power metal hits once Kamelot would come on!
Battle Beast (also from Finland!) is a very enthralling act that you should keep an eye out for. As a band that merged the frenetic chaos of melodic death metal and the passion of power metal, Battle Beast mixes both genres to make sure that fans will always be having a great time at every live show! Vocalist Noora Louhimo provided a lot of happy vocal shrills and also many war torn shrieks to the audience. Her stage attire was also extremely unique as she sprouted horns on her head, no doubt to add to the fact that the band is called Battle Beast! Lots of great riff patterns with call backs to Children of Bodom and Iron Maiden are tossed around in plenty of their songs like in “No More Hollywood Endings” and “Beyond the Burning Skies”. Battle Beast definitely provided a fantastic flair of heavy music, especially as the first band of the night!
Kamelot really brought two very diverse acts to open up for them. They also made sure fans in New York City would get a show that they would never forget. As one of the most well respected acts in the world of heavy metal, Kamelot really goes above and beyond for its fans. We hope to see the Symphonic masters again very soon!
