I’ve seen the name Kamelot a lot, but never once sat down and listened to their music. So when I say, I am new to the Kamelot fandom, I mean I am brand new.
“One More Flag in the Ground” is the first song I’ve ever listened to by the band and I’d like to aplogise for being late to the Kamelot party.
Because good god almighty, “One More Flag in the Ground” is fucking epic.
I don’t know where to begin with this song.
Vocals? Drums? Guitars? Bass?
The below GIF appropriately describes my feelings. Flames and heavy breathing.
If you’re new to Kamelot like myself, the band is Tommy Karevik (vocals), Thomas Youngblood (guitars), Oliver Palotai (keyboards), Sean Tibbetts (bass), and Alex Landenburg (drums) and they recently announced their album, The Awakening will be released on March 17th via Napalm Records.
The Awakening will the be the 13th studio album from the band their first full length album in five years and they have topped the charts with their albums, The Fourth Legacy (1999), The Black Halo (2005), Silverthorn (2012), Haven (2015), and The Shadow Theory (2018).
Thomas says this of the album,
With The Awakening, we have one of our most diverse albums in years. We’ve fused elements from progressive, power and gothic metal to symphonic and melodic metal on this one. Working with incredible guest artists from around the music industry and having producer Sascha Paeth and Jacob Hansen mixing gave us another step up on overall sound. This album offers everything to Kamelot fans and also reaches beyond borders to new metal and hard rock legions.
And Tommy says this of the video and song for “One More Flag in the Ground”,
The main focus on this video and song was to have a metaphor for the struggles of fighting disease or illness, whether it being physical or mental. Each step of healing and recovery is another Flag in the Ground. With every little step, one more victory won.
Based on the dark intensity of the promo photo for Kamelot and the artwork for The Awakening, I was taken aback by Tommy’s voice. I was expecting something heavier and guttural but what hit my ears was a wonderful powerhouse that just blew me away. His vocals sound refined and matured on “One More Flag in the Ground” compared to the vocals I heard on The Shadow Theory. On this track, Tommy’s voice is clean, clear, concise, and has moments of angst and angelic that are just aural delights.
Usually within a band, the bass and drums are the power couple, but within Kamelot, it’s the drums and guitar and it’s a force to be reckoned with. They blend seamlessly together to create tightly woven sonic blasts. Not to be outshined, the keys and bass permeate through the song with strength and a fierceness that is unmatched.
“One More Flag in the Ground” is epic and if the rest of The Awakening is like this song, Kamelot fans are in for a real treat!
Watch “One More Flag in the Ground” below
