Kamelot - Dominion (1997)

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Kamelot - Dominion (1997)

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"Dominion" is the second album of Kamelot and the last with Mark Vanderbilt on vocals and Richard Warner on drums. The band uses the same music approach as in the first album, "Eternity". The album is not more mature than "Eternity", it could be titled as a sibling to that album. Probably most of the tracks of the two albums were composed at the same period of time.

On one hand it's a solid album. It has a specified music structure and it doesn't move away from it. The compositions are varied and influenced by classical melodies (Ascension, One day I'll win intro). Plus the songs are a little bit progressive. Also the band's performance is nice and stable, especially Youngblood riffs and solos, but the truth is that it could be better.

On the other hand the lyrics are in a way "dry". All the lyrics, written by Warner describing war themes including heroes, wars in their majority, are like a story telling but rather boring I must admit. They can not be compared with Khan lyrics at all. But there are some exceptions here like "Heaven" and "We are not separate". Also the production of the album is average. The album was recorded at the Morrisound Studios, just as the first album was.

In conclusion, Dominion is an average album. Not as strong as its sibling, "Eternity" since there are no tracks like "Black Tower", "Call of the sea" , "What about me", but when you make the "second" step of your career it's normal to still seek your music personality that describes you as a band and make mistakes. Must listen songs are "Heaven", "One day I'll win", "We are not separate".

Metalstorm Review

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Kamelot - Dominion (1997)

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Kamelot:

Kamelot was founded in 1991 by guitarist Thom Youngblood and drummer/school mate Richard Warner but it took until August 1995 for their debut album, Eternity, to be released. Signing to Noise Records Germany in Spring 1994, fans and critics alike praised Kamelot as being one of the most promising newcomers in Metal. Their second album, Dominion, 1996, received even more attention, because it showed the variety of the band, spanning all the way from European metal to classical music and progressive. The fans and sales for Kamelot would grow over the year and the group was being touted as one the new leaders in Melodic Metal from the U.S.. Not resting on their laurels the group went back to work on their 3rd and most important release. But obstacles were ahead, Kamelot 1997, a year of major changes. After the success of Dominion, many tour opportunities came to Kamelot. Unfortunately, drummer Richard Warner and vocalist Mark Vanderbilt could not tour, and there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel for the two to ever tour. Kamelot's first goal was to find a new drummer. After one audition Casey Grillo was the man. Local music veteran at the age of 21, Casey was a perfect fit for the opening. After listening to between 75 and 100 audition tapes of vocalists the band was a standstill. A whole record had been written but no one worthy enough to grab the mic. Enter Norwegian born Roy Khan. Khan's former group, Conception, had split up the year before that was the genesis of the new Kamelot. Before he was taken on as a band member though he had to pass a final test, he had to skydive with the other members of Kamelot.

Apprehensive at first, he came through with flying colors. The Chemistry was perfect from the beginning and it is a great sign of what's to come from this union . New vocalist Roy Khan and drummer Casey Grillo were enlisted and the record "Siege Perilous" was now a reality. The record spawned great reviews from fans and critics led to the groups first tour of Europe in late 1998. Upon returning to there hometown of Tampa, Florida . The band decided to take some time off and write and relax. The journey for The Fourth Legacy would begin. This journey began in December 1998 after the Kamelot tour. Writing began in Tampa, Florida but after a month of work Thomas Youngblood decided to relocate to the mountains of Virginia to concentrate on songs get a different vibe for the record. After 3 months of ideas, Thomas traveled to the small village of Sorsgebyja, Norway in March 1999. Home of vocalist Khan. 3 weeks of isolation in the snowy village proved the songwriting team of Youngblood/Khan to be a new Force to reckon with. Now to find a producer, Sascha Paeth was first on the list. His work with Rhapsody and Angra called attention to Thom's wish list and a few phone calls later the deal was set. Final preproduction would need to done, where else but the home of Kamelot in Tampa Bay Florida. For a month the group worked out the kinks of the new songs with producer Sascha Paeth. Recording began in Wolfsburg Germany in August 1999 and continued til October. Choirs, real string sections and guest keyboardist Miro would round out the final songs to a beautiful blend. Mixing would be done over the next month and final mastering complete in November. The new record will set a new standard for Kamelot and the Melodic Metal genre.

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Kamelot - Dominion (1997)

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Kamelot - Dominion (1997)

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