Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Kamelot
Label: SPV Records
Release: 2006
Rating: 3.5/5
In recent years, Kamelot have built up a reputation as one of the most respected melodic metal bands around, and with their sharp instinct for blending melody, punch, symphonics, epic sweep and drama, they bring together fans of both power metal and progressive metal. Most of them have surely been waiting impatiently for the band’s second live album, this time as a double release. “One Cold Winter’s Night” was recorded in Oslo, Norway, reportedly during one of the harshest and longest winters the locals can remember. The band picked the album’s name long before the show was recorded, riffing on the title of “On Cold Winter’s Night” from “Epica” (2003), but irony had its say, and that concert night really was freezing and endless, with snowstorm after snowstorm. Most of the tracks come from their latest studio album “The Black Halo” (2005), as well as the two before it, “Epica” (2003) and “Karma” (2001). Most fans consider all three their best, so that’s hardly a surprise. The band clearly knows it, and the fact that “The Black Halo” alone, intro included, supplies a whopping eight pieces shows this is one of the few power metal bands that doesn’t keep looking back. From their older material there’s only their most beloved piece, “Nights Of Arabia” (The Fourth Legacy, 1999), which is also the only track you can find on their previous live album “The Expedition” (2000). As on their latest studio albums, Kamelot get help from a whole crew of guest musicians this time too, including the renowned guitarist and producer Sascha Paeth (Heaven’s Gate), drummer/vocalist Snowy Shaw (ex-King Diamond, ex-Mercyful Fate, ex-Dream Evil) and singer Simone Simons (Epica). This motley bunch helped the band make sure most of the songs don’t lose the depth of the studio originals.
The first disc opens with a run of songs from the latest studio album, such as the intro “Un Assasino Molto Silenzioso” with vocals by Cinzia Rizzo, the title track “The Black Halo” and “Soul Society”. The band follows the original versions energetically and allows itself very few improvised detours. Khan, a local boy, talks to the crowd in his own language too, and the interaction between audience and band is there the whole time and top-notch. Among the older material, the excellent renditions of “The Edge Of Paradise” and “Center Of the Universe” (Epica, 2003) stand out, along with the already mentioned “Nights Of Arabia” and its oriental motifs. The lament “Abandoned” (The Black Halo, 2005), where Khan is joined by the vocals of guitarist Thomas Youngblood’s wife, is one of the most emotional moments of the whole recording. Next comes “Forever” (Karma, 2001), based on a well-known motif by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Here the crowd helps out again on the choruses, lifting the song to a higher energy level. Then we get a short solo spot from keyboardist Oliver Palotai, who shows off some of his piano chops, followed by one of the band’s most popular songs, “The Haunting” (The Black Halo, 2005). This is their most commercially appealing track too, and with Khan being joined, as on the studio version, by the aforementioned Simone Simons and her operatic vocals (currently one of the best and also best-looking singers in rock), it’s easily one of the concert’s highlights. Throughout most of the set, Khan keeps confirming his status as one of the best vocalists in melodic metal today, while the rest of the band play to the best of their abilities. “Moonlight”, where you can feel both the orchestral arrangements and the crushing riffs with the help of guest guitarist Sascha Paeth, so both of the band’s main ingredients, closes the first half of this live recording.
The second disc, opened by “When The Lights Are Down”, one of the best pieces from “The Black Halo”, is in many ways even more thrilling, since it holds some of their most ambitious songs. Of those, the two that probably stand out most are the superb performance of the epic saga “Elizabeth” (Part I, II & III) (Karma, 2001), this time fused into a single piece, and ”March Of The Mephisto” (The Black Halo, 2005), probably their heaviest song ever, which on top of the recorded studio vocals in the role of Mephisto also features the voice of the well-known drummer Snowy Shaw (ex-King Diamond, ex-Mercyful Fate, ex-Dream Evil). For the finale Kamelot serve up their beloved hit “Karma” (Karma, 2001), followed by a short drum solo from Casey Grillo and one more epic, atmospheric masterpiece, “Farewell” (Epica, 2003). To wrap things up, they dropped in the “Outro”, which is just an instrumental version of “Abandoned” with a few female vocals. Still, the crowd stayed fired up to the end, and this live recording has them to thank for not losing its energy, because, as mentioned, most of the performances stick faithfully to the studio versions, apart from a few embellishments. The production is excellent, in keeping with the tradition of their studio work.
“One Cold Winter’s Night” is a very good live recording by a road-tested, tightly drilled band, and no true Kamelot fan will go without it. It’s also a solid jumping-off point for anyone who wants to get to know the band better, even though it doesn’t include their older material, which I honestly don’t miss at all. The only slight annoyance is that the band doesn’t give itself more freedom with the individual songs, but if we set aside this loyalty to the studio versions, the album is a treat for all melodic metal fans. With this very good live album, Kamelot have successfully confirmed their status as one of the most interesting and original bands in power metal today.
Lineup
Roy Khan – vocals
Thomas Youngblood – guitar and backing vocals
Glenn Barry – bass guitar
Casey Grillo – drums
Oliver Palotai – keyboards
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Simone Simons – vocals as Marguerite on “The Haunting”
Mari Youngblood – vocals as Helena on “Center of the Universe”& “Abandoned” and as Elizabeth Bathory on “Elizabeth pt I, II & III”
Elisabeth Kjærnes – vocals on “Nights of Arabia” and “March of Mephisto”
Sascha Paeth – lead and rhythm guitar on “Moonlight”
Snowy Shaw – vocals as Mephisto on “March of Mephisto”
Karianne Kjærnes, Marianne Follestad & Christian Kjærnes – choir
Liv Nina Mosveen – additional vocals on “Elizabeth”
Shagrath – voice of Mephisto on “March of Mephisto”
Cinzia Rizzo – vocals on “Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso”
Production
Patric Ullaeus
Tracklist
CD1:
1. Intro: Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso
2. The Black Halo
3. Soul Society
4. The Edge of Paradise
5. Center of the Universe
6. Nights of Arabia
7. Abandoned
8. Forever
9. Keyboard solo
10. The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)
11. Moonlight
CD 2:
1. When the Lights Are Down
2. Elizabeth (parts I, II & III)
3. March of Mephisto
4. Karma
5. Drum solo
6. Farewell
7. Outro: Curtain Call
