Review KAMELOT “Dark Asylum”

Time flies. It’s hard to believe that 36 years have already passed since Kamelot released their debut album. The veterans of symphonic metal got started at a time when grunge and nu metal were making their way into the charts. That didn’t stop Thomas Youngblood from going against the trends and starting a band with Kamelot that leaned more toward melodic and accessible metal. Time has certainly proven him right, as the band has now spent more than three decades delivering consistently strong albums.

The latest release is titled Dark Asylum and features 15 new tracks. Once again, Kamelot show why they are considered one of the leading names in the genre. What they deliver here is symphonic metal with plenty of atmosphere, melody, and musical detail.

The album opens with “Sanctorium,” a dark intro that sets the right mood for what follows. On Dark Asylum, Kamelot tell the story of the Ravenhill Asylum, a place where science, faith, and madness constantly cross paths. With each song, another door opens and another part of the story unfolds, creating a narrative that is both dark and intriguing. So much for the lyrical concept—let’s take a closer look at the music.

Kamelot haven’t changed their musical direction all that much, and why should they? Their atmospheric and melodic approach is exactly what they are known for, and the new album is packed with anthemic songs that find their way into your mind rather quickly. At the same time, Kamelot have added enough twists, layers, and little details to keep the album fascinating. Dark Asylum is the kind of record you can play again and again and still discover something new hiding beneath the surface. Apparently, the asylum has a few rooms we haven’t explored yet.

The guests also add plenty to both the story and the music. Clémentine Delauney lends her fascinating voice to “Sanctuary,” giving the song another dimension while creating a strong vocal chemistry with Tommy Karevik. “Sanctuary” is a driving track that also demonstrates how many different elements Kamelot can weave into their sound. The addition of growl-like moments from Ignacia Fernández further highlights the range of the storyline within a single song.

On “One Last Masquerade,” Tobias Sammet contributes some vocals, and the combination of his voice with Karevik’s is something we already know works well from their work together in Avantasia. The album also has a real highlight in “Beneath the Moon (Tungliò).” This folk-infused track features the delicate female vocals of Rannveig Sif Sigurdardóttir and Sólveig Sara Leupold. Lea-Sophie Fischer’s singing violin adds another distinctive touch to the song, giving it its own character while still fitting naturally into the overall sound of the album.

Dark Asylum is another strong release from Kamelot. The band continues to develop its trademark sound without losing sight of what makes it recognizable in the first place. The result is an entertaining, engaging, and atmospheric album that keeps moving from beginning to end. Versatile, detailed, and filled with memorable hooks, Dark Asylum makes a convincing case for Kamelot’s continued place at the forefront of symphonic metal.

Tracklist:

Sanctorium
Ashen World (feat. Ignacia Fernández)
Dark Asylum
Sanctuary (feat. Clémentine Delauney & Ignacia Fernández)
Nocte Veritas
One Last Masquerade (feat. Tobias Sammet)
Ivy, My Dear
Godlike Alchemy
The Sleeping Mind (Orphic Paradigm)
Kaleidoscope
Enigma (Think of Me)
Cassandra’s Disease
Beneath the Moon (Tunglið) (feat. Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir, Sólveig Sara Leupold , Lea-Sophie Fischer)
The Puppet King
Sanctum Requiem