If you have heard anything by this band, you know what to expect. You're getting straight forward power metal with a touch of melody in it instead of speed, the vocals are low singing instead of over-the-top high pitched that nobody can really do without years of vocal training, and keyboards that are epic and often haunting. The title track/single, "Ghost Opera" is perhaps the best representation of this, but other tracks such as "Love You To Death" and "Up Through The Ashes" (possibly the best track on the CD after "Ghost Opera") also carry on the typical Kamelot style, but in a more darker, slower approach that may impress you at first, but seriously bore you after hearing it more then once.

There is a brief introduction to the album with "Solitaire", a minute long track that sets the tone and goes away quickly without hindering the start of the album like many bands enjoy doing. However that isn't the only slower track on here. "The Human Stain" is one of the more slower songs that still holds it tenacity while trying to portray more beauty to it. If you listen to power metal for speed, then chances are you won't like this and the other slower songs on the album, as they do stand a chance of getting boring, especially after repeat listenings. Even the guitar solos on this CD aren't anything special, they're just rather mediocre compared to what this band is capable of. But this, again, is something on practically every Kamelot CD, so this is nothing new.

While Kamelot has come a long way from the start of their career, their albums could still be somewhat better, and they have yet to realize their full potential. Ghost Opera is probably their darkest album, and easily their best recorded album to date, it still sounds like anything off the albums up to and including Karma. Most of the tracks are very simple, and sometimes rather drull and boring. There's no real oomph to the songs, and when there is, it's very brief and then it get's slow again. The guitar riffs are heavy, but not very creative. Ghost Opera is one of the better power metal albums released so far this year, and if you're just getting into the band you'll love it, but if you're someone who heard previous works and is just tired of hearing the same thing over and over, that's exactly what you'll get with your money.

written by Jason Thomas Weiss

Playing time: 44.03