KAMELOT GHOST OPERA the second coming

Tracklist:

CD 1
01. Solitaire
02. Rule the World
03. Ghost Opera
04. The Human Stain
05. Blücher
06. Love You to Death
07. Up Through the Ashes
08. Mourning Star
09. Silence of the Darkness
10. Anthem
11. EdenEcho
12. Memento Mori (enhanced video: Live from Belgrade, Serbia)
13. The Human Stain (enhanced video)

CD 2 - Live from Belgrade
01. Solitaire
02. Ghost Opera
03. The Human Stain
04. Mourning Star
05. When the Lights Are Down
06. Abandoned
07. The Haunting (with Simone Simons)
08. Memento Mori
09. Epilogue
10. March of Mephisto
Studio cuts:
11. Season's End
12. The Pendulous Fall
13. Epilogue
14. Rule the World (remix)

FACTS:

Line-up:
Khan: vocals
Thomas Youngblood: guitars
Glenn Barry: bass
Oliver Palotai: keyboards
Casey Grillo: drums

All songs written by Kamelot

Album Info:
Recorded at Gate Studio (Wolfsburg, Germany).
Released by SPV/Steamhammer.
Produced by Sascha Paeth and Miro.
Engineered by Sascha Paeth, Miro, Olaf Reitmeier & Simon Oberender.
Additional vocal recordings done by Bredo Myrvang at The Sound Residence (Oslo, Norway)
Artwork & layout by Mattias Norén.
Artwork on pages 12, 13, 18 & 19 by Alexandra V Bach.
Violin girl photos by Rebecca van Ommen.
Band photo pages 14/15: Model - MissBistress from Nocturnal Models Acency / Photo by Tobias Leivald / Edit by Elin Striga.
Additional photographers: Frode Myksvoll, Patricia Logan, Alexandra Dekimpe and Kim Grillo.
Video Credits: ICODE Team in Serbia | Director: Ivan Colic - Project Manager: Stanimir Lukic.

CD 2 - Live from Belgrade:
Recorded in April 2007 at SKC Hall - Belgrade, Serbia.
Recorded by Arnold Lindberg.
Mixed by Sascha Paeth at Pathway Studios.
Mastered by Miro and Sascha Paeth at Gate Studio.
Additional engineering and editing by Olaf Reitmeier & Philip Colodetti.
Guests: Anne-Catrin Märzke (female vocals) and Simone Simons (female vocals on The Haunting)


Guest musicians:
Orchestrations & keys - Miro
Female vocals on the song "Blücher" - Simone Simons
Female vocals on "Mourning Star", "Love You to Death" and "Ghost Opera" - Amanda Sommerville
Guitars - Sascha Paeth
Ghost Opera Choir - Amanda Sommerville, Thomas Rettke, Robert Hunecke Rizzo and Cinzia Rizzo



REVIEWS:
Metal Hammer Germany - 6/7 | "absolutey remarkable"
HM Breakdown - 10/10 | "12/10 if possible! Album of the Month"
Schweres-Metall.de - 10/10 | "Tip of the Month"
AOR Heaven - 95/100
Hardline Magazine - 10/10
Musik Reflections - 10/10 | "this band will be playing arenas soon!!"
Lemezkritika.hu - 10/10
Vincent Eldefors - Ghost Opera is one of the strongest releases of 2007 so far. Excellent!
Rock-It Magazine - 10/10
Destiny Records Catalogue - Album of the year anyone?! Fantastic!
Dave from Destiny Records - #1, awesome follow-up to the monumental 'The Black Halo'
Metalreviews.com - 90/100 | "Album of the Month"
FFM Rock - 6/6
Powermetal.de - "... Kamelot recorded again a breathtaking, wise and intense album"
Passzio.hu - 10/10
Kerrang UK - Their finest work to date!
Tartarean Desire - Excellent!
Nocturnal Horde - "One of the best and complete albums I've heard in quite a while, this must be experienced"
Powermetal.dk - 92/100
Hardrock Haven - 9.2/10
Rocksound.net UK- 92/100
Powerplay Magazine UK - 10/10
PiercingMetal.com - 4.5/5
Metallium France - 6/6
RevelationZ Magazine - 9/10
Heavymetal.dk - 90/100
USA Progressive Music - 8.5/10
Rock Heavy Loud - 9/10
Rathole.com - 9/10

China Guns for Roses’ Democracy

Guns N’ Roses’ 17-years-in-the-making new album was released over the weekend to mixed reviews. Mixed, that is, everywhere but in China, where—despite the fact that Chinese Democracy is not yet legally on sale in the country—the national review was crystal clear.

The Global Times, China’s Communist-run newspaper, published an article this morning declaring in no uncertain terms that Axl Rose’s long-awaited release was not only unwelcome in the mainland, but more or less an attack on the nation.

Featuring the catchy title “American band releases album venomously attacking China,” the newspaper said the album is an attempt by the Western world to “grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.” The album, currently streaming on the band’s MySpace page, “turns its spear point on China.”

We’re also guessing Chinese mucky-mucks are upset they didn’t score a free Dr Pepper.

While a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Culture said he was unaware of whether the album had been formally banned, it was reported that the China National Publications Import and Export Group, the state-owned entity responsible for music, told the nation’s record shops not to expect shipments of Chinese Democracy.

The album’s official website, chinesedemocracy.com, has already been blocked by Chinese censors, while Baidu, China’s answer to Google, has censored searches for the album.

Tensions between the nation and the album’s title began several years ago.

The title track refers to a Chinese meditation movement known as Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned by Chinese authorities and classified as an illegal cult.

In its only acknowledgment of the growing furor, the band has posted a poll on its official site, asking whether the Chinese should be allowed access to their music.

So far, roughly 70 percent of voters think Chinese people deserve the right to hear the album. Meanwhile, nearly 25 percent of users don’t care.

HENDRIX DRUMMER DIES AT 61

Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience of the 1960s and the group's last surviving member, was found dead in his hotel room early Wednesday. He was 61.

Mitchell was a powerful force on the Hendrix band's 1967 debut album "Are You Experienced?" as well as the trio's albums "Electric Ladyland" and "Axis: Bold As Love." He had an explosive drumming style that can be heard in hard-charging songs such as "Fire" and "Manic Depression."

The Englishman had been drumming for the Experience Hendrix Tour, which performed Friday in Portland. It was the last stop on the West Coast part of the tour.
Hendrix died in 1970. Bass player Noel Redding died in 2003.

An employee at Portland's Benson Hotel called police after discovering Mitchell's body. Erin Patrick, a deputy medical examiner, said Mitchell apparently died of natural causes. An autopsy was planned.

"He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend," said Janie Hendrix, chief executive of the Experience Hendrix Tour and Jimi Hendrix' stepsister. "His role in shaping the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience cannot be underestimated."

Bob Merlis, a spokesman for the tour, said Mitchell had stayed in Portland for a four-day vacation and planned to leave Wednesday.
"It was a devastating surprise," Merlis said. "Nobody drummed like he did."

He said he saw Mitchell perform two weeks ago in Los Angeles, and the drummer appeared to be healthy and upbeat.

Merlis said the tour was designed to bring together veteran musicians who had known Hendrix — like Mitchell — and younger artists, such as Grammy-nominated winner Jonny Lang, who have been influenced by him.

Blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who is 31 and was part of the tour, said Mitchell was to the drums what Hendrix was to the guitar.

"Today many of us have lost a dear friend, and the world has lost a rock n' roll hero," he said.

Mitchell was a one-of-a-kind drummer whose "jazz-tinged" style was influenced by Max Roach and Elvin Jones, Merlis said. The work was a vital part of both the Jimi Hendrix Experience in the 1960s and the Experience Hendrix Tour that ended last week, he said.

"If Jimi Hendrix were still alive," Merlis said, "he would have acknowledged that."

During his career Mitchell played with the best in the business — not just Hendrix, but also Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck, Muddy Waters and others.

Mitchell performed with Hendrix and Redding at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, the U.S. debut of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He also was member of a later version of the band that performed the closing set of the Woodstock Festival in August 1969 — where Hendrix played a psychedelic version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the band launched into "Purple Haze.
"

The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 1992. According to the Hall of Fame, Mitchell was born July 9, 1947, in Ealing, England.

Terry Stewart, chief executive of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, said Mitchell transformed his instrument from a "strictly percussive element to a lead instrument."

"His interplay with Jimi Hendrix's guitar on songs like 'Fire' is truly amazing," Stewart said Wednesday. "Mitch Mitchell had a massive influence on rock 'n' roll drumming and took it to new heights."

Hendrix, Redding and Mitchell held their first rehearsal in October 1966, according to the Hall of Fame's Web site.

In an interview last month with the Boston Herald, Mitchell said he met Hendrix "in this sleazy little club."

"We did some Chuck Berry and took it from there," Mitchell told the newspaper. "I suppose it worked."