''The Awakening'' is the thirteenth studio album by the American power metal band

Kamelot Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood, in 1987. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album '' Siége Perilous'', and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in A ...

. The album was released on March 17, 2023, via

Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock. Originally, Napalm focused on black metal bands, such as Abigor and Summoning, and folk metal bands, such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg. The label l ...

. It is the band's first studio album in five years, following 2018's '' The Shadow Theory'', making this the longest gap between two studio albums by Kamelot. It is the first studio album to feature Alex Landenburg on drums following the departure of Johan Nunez.

Background

Following the tour for ''The Shadow Theory'', Youngblood revealed in June 2020 that he, Karevik and Palotai were working on new material for the upcoming thirteenth Kamelot album. Youngblood also revealed that a number of twenty-five songs had been written for the new album, focusing on only thirteen of them. Although the album was supposed to be released in March 2020, both Youngblood and Karevik had also stated that the band planned to release the new album in August or September 2021. Youngblood confirmed the number of twelve songs for the album and that the band were going to the studio to record their thirteenth studio album, as well as confirmed that the album will contain a mixture of both old and new elements and influences. Kamelot announced that they had produced two music videos for the album in May 2022, following the 2021 deadline being passed. In the following month, the band finished the mixing for the album, later planning its release for an early 2023 release. Cellist Tina Guo was later announced that she would be a featured guest on the album.

Track listing

Personnel

All information from the album booklet. Kamelot *

Tommy Karevik Tommy Karevik (born 1 November 1981) is a Swedish metal vocalist, best known as the singer for Seventh Wonder and Kamelot. He also appeared on Ayreon's 2013 album '' The Theory of Everything'', in which he portrayed the main character. He appe ...

– vocals, engineering *

Thomas Youngblood Thomas Youngblood (born May 29, 1974) is an American metal guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of power metal band Kamelot. Early life At the age of 12, after the death of his father, Youngblood moved from Virginia to Florida where he st ...

– guitars * Sean Tibbetts – bass *

Oliver Palotai Oliver Palotai (born 17 March 1974) is a classically trained German musician of Hungarian ancestry, husband of Simone Simons from Epica, best known as a member of the power metal band Kamelot and of Doro Pesch's touring band. Career He made his n ...

– keyboards, engineering, choir vocals * Alex Landenburg – drums, percussion Additional personnel *

Michael Rodenberg Michael Rodenberg, nicknamed Miro (born 9 April 1970), is a German keyboard player and record producer known for working with power metal bands such as Angra, Shaaman, Luca Turilli, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, and Heavens Gate. He mainly works ...

– additional keyboards, arrangements on "Midsummer's Eve" *

Kobra Paige Kobra Paige (born October 14, 1988) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is the founder, lead singer, and songwriter for hard rock and metal band Kobra and the Lotus. She was also a touring guest vocalist for Kamelot and Metal All Stars. ...

– additional vocals on "One More Flag in the Ground" * Brian Howes – backing vocals on "One More Flag in the Ground" * Tina Guo – cello (tracks 5 and 6) * Florian Janoske – violin on "Midsummer's Eve" *

Simone Simons Simone Johanna Maria Simons (born 17 January 1985) is a Dutch singer. She is best known for being the lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, which she joined at the age of seventeen, releasing eight studio albums and touring the world ...

– guest vocals on "New Babylon" * Melissa Bonny – guest vocals on "New Babylon" * Oliver Hartmann – backing vocals * Herbie Langhans – backing vocals * Ina Morgan – backing vocals New Babylon Choir * Chris Fenske * Svenja Kehder Crew * Jacob Hansen – mixing, mastering *

Sascha Paeth Sascha Paeth (born 9 September 1970 in Wolfsburg, West Germany) is a German guitarist, bassist, musical producer, and mixer known for working with heavy metal bands such as Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After ...

– production, engineering, additional guitars, vocals * Giannis Nakos – artwork * Karl Dicaire – engineering * Phil Hillen – engineering

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Awakening, The 2023 albums Kamelot albums Napalm Records albums