Barely 90 minutes at top end live drama - and the perfect continuation of "The Expedition"

Kamelot's second live album was overdue, the guys from Florida have with her Norwegian Goldkehlchen Khan but since "The Expedition" in 2000 with "Karma" (2001), "Epica" (2003) and "The Black Halo" (2005 ) three albums successively released, who had instantly classic status among fans and have raised the epic-melodic, progressive-influenced speed metal into new spheres. To concentrate the 90 minute of the double-CD "One Cold Winter's Night", recorded on a February evening in Khan's home Norwegian Oslo, almost exclusively on those albums. That is, of course, meaning that the only overlap to the live album "The Expedition" is in NIGHTS OF ARABIA. Like and when you separates the old classics like "Until Kingdom Come", "The Shadow of Uther" or "The Fourth Legacy" miss, you can find them so on that first live disc of the band, the sublime quality even over all doubts was. "One Cold Winter's Night" is thus a continuation and complement at the same time.

Played 2000 Vanden Plas keyboardist Günter Werno with, the band had since the "Black Halo" tour with the German Oliver Palotai now a firmly dedicated keyboard wizard who understands it here excellently, the diverse, richly detailed sound of the band beyond Drums, bass, guitar and vocals to reproduce live without being noticed great. For this he receives a keyboard solo and proves what he has technically it. Of the other one already knows that they practice at a high level, including Tom Youngblood applies indeed as one of the best rhythm guitarists of the genre. What the gang leader along with bassist Glenn Barry and drummer Casey Grillo but deducts here is terrific. Furious up-tempo numbers such CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE DOWN, KARMA or FAREWELL thunder together with a superhuman precision of the amplifiers. The numerous runs, changes, breaks and rhythmic accents come live very tight and precise, where other bands would have to rely on the umpteenth attempt at studio. And the best part is that the feeling second to none neglected.

Ultimately, it is the unique voice Khans who finished each song and creates the incomparable drama in the pieces. The lanky frontman has, unlike many a presentation on the debilitating tours caught a fantastically good day. Controlled Power and emotional fervor he dominates the overall atmosphere even at the fastest speed breakers, exactly as in the elegiac ballad ABANDONED, the oriental-inspired NIGHTS OF ARABIA, in which he himself is not afraid astray high vocal lines and the punchy mid- tempo song THE EDGE OF PARADISE, where Khan, the Carmina Burana-intro refined with additional vocals. At FOREVER, which he, that heralds as "inspired by one of Norways's first pop songs" Song of Norway Solvejgs national hero Edvard Grieg, he plays then also quite loose with the audience and can sing a few bars. Sometimes, in the choruses of The Black Halo, NIGHTS OF ARABIA or WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE DOWN steals one but then a shady feel. Stammen here all the backing vocals from the band? Finally, Khan, the multi-layered vocal lines of the studio versions alone of course not equal tribes. No - it is the excellent acting "Halo Choir", two women and a man standing on the stage and the fine overall sound put the finishing touches.

Goosebumps moments provide Kamelot with its dramatic musical fairytale en masse. But who at the Haunting no shivers down your spine, which is beyond help. Because Epica frontwoman Simone Simons sings as in the studio in a duet with Khan - and it fits perfectly. The other female vocal performances are worthy presented live, with Tom Youngbloods wife Mari at CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE and ABANDONED and Khan's girlfriend Elisabeth Kjaernes at NIGHTS OF ARABIA. Unlike many Soundmix tour they are actually heard here!

Here you can complain about any second - this live album is overwhelming good and has everything you can expect from sound quality, blending, sophisticated instrument operation and emotional performance. The only drawback: 90 minutes're already not so much, because you could have done without the drum solo and also on the outro, which highlighted as balladesque medley of the voice "Helena" on the DVD version of the closing credits. Instead, would not 1, had 2 songs Place. But that's nitpicking and does not reduce the staggeringly good overall experience.