Friday, May 3 at the former house of worship, now known as The Bluestone Columbus, OH were welcomed to a blessed evening of heavy,loud metal headlined by Tampa, Florida veterans Kamelot. The majestic symphonic brethren have harnessed another magnum opus of songs and artwork taking their new musical muse across the country and eventually around the world. Maybe it’s the eternal young blood pumping through their veins or the creative force of the original Youngblood on guitar that keeps them creating. Fans flocked to the hallowed space for another kind of worship and the stained glass windows never felt such rapturous vibration.
Kamelot brought their newest offering The Awakening for the evening’s spiritual consumption. With them, the Awaken The World Tour brought Euro-tour mates Hammerfall and Ad Infinitum. The April-May trek started in Maryland, with 23 dates to end in Tampa on the 25th. The Columbus stop was lucky #7.
The pews were gone though the venue had some of the nicest bathrooms fit for metalheads and holy roller’s, one could only imagine what the former congregation would think about loud decibels banging through the walls and a stage with loud guitars and instruments pounding over the former podium.
Kamelot’s stage was something to see, resembling a mini-playground with space to walk and play with platforms, large K banners proudly proclaiming the bands moniker with cathedral-like decoration around the drums. The setlist didn’t disappoint from new Awakening cuts, to classics and everything in between to keep the diehards to casual fans and first timer’s happy and curious.
Ad Infinitum started the evenings early sermon, raising the bar and pulpit high. The Swiss/German foursome appeared with singer Melissa Bonny, drenched in black, worked the spotlight like a living statue, as Adrian Theßenvitz
Niklas Müller and Korbinian Benedict played the metal around her. Her vocals were mostly clean save for a couple growls.
With three records under their belt so far, aptly titled Chapter I, II and III they began with their second chapter with Legacy’s melodic, high energy “Unstoppable” with most recent chapter Downfall providing the dark clouds, space and downpour of “Eternal Rains.”
The young band showed their chops with Bonny striking pose after articulate, carved in light pose, her silhouette covered and captured in illumination and shadow.
Lunar lyrics and celestial bodies flew and traveled from “Outer Space” to the stage via Bonny’s cool delivery. In contrast “See You In Hell” from Chapter I’s Monarchy held Clandestine court at dinner with poisonous results.
Columbus’ orbit got turned “Upside Down” in a hybrid haze of light and fire while “Animals” gave the crowd an illuminated stroll through the emerald forest. The evening’s first psalms ended with a final helping of chapter II’s “Into the Night.”
With the hockey masked mascot firmly fixed on the skins, the power metal greats from Gothenburg, Hammerfall emerged ready to deliver an intense and surprisingly humorous show. With vocalist Joacim Cans making cracks about German women, and praising the women in the crowd for being metal fans and coming of their own desire. One of the funniest moments came end show when he gave a young lady front-row center a setlist then pretended to hand her his mic stand.
Lyrical swords, fire and steel crashed through the windows, clashing on stage on songs of battle, war, honor and brotherhood. They spread 13 records of material over 11 songs with plenty of power and gusto forged by blacksmith hands. The Hammer of Dawn hit loud and hard binding the bonds of “Brotherhood.”
There’s no victory without sacrifice, when conquering the enemy by “Any Means Necessary.” “Heeding the Call” honored The Legacy of Kings.
Cans said we are Hammerfall, then turned and noticed there was no banner or any logo identifying them. He turned back in what could’ve been a Spinal Tap moment, with a sly grin saying, just remember us.
“Hammer of Dawn” delivered all the thrills and chills of the amusement park, house of horrors, creepy basement/attic and mortuary all in one song.
The band seemed to defy time and mortality with spirited movement, as the Gods watched from above, with towering foreboding founder Oscar Dronjak standing magnificent as lights gleamed from his guitar like lightning.
“Hammer High” raised weapons and plunder to the sky, sending steel and stone smashing down under the dark shadow of the skull stone with blood staining the battlefield.
“Last Man Standing” battle shifted from slow melodic warriors pride to the fast warriors warpath.
“Hail to the King” rode out like a warrior’s tale and fabled battle stories passed down by soldiers and kings to fellow fighters and younger ears. Honor and glory will be yours it proclaimed.
“(We Make) Sweden Rock” sang the heralded history of all those that came and rocked before them, inspiring their hammered riffs and rhythms.
The gladiator’s life-blood flowed and beat till the last tune with “Hearts on Fire.” Next album Avenge the Fallen drops in August.
With vocalist Tommy Karevik leading the charge, the nights awakening officially began with album 13 and “The Great Divide.” They played a ravenous rendition of vintage sinister spell-caster “Rule the World.” “Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem) featured the stage return of Melissa Bonny dressed in spellbinding/casting masquerade attire.
Going back a few years, “Insomnia” was the dark nights Haven while The Black Halo made a thorny appearance “When the Lights Are Down.” Anyone that’s seen them before knows you’ll get a sensational light show and musical theater along with the epic tunes every show and they delivered.
The Awakening continued with epic bombast and “New Babylon” The crimson red light shined bright over the angelic afterlife and “Sacrimony.” The piano gently escorted “Willow” into the quivering speakers.
Shagrath wasn’t around to lend his Norwegian pipes staining the holy house but the red light returned for “March of Mephisto” along with Bonny’s bewitching shadow dressed in album cover attire.
The Shadow Theory brought forth the “Phantom Divide (Shadow Empire)” “One More Flag in the Ground” told the story of battling mental and physical illness one step at a time, with one more planted victory won. “Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy)” revisited Haven showing the surface of the dystopian world.
Kamelot has made a career of bombastic videos, incredibly artistic album covers that speak and sing their own song and story, and songs that capture the mind, body and soul, with ravenous red marks left on the heart and ears. The Awakening is the newest musical syllabus to the continuing narrative.
Images & Words – Mike Ritchie
Ad Infinitum – https://adinfinitumofficial.com
Hammerfall – https://www.hammerfall.net
Kamelot – https://kamelot.com
