Some info on the new Kamelot

From Blabbermouth:

KAMELOT have finalized the track listing for their new album, "The Black Halo", due on February 28, 2005 through SPV Records. The follow-up to last year's "Epica" was produced by Sascha Paeth and Miro at Gate and Pathway studios in Germany and features guest appearances by Shagrath (DIMMU BORGIR), Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS), Simone Simons (EPICA), Mari (MASQUERAID), as well as the KAMELOT choir, featuring Herbie Langhans (SEVENTH AVENUE), Amanda Somerville-Scharf, Miro, Gerit Göbel, Thomas Rettke (HEAVEN'S GATE) and Elisabeth Kjaernes, among others.

"This will be the second and final segment of the 'Epica' story. However artistically it is a different album altogether. The cover is different, the songs are heavier and the subject is definitely on the darker side of the story. Much like the second part of 'Faust'. Lyrically, there is a finalization of the story and conclusion of the saga. There are many parallels to our own lives today. Religion is a big theme on this new album one cannot deny the role that religion has on current events around the world."We knew that we would record the second part of the 'Epica' story," he continued. "The question was whether to do it now or later. Since the new songs on the album are really a different album from 'Epica' we thought to do it now. The story line continues into the main character Ariel's descent into the dark side of life. We are always changing and evolving with the sound and artwork, so the next release will reflect that. We have a black metal vocalist [DIMMU BORGIR's Shagrath] play the part of Mephisto. Logically."