Tommy Karevik
Tommy Karevik (born November 1, 1981) is a Swedish metal vocalist, best known as the singer for metal bands Seventh Wonder and Kamelot.
Tommy Karevik | |
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Tommy Karevik singing with Kamelot at the 2012 Bang Your Head!!! Festival. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Tommy Karevik |
Born | Stockholm, Sweden | November 1, 1981
Genres | Power metal, progressive metal, symphonic metal |
Instruments | Vocals, Guitar |
Years active | 2004–present |
Associated acts | Seventh Wonder, Kamelot, Ayreon, Firecracker, Pellek |
Website | MySpace |
He also appeared Ayreon's 2013 album The Theory of Everything, in which he portrayed the main character. He appeared once again on the 2017 album The Source as The Opposition Leader.
Early life
Karevik was born in 1981 in Botkyrka, Sweden. He began singing at a young age, and was a member of his elementary school's choir.
At college, Karevik studied nature and science.
Career
Seventh Wonder
In 2004, Tommy Karevik recorded a few songs with Vindictiv. Shortly after, he left the band for progressive metal band Seventh Wonder, prior to the release of their debut album Become in 2005. Despite the warm reception of the album at the time of its release, the band members have stated that they were generally unhappy with the album due to its poor mixing. Once Karevik joined the band, they toured briefly to promote the album.
The band then returned to the studio, eager to produce fresh material with their new vocalist. The resulting album was Waiting in the Wings, released in 2006. The album was met with very positive reviews.[1]
In 2008, Seventh Wonder released the concept album Mercy Falls, and in 2010 they released The Great Escape.
Studio footage from The Great Escape recording sessions were posted on the band's official forum and YouTube channel. In these videos, it is explained that Karevik was experiencing problems with his voice during the recording of the album, and had to regularly apply a special spray to his throat in order to continue recording his vocals.
After Karevik was announced as the new vocalist for Kamelot in 2012, the band only reunited in 2013 to play shows at some festivals and to announce they would be recording a live DVD at 2014 ProgPower USA Festival, performing songs from their album Mercy Falls in its entirety.[2]
In 2016, the band signed with Italian record company Frontiers Records to release the live CD/DVD called Welcome To Atlanta Live 2014 on September 23, 2016 and also a new studio album to be released in 2018.[3] Later, the band announced the album would be titled Tiara.[4] It was released on October 12, 2018.
Kamelot
In 2011, Karevik performed as a guest vocalist for the American symphonic metal band Kamelot. Kamelot was forced to tour without their longtime vocalist Roy Khan, who was unable to perform due to personal problems and health issues. Khan was replaced on tour by Italian singer Fabio Lione of Rhapsody of Fire and during the tour Kamelot announced that Khan had left the band. During Kamelot's tour of Europe, Karevik joined the crew, singing mostly backing vocals, but also performing solo on the songs EdenEcho and Center of the Universe.
On June 22, 2012, Kamelot announced that Karevik had joined as lead singer, replacing Roy Khan.
Ayreon
On August 31, 2013, Karevik was announced as a guest vocalist, playing the lead role, in the progressive rock opera project Ayreon's album The Theory of Everything.[5] On December 15, 2016, Karevik was announced[6] as "The Opposition Leader" on Ayreon's release, The Source released in 2017. He was presented by Arjen Lucassen as "one of the best singers in the world right now... "
Personal life
Karevik's first contact with metal music was through a classmate. Inspired by his classmate's ability to play guitar, Karevik soon picked up a guitar for the first time. During the days that followed, Karevik wrote his first song in Swedish.
Karevik cited singers Jørn Lande, Russell Allen and the band Queen as some of his main influences.[7]
Away from his musical work, Karevik works as a full-time firefighter.[8]
He also has a sister named Jenny, who appears as a vocalist in a few Seventh Wonder songs throughout his time in the band.
He is in a relationship with Kobra and the Lotus singer Kobra Paige, as seen from their social media accounts. The two were married on April 4th, 2020.
Discography
Seventh Wonder
- Waiting in the Wings (2006)
- Mercy Falls (2008)
- The Great Escape (2010)
- Welcome To Atlanta Live 2014 (2016)
- Tiara (2018)
Firecracker
- Born of Fire (2010)
PelleK
- My Demons (2010)
- Bag of Tricks (2012)
Kamelot
- Silverthorn (2012)
- Haven (2015)
- The Shadow Theory (2018)
- I Am the Empire – Live from the 013 (2020, live)
Ayreon
- The Theory of Everything (2013)
- The Source (2017)
- Ayreon Universe – The Best of Ayreon Live (2018)
- Transitus (2020)
References
- Kamelot Album, Waiting in the wings. "Review". Metalstorm. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- "Seventh Wonder announce their special set at PPUSA 2014". Official Seventh Wonder Youtube Channel. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- "KAMELOT Singer's SEVENTH WONDER To Release 'Welcome To Atlanta Live 2014' In September". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- "Dear friends". Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- "Guess the vocalist 7 – New Ayreon Theory of Everything". YouTube. 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- "Interview with Tommy Karevik (Kamelot)". Dutch Progressive Rock Page. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- "New Kamelot Singer: 'I Can Only Be Myself And Give It All I've Got'". Blabbermouth.net. 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2014-07-28.