Review: James Garrahy
Wonderfully macabre. Beautifully psychotic. This is the new album from the monsters of thematic metal, Sweden’s own Avatar. And let me tell you, this album doesn’t take a break. From the moment the panpipes of Tonight We Must Be Warriors kicks into gear, the scene is set, and it doesn’t let up once. Let us dive into the brilliance of this album track by track to give you the full scope of how this band is taking the world by storm, one killer tune at a time. And with a Halloween release date, other bands need to take note, THIS is how you release an album while using the calendar to your advantage.
Don’t Go Into The Forest is Avatar’s 10th studio release and if you have followed this band from their first releases, or been privileged to see them live, you KNOW the time, effort, and all-around insane talent that these guys produce. Opening track Tonight We Must Be Warriors hits straight into a circus-esque theme with imagery of front man Johannes playing a Pied Piper of sorts to the eternal fanbase of Avatar devotees, leading them down the path to experience this wonderful album in a fully immersive experience.
In The Airwaves hits the heavies early I and really shows how diverse this band is. Thrashing heads, screaming voices and all out anarchy are envisioned with this track and as it leads into Captain Goat the heavy, grating riffs continue but takes the feel of a sea shanty. The eclectic mix of track styles shouldn’t work, but fuck me, it slots together so perfectly that you don’t even second guess it.
The album’s title track is well deserving, as when I inevitably hit it through the playthrough, I always anticipate something magical. Hell, why else would it share its title with the full album. It MUST be epic, right? Well, there is no false hope here, this track is massive, with an intro of a slapping bass line blending into the crushing riffs and some of Johannes’ greatest vocal showcasing, this track certainly stands out among a 10-song album of this magnitude. Killer tune that is sure to garner some of the greatest sing-alongs at all future Avatar gigs.
Death And Glitz and Abduction Song hold the middle section of the album together neatly but still make sure that your attention is firmly held in the realm of the “I need to see what happens next” mentality. D&G is heavy yet groove inducing, and you can’t help but find yourself tapping your toes along to the beat. Following it with AS was pure genius, as this is the Avatar that really puts them ahead of the rest of the bands out there that try to emulate such an amazing band. Its heavy, head thrashing, utter brilliance. THIS is where the album really sets itself apart from previous Avatar albums, giving every bit of emotion into what I feel is the best track on the album.
Howling At The Waves brings the tempo down and is the ballad that you expect, but it always gets slotted into an unexpected place on the album. Sandwiching it between Abduction Song and Dead And Gone And Back Again is another mark of great album structuring, put the ballad between the heavy tracks and it works more than you could imagine. DAGABA is simply brutal. You think you’re getting a nice chill song after HATW, but you are so, so wrong. This is a metal anthem in its purest form. Insanity in song form.
Take This Heart And Burn It continues the brutality, and I cannot stop listening to this track. It brings John Alfredsson’s percussive talents to the front and perfectly complements Johannes’ heavier vocals. But make no mistake, this wouldn’t be an Avatar album without our mesmerizing front man’s vocal range on full display. This is also the track that really shows the raw talents of Jonas, Tim and Henrik, our captivating string section. Now, make no mistake, the closing of this album must be something truly awe-inspiring. Cue, Magic Lantern. By simply slowing the tempo, but increasing the heaviness, the Swedish monsters of the macabre have created the perfect closing track that provides closure, while still leaving you screaming for more.
If you’ve never listened to Avatar, this is the album to give you the full scope of what they’re about. If you get a chance to see one of their performances, then fully immerse yourself in it, you won’t be disappointed. And after you’ve soaked in the insanity and phenomenal complexity of this album, dive straight into their full back catalogue. Thank me later
Don’t Go in the Forest. is out October 31.
Pre-save it HERE
