Review by Rick Eaglestone for MPM
When life goes full on bat shit crazy you need to find something to match that energy the almost bring everything to an evil kil, fortunately the Swedish maddened maestros Avatar are bringing their circus back into town armed with their latest album – Don’t Go Into The Forest, and of course they are dropping it on Halloween
Starting off with penny whistles and a stirring almost call to arms is Tonight We Must Be Warriors – vocalist Eckerström comments regarding the release of single“It has become a necessity to me over the years to be able to answer one question: Why is this important? It can’t be just another album. We need to discover something, try something else. It has to come from the heart. What is being said matters,” and really that thought process really sets the tone for the rest of the album as follow up In The Airwaves contains all the heavy soundscapes that immediately caught my ear the first time, I saw them perform at a golden gods event back in 2017 where they won the Breakthrough Band Award it’s also an masterclass in guitar solos amongst being an absolute earworm.
Captain Goat is a punchy shanty laden with slower elements which I can see a future live favourite they revisit the shores of the UK next year with follow up title track bass laden Don’t Go Into The Forest to not only provide a nostalgic nod to mid-00’s Gothic Metal but also to cement the albums strong penmanship – its easily the stand out track of the album and whilst this has anthemic qualities throughout. We are then met with Death And Glitz which is ultimately a song about perversion and detachment which reveals a darkness in the bands outlook.
The technical proficiency is on full display next as Avatar almost dip their toes into death metal but still swimming in the pool of Abba is Abduction Song it’s a veritable selection of experimentation that you can’t help but be captivated with in the best way, there are also some wonderfully subtle falsettos’ thrown into the mix for the listener to enjoy too.
Moving into Ballad territory is Howling At The Waves which adds an interesting and refreshing dynamic which is complimented with Dead And Gone At Back Again which has almost the same pacing as the previous track but it has a darker unpinning that really solidifies everything the band have bought to the table single their previous release – if they was ever a glaring example of Avatar have evolved than this is the song that should be played at the highest volume, digested and appreciated
“The secret ingredient is that we still feel like we’re just getting started. ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’ is an album filled to the brim with stuff we’ve never done before,” continues Eckerström. “It’s all songs and concepts we haven’t been close to touch until now. The mind is wild and we have lost ourselves in the darkest woods, filled with memories, and fantasies. Forbidden thoughts that must be spoken.
The album concludes with the pairing of Take This Heat And Burn It which frankly has no business being as heavy as it is but then again is that melody that has been rampart throughout and every time, I hear it I just want more there also some wonderful arrangements that add to its appeal. Lastly, Magic Lantern bring back some of the bands earlier theatrics giving you the picture in your mind’s eye of emerging from a circus tent in a meadow in a faraway valley and in all reality for an album to give you an outlook like that as a collective is a tricky thing to do but Avatar know their audience and know what that audience craves down the very last moment – a brand new spectacle of devilish drama
Don’t Go In The Forest Track Listing:
1 Tonight We Must Be Warriors
2 In The Airwaves
3 Captain Goat
4 Don’t Go In The Forest
5 Death And Glitz
6 Abduction Song
7 Howling At The Waves
8 Dead And Gone Back Again
9 Take This Heart And Burn It
10 Magic Lantern
Line-up:
Johannes Eckerström – Vocals
Jonas Jarlsby – Guitars
Tim Öhrström – Guitars
Henrik Sandelin – Bass
John Alfredsson – Drums
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