AVATAR – The debut full-length album, Black Waltz, from Sweden’s AVATAR was released back on February 14th, 2012, via eOne Music… and it’s hereby highly recommended by yours truly, for your Metal famished senses. Extreme vocals are prevalent from Johannes Eckerström and he essentially nails it from top to bottom. Johannes isn’t belting out Death or Black Metal tones, instead it’s all super-fine Extreme. Dark. Damn good. When Johannes does come clean with his vocals, it’s… damn good again.
The Metal itself has more grooves discharging than I could possibly count. There’s also a melodic sensibility happening big time with the Metal of AVATAR and it all comes across to me as a thrilling listening experience. Metal be thy name is this AVATAR band an unforeseen Metal prize for me in 2012. AVATAR plays some straightforward Metal, only it’s the inventiveness of the parts and the dazzling delivery of the Extreme, which all equals to the impressive Metal sum on Black Waltz. Whoa.
AVATAR implements elements into their Metal that keeps their songs interesting, (as an example) the creepy chorus as an outro for Torn Apart. Ready For The Ride is a fine Metal example of just how Extreme AVATAR can come across, this song when played at maximum level is one of the more enjoyable listening moments I’ve had with a song lately. Hell, playing Black Waltz in its entirety at maximum volume, is prescribed Metal medicine for any shitty day you or I shall encounter from here on in.
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To explain the Metal listening experience of Black Waltz, in one word, that word would be: INTENSE. Within these 11 songs on Black Waltz, I hear a band that obviously is adept in Metal creativity and focused on quality. In Napalm and has progressive footings and still comes across with that dark feel and vibe that AVATAR wants us all to accept. Dark lyrically and musically throughout, AVATAR never has me thinking this is the “same old stuff” I’ve been listening to for years.
The title track, Use Your Tongue and Blod are three scalding exclamation points on this album. Furious. Like an Extreme, yet still, a groove driven Metal ambush from the fiery depths of hell itself. Jonas Jarlsby and Simon Andersson on guitars are damn cool to listen to. The riffs, leads and mini-solos are all unique and all importantly memorable. Let It Burn grooves along with such a convincing fire from AVATAR that it gets the “replay continuously” award for this album.
Yes, I dig AVATAR and appreciate the Metal direction that they are taking here on Black Waltz. To say that I’ve enjoyed Black Waltz as much as any Rob Zombie album ever made is real. That new Alice Cooper album from last year has nothing over on Black Waltz either. AVATAR is without question, a band not to ignore. Black Waltz is this band’s debut album that is absolutely can’t miss in 2012 and beyond. The Modern Metal doors of extremity have flung wide open… and AVATAR has arrived. Metal. Be. Thy. Name.
AVATAR:
Johannes Eckerström – Vocals
John Alfredsson – Drums
Jonas Jarlsby – Guitars
Simon Andersson – Guitars
Henrik Sandelin – Bass
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Black Waltz – Track Listing:
Let Us Die
Torn Apart
Ready For The Ride
In Napalm
Black Waltz
Blod
Let It Burn
One Touch
Paint Me Red
Smells Like A Freakshow
Use Your Tongue
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* For more info on AVATAR, click on the links below:
http://www.facebook.com/avatar.official
http://www.youtube.com/avatartube
LONG LIVE AVATAR.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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