[English below]
Justo antes de esta pandemia dio la casualidad que visitaba mi ciudad esta gran banda, para mi en aquel entonces desconocida, y que venía presentando su disco “Avatar Country”. Tengo que decir que desde que vi su directo es un grupo que tengo en seguimiento, Johannes Eckerström como un gran frontman y su sonido es brutal. Dicho esto y sé porqué lo digo, Avatar son únicos, irrepetibles e incalificables en algún estilo con lo cual los hace particularmente singulares, por ende es un grupo que te encanta o lo odias directamente. El motivo de la reseña es hablar de su último disco “Dance Devil Dance” que me ha sorprendido gratamente, ya que su anterior disco “Hunter Gatered” me decepcionó un poco porque parecía que su música se estaba haciendo un poco previsible, nada más alejado de la realidad, Avatar lo ha vuelto a hacer.
El disco comienza con el tema que da título al disco y que se presenta como single, gran tema con un ritmo de guitarra de fondo que es a la vez de irritante, muy pegadizo, muy Avatar. “Chimp Mosh Pit” tema donde los cambios de ritmo, el tratamiento de guitarras pesadas y más melódicas hacen del tema una locura. “Valley of Disease” explota su faceta más Nu metal, tema pesado con el cambio a voz melódica en el estribillo, fundamental Johhanes en la consecución vocal del disco. “On the Beach” sigue la estela de su antecesora donde la base rítmica bajo-batería le da una gran solidez. “Do you Feel in Control” le da un inicio a toda velocidad emulando su faceta Trash, voces guturales alternando con las melódicas.
“Gotta Wanna Riot” tenéis otro cambio de tercio, con un rock que me recuerda a bandas como Terrorvision, con este toque happy hecho con gusto. “The Dirt I’m Buried In” es un tema que se escoge como primer single del disco y cuyo estribillo pegadizo hemos escuchado hasta la saciedad. “Clouds Dipped in Chrome” es un tema que destapa su faceta Death con riff caóticos y ritmo frenético. “Hazmat Suit” es un tema frenético que en su base rítmica me recuerda a Moorhead por el frenetismo que le impone al tema. “Train” me recuerda a las baladas que cantaba Sinatra en las Vegas en un tono prácticamente hablado, con el coro de fondo, para luego darle un giro en un metal con voz gritada, otro giro más. “Violence No Matter What” es un tema que realiza en colaboración con la vocalista Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) y que pone un buen punto final a este disco.
Definitivamente estamos ante un disco 100% AVATAR por los 4 costados, darle mi más sincera enhorabuena a toda la banda (Johannes Eckerström, Jonas Jarlsby, Tim Öhrström, Henrik Sandelin, John Alfredsson) por haberlo conseguido nuevamente. Imprescindible disco del 2023.
Texto: Aaabbbaaattthhh
English:
Just before this pandemic it happened that this great band, unknown to me at the time, was visiting my city and they had been presenting their album “Avatar Country”. I have to say that since I saw their live it is a group that I have been following, Johannes Eckerström as a great frontman and their sound is brutal. That being said and I know why I say it, Avatar are unique, unrepeatable and unspeakable in some style which makes them particularly unique, therefore it is a group that you love or hate directly. The reason for the review is to talk about his latest album “Dance Devil Dance” which has pleasantly surprised me, since his previous album “Hunter Gatered” disappointed me a bit because it seemed that his music was becoming a bit predictable, nothing further. From reality, Avatar has done it again.
The album begins with the title track and is presented as a single, a great track with a background guitar rhythm that is simultaneously irritating, very catchy, very Avatar. “Chimp Mosh Pit” theme where the rhythm changes, the treatment of heavy guitars and more melodic make the theme crazy. “Valley of Disease” exploits its more metal facet, a heavy theme with the change to a melodic voice in the chorus, Johhanes fundamental in the vocal achievement of the album. “On the Beach” follows in the footsteps of its predecessor where the bass-drums rhythmic base gives it great solidity. “Do you Feel in Control” gives him a full speed start emulating his Trash facet, guttural voices alternating with melodic ones.
“Gotta Wanna Riot” we have another change of tune, with a rock that reminds me of bands like Terrorvision, with this happy touch done with taste. “The Dirt I’m Buried In” is a song that is chosen as the first single from the album and whose catchy chorus we have listened to over and over again. “Clouds Dipped in Chrome” is a song that reveals his Death facet with chaotic riffs and frenetic rhythm. “Hazmat Suit” is a frantic song that in its rhythmic base reminds me of Moorhead because of the frenzy it imposes on the song. “Train” reminds me of the ballads that Sinatra sang in Vegas in a practically spoken tone, with the chorus in the background, and then turned into a metal with a screamed voice, another twist. “Violence No Matter What” is a song that he performs in collaboration with the vocalist Lzzy Hale (Halesstorm) and that puts a good end point to this album.
This is definitely a 100% AVATAR album on all 4 sides, I sincerely congratulate the entire band (Johannes Eckerström, Jonas Jarlsby, Tim Öhrström, Henrik Sandelin, John Alfredsson) for having achieved it again. Essential album of 2023.
Text: Aaabbbaaattthhh
Listado canciones/Tracklist
- Dance Devil Dance
- Chimp Mosh Pit
- Valley of Disease
- On the Beach
- Do you Feel in Control
- Gotta Wanna Riot
- The Dirt I’m Buried In”
- Clouds Dipped in Chrome
- Hazmat Suit
- Train
- Violence No Matter What