Album Review - Avatar - Avatar Country

Avatar Country is available from the Avatar USA web store. To order your copy go here

Avatar is an avant-garde metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The members of Avatar first met in music school in Sweden back in 2001. John Alfredsson and Jonas Jarlsby were originally in a band called Lost Souls. The pair decided to leave the band and form the band now known as Avatar. John and Jonas then connected with vocalist Johannes Eckerström shortly after. Guitarist Simon Andersson and bassist Henrik Sandelin joined the band in 2003. In 2011 Simon Andersson decided to leave the band and was replaced by Tim Öhrström who was a fan of Avatar’s music well before he became a band member. 

In 2006 Avatar released their first studio album entitled Thoughts Of No Tomorrow. One of the most well known songs from their debut album is “Bound To The Wall”. 

Schlacht, the bands Sophomore album was released in 2007. The bands single of the same name was their first music video to be uploaded to YouTube on December 4, 2007. 

2009 saw the release of the bands self titled album. My favorite songs from this album are “The Great Pretender”, “Out Of Our Minds”, and “Deeper Down”. It was during this album that vocalist Johannes Eckerström really started to discover his voice. 

Black Waltz, their fourth studio album was released in 2012 and was the first Avatar album to be properly released in the United States. Included in this album are some absolutely wonderful songs such as “Torn Apart”, “Let It Burn”, “Smells Like A Freakshow”, and the titular song “Black Waltz”. “Smells Like A Freakshow” has become a huge hit within the fandom and is celebrated by fans worldwide. The “Black Waltz” music video features members of the sideshow performers Hellzapoppin and was the first sighting of the now infamous clown makeup worn by Ëeckerstrom. 

Two years later the band released Hail The Apocalypse. This release includes some of the most well known songs the band has released to date. Some of those songs are “Hail The Apocalypse”, “Bloody Angel”, “Tsar Bomba”, “Puppet Show”, and “Tower”. The song “Hail The Apocalypse” is celebrated by fans much like its predecessor “Smells Like A Freakshow”. 

In 2016 Avatar wrote and recorded their first concept album entitled Feathers And Flesh. The album tells the story of an Owl and the Eagle who threatens to end her reign. This story can be heard through the lyrics of the bands songs as well as a physical book which was released to coincide with the fable. There is so much diversity on this album and in my opinion this is the best album they have released to date. My favorites from Feathers And Fleshare “Tooth, Beak, and Claw”, “One More Hill”, “Night Never Ending”, and “Raven Wine”. 

In 2018 the world was introduced to Avatar Country. This is the bands second concept album which follows the story of the king, his royal court, and the citizens of Avatar Country. My favorites from This album are “A Statue Of The King”, “The King Welcomes You To Avatar Country”, “Kings Harvest”, and “King After King”. 

Late last year the band set up a Kickstarter campaign in order to bring their vision of Avatar Countryto life. Within the first few hours the band had reached their goal and by the end it had doubled. This allowed the band to tell their story in a way they never dreamed possible. To thank the fans they offered up different rewards for each donation amount. These rewards ranged from your full name being displayed in the credits of the film to jackets from one of their music videos. 

I’m excited for the release of the film Avatar Country. I also cannot wait to see what’s coming next from them. They’re constantly coming up with absolutely brilliant album concepts. I suggest Avatar to anyone who enjoys Avant-Garde Metal, Groove Metal, theatrical metal, or if you enjoy a band who’s style changes album to album. 

The music video for the 3rd track, The King Welcomes You To Avatar Country 

Avatar Country Track listing 

1. Glory To Our King
2. Legend Of The King
3. The King Welcomes You To Avatar Country 
4. King’s Harvest
5. The King Wants You 
6. The King Speaks
7. A Statue Of The King 
8. King After King
9. Silent Songs Of The King Part I: Winter Comes When The King Dreams Of Snow 
10. Silent Songs Of The King Part II: The King’s Palace 

Album Review - Lord Of The Lost - Thornstar

* Thornstar is available from Napalm Records USA. To order your copy go here

Lord Of The Lost formally known simply as Lord was originally a solo project created by Singer/Songwriter Chris Harms in 2007 in Hamburg Germany. There have been a few band member changes over the years. The current member line up consists of Chris Harms (Vocalist, Guitar), Class Grenayde (Bass) Pi Stoffers (Guitarist), Gared Dirge (Piano, Synths, Percussion), and Niklas Kahl (Drums). 

In 2010 the band released their debut album entitled Fears. Dry The Rain, one of the most beloved Lord Of The Lost Songs has become indispensable for fans worldwide. 

2011 saw the arrival of the bands Sophomore album release, Antagony. This album features fan favorites such as Sex On Legs, Prison, and Undead Or Alive. Infiltrating the metal scene once again in 2012 the band released their third album, Die Tomorrow. This album offers hits such as Blood For Blood, See You Soon (One of my personal favorites), and Credo which has become an anthem for the band. 

Four years after their debut album, Lord Of The Lost released From The Fire To The Flame. This album includes Fists Up In The Air, a fast paced song with killer guitar work and some catchy lyrics such as, “We are proud! We are Strong! Shout it out loud! WE ARE ONE!” 

In 2016, Two years after the release of their Fourth album, Empyrean was born. Empyrean is an album that is considerably different than their previous work. The band chose to add more synth, industrial type vibes to their songs. I love the songs Raining Stars, In Silence, and Doomsday Disco. They’re unreservedly brilliant and exceptionally well written. 

Some of my favorite albums Lord Of The Lost have released are their two Swan Songs albums. The term “Swan Song” is a metaphor for a last performance before death or retirement. A description which fits these albums flawlessly. Swan Songs was released in 2015 while Swan Songs II was released in 2017. Both albums feature reimagined versions of their works. Some are even exclusive to these albums and are previously unreleased. The band also offers Swan Song Symphonies which are instrumental versions of some of their songs. The band worked with an extraordinarily talented classical Orchestra to create these absolutely remarkable renditions of their work. Some of my favorites are Six Feet Underground, See You Soon, Go To Hell From Swan Songs I, and Lighthouse, The Broken Ones, and My Better Me From Swan Songs II. These songs are awe inspiring and showcase the bands talent perfectly. 

Thornstar, the bands most recent album was released on August 3, 2018 on Napalm Records. This is in my opinion the quintessential album. From the very first moments of On This Rock I Will Build My Church to the last note of Ruins (or Live, Pray, Die, repeat if you have the Deluxe Edition) it is simply exquisite. Thornstar is a concept album which tells the story of the ancient civilization of the Pangaeians. When doing research on this topic the band chose to use archives rather than historians and integrated this information into their album in such a beautiful way. Thornstar is in my eyes their superlative album yet. Whenever I listen to it, the music gives me every feeling a great album should. You feel what these people felt by listening to the music and the lyrics the band has written. Love, loss, life, death. It’s absolutely exquisite. 

Thornstar wasn’t an album that was originally planned for the band. It was a direct reflection of the band not being able to join KMFDM on their scheduled tour of America in 2017 due to Visa issues. I personally would rather have this album and wait for a US tour. It’s that good! My favorite songs from this album are Black Halo, Haythor, The Mortarian, Forevermore, and Free Radicals, which is available on the Deluxe Edition. I highly recommend the Deluxe Edition. Lord Of The Lost have also created the album 10 Thorns. 10 Thorns consists of 10 acoustic versions of some of the songs on Thornstar. They chose the exemplary songs for an acoustic album. I highly recommend watching the music videos for On This Rock I Will Build My Church, Loreley, Black Halo, Morgana, and Voodoo Doll on Youtube. They’re available for your viewing pleasure on the official Napalm Records Youtube channel. 

I cannot wait to see what this band has in store for us. I certainly hope there is a Swan Songs III in the future! If you haven’t, check these guys out! They are so remarkable and their talent is far beyond anything I could ask for in a band. If you’re into Goth Rock, Industrial Metal, Gothic Metal, or Dark Rock then Lord Of The Lost is the band for you! 

Music video for the opening track, On This Rock I Will Build My Church 

Track Listing: 

1. On This Rock I Will Build My Church

2. Loreley 

3. Black Halo 

4. In Our Hands 

5. Morgana 

6. Haythor 

7. Naxxar 

8. Cut Me Out 

9. The Mortarian 

10. Under The Sun 

11. In Darkness, In Light 

12. Forevermore 

13. Ruins 

Deluxe Only Tracks:

14. Abracadabra (Feat. Dero Goi)

15. Voodoo Doll

16. The Art Of Love 

17. Lily Of The Vale

18. Penta 

19. Free Radicals

20. Live, Pray, Die, Repeat