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Gothic/Doom

AFM Records

Release Date – January 24th 2025

Review By Smudge Smith

Avatarium return with their 6th full length album since their debut released in 2013. Originally formed by Leif Edling of Candlemass they quickly became legendary with some classic releases. Edling left due to health reasons, so the band was left in the more than capable hands of guitarist Marcus Jidell who also produced and mixed this offering.

Kicking off with the solid doom of ‘Long Black Waves’ it’s an easy start that gets you in the mood. Singer Jennie-Ann Smith just gets better and better. Her delivery is smooth and melodic which is all over the dark vibes and a wonderful warm organ line bringing a hint of the 60’s. ‘I See You Better In The Dark’ ups the pace and brings a real groove and allows Jidell to show what he can do – it’s not flashy but well executed and perfect for the song. A plaintive piano sends out a morse like line to open ‘My Hair Is On Fire (But I’ll Take Your Hand)’ as Smith croons sadly before the power chords come crashing in it develops into a melodic doom epic that rolls and tumbles with waves of dark noise before the piano and Smith bring things to a smoky climax. Stirring stuff!

The acoustic comes out for ‘Lovers Give A Kingdom To Each Other’ which starts with some folk doom and very reminiscent of those acoustic things that Tony Iommi used to do on the early Sabbath records. It gets jazzy with some lively lines from Jidell and some vibes in the background and Smith wrenching out a torch song and reliving her pain. Shit gets proper heavy on ‘Being With The Dead’ as drummer Andreas Habo Johansson lets you know what he’s about with a swinging intro as Jidell grinds out a huge riff and Smith gives out another dark melody. ‘Until Forever And Again’ comes across as more foreboding and almost evil thanks to the monumental keyboard line and the reverb added to the vocal then we head East on the instrumental ‘Notes From Underground’ before the title track brings another sadly beautiful piano line and Smith puts her soul and pain into her delivery. How this lass has suffered!

Another stunning piece of dark melodic rock. It’s too simple to call it doom because there is so much more to this band. They combine a whole load of other elements into their sound which makes it unique. Seriously check this record out because it’s verging on a masterpiece, and it deserves to be listened to – not just heard! Listened to!

Track List –

Long Black Waves

I See You Better In The Dark

My Hair Is On Fire (But I’ll Take Your Hand)

Lovers Give A Kingdom To Each Other

Being With The Dead

Until Forever Again

Notes From Underground

Between You, God, The Devil and the Dead

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