Late 2019 finds guitarist Marcus Jidell and vocalist Jennie-Ann Smith continuing to forge ahead with their doom-sprinkled retro rock/metal outfit Avatarium. Initially the band was pretty much touted as another Leif Edling (Candlemass etc. etc.) project with Jidell and Smith happy to follow through the doors that this name would inevitably open, but as time went on it was becoming more and more apparent that Jidell and Smith were the real focus and after Edling’s departure (to re-re-re-resurrect Candlemass – no surprises there…) those tentative steps away from traditional retro doom that were taken on their previous release continue to be taken in strides with this year’s “The Fire I Long For”.
That previous album, 2017’s “Hurricane’s and Halos” had Edling’s stamp all over it…even though it now transpires he wasn’t actually even on it! OK, he wrote six of the eight tracks, which is why the album followed on so audibly well from its predecessor, but he has since retreated into the background even further, this time only writing three songs. The rest leave Jidell, Smith and co to spread their wings further and show the way forward for Avatarium. And that way forward is basically just how it should be – following on nicely from the last album with even more added nuances and personality.
The only shift in line-up from that last album is the addition of drummer Andreas Johansson (also in Doomsday Kingdom with Jidell), who drives the heavier tracks perfectly whilst also able to show restraint and subtlety on the more melancholy songs – an excellent addition. The continued organ-work of Rickard Nilsson is also a welcome prominent factor on “The Fire I Long For” as it was experimented with last time. The album opener ‘Voices’ – along with ‘Porcelain Skull’ and ‘Epitaph Of Heroes’ really do continue the Doom elements that were the band’s backbone on previous releases, but it’s on the other tracks that I feel the true spirit of Avatarium is becoming more visible. A mixture of expert guitar-work from Jidell, coupled with the strong, heart-felt vocals of Smith are actually the true back-bone of this band and given the chance to experiment they are really taking it on.
‘Lay Me Down’ for instance has a fabulous Southern Rock laden groove to it that sounds completely at home delivered by this band. The up-tempo ‘Shake That Demon’ utilizes a doom-type riff, but switches it into a space/psych-rock powerhouse. Dripping in fabulous Hammond organ, ‘Great Beyond’ is an emotive slab of retroistic melancholy, carried wonderfully by Smith’s yearning vocals – another way of building on that doom-but-not-quite-doom vibe I hear more and more from Avatarium here. The title track also has a similar vibe but driven more by melody and guitar, with ‘Rubicon’ taking this approach to next level, but upping the energy and tempo more to make an excellent attention grabbing second track after the doomy opener. That just leaves a mention for the album closer ‘Stars they Move’, a somber piano-led affair with a hint of bar-room jazz to it which I actually thought initially that I didn’t like, but Avatarium have a way of delivering a song in such a way that it just utterly fits with the rest of the album and suddenly you realize that it’s a really great way to end the album.
This is Avatarium’s most interesting, varied and innovative album to date…quite probably their best one too – time will tell. Edling wrote six tracks last time, three this time…I think on hearing the evidence here that Avatarium can easily go it alone from now on. Maybe just a token Edling track next time to keep the Candlemass fans interested? Jidell and Smith have taken this former Edling side-project and made it theirs, taking it ever onward in new and exciting directions.
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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