Album Review: Avatarium - Between You, God, The Devil and The Dead
Reviewed by Rich Oliver
Swedish psych doom metallers Avatarium return with their sixth album “Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead”. Originally formed as a side project by Candlemass bassist Leif Edling, Avatarium are now headed by vocalist Jennie-Ann Smith and guitarist Marcus Jidell who took the reins when Leif departed the band in 2017. The band have always added new layers to their sound with each subsequent album ensuring that they still sound invigorated and never simply retread old ground.
“Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead” was written over a year and a half with the album mostly written on the piano which ensures a new dimension to the songwriting as well as a more personal approach with Jennie-Ann and Marcus being partners outside of the band as well. The album is one that looks back as well as looks forward with a harking back to the band’s earlier doom metal sound as well as incorporating the psychedelic elements that have become a staple of the Avatarium sound. The soulful hard rock of albums such as “The Fire I Long For” and “Death, Where Is Your Sting” is also played upon but there is a tenderness in the songwriting which has been touched upon previously but really comes to the fore this time round.
That tenderness and more personal approach can be heard in the gorgeous ‘My Hair Is On Fire (But I’ll Take Your Hand)’ and the poignant ‘Lovers Give A Kingdom To Each Other’ as well as the piano driven ballad of the title track which closes the album. Although tender and more emotionally driven, this album still has plenty of wallop with some of the heaviest riffs the band have composed especially in the instrumental ‘Notes From Underground’ which is absolutely crushing. The doom side of Avatarium can be heard in songs such as album opener ‘Long Black Waves’, ‘Being With The Dead’ and ‘Until Forever And Again’ which mix classic sounding doom-laden riffs with a healthy dose of psychedelia.
Avatarium show no signs of slowing as “Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead” is another superb album from the band which shows a further progression of the band’s sound. Jennie-Ann’s vocals sound as soulful and mesmerising as ever and the musicianship is excellent throughout with some absolutely stonking guitar riffs throughout. The songwriting is superb and you can clearly hear this is an album that Jennie-Ann and Marcus took their time and care with writing. Fans of classic doom metal and psychedelic hard rock should definitely get this down their ears.
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