Album Review: Avatarium - An Evening With Avatarium
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
As one of my fellow writers commented so succinctly recently, with the continued absence of live music, those of us who long for gigs have few options to scratch the itch. Alongside the often-sterile live streams, several bands are opting to release live albums that at least provide a poignant reminder of the live experience.
If you are unfamiliar with Avatarium, then you need to throw a six and catch up. Formed in Stockholm in 2012 by the legendary Leif Edling, founder of doom godfathers Candlemass, Avatarium has released four superb albums bursting with some of the best dark doom metal. Fronted by the stunning voice of Jennie-Ann Smith, Avatarium’s music combines heavy doom filled riffs, deep emotionally melancholic passages, and raucous heavy metal in a fabulous maelstrom. Their fourth album, ‘The Fire I Long For ‘was released last year and was one of the best of 2019.
‘An Evening with Avatarium’ was recorded in Stockholm in January 2020, right before the pandemic, and captures the energy that the band bring to a live show. It’s a tantalising aural experience, with the band in fine form from start to finish. Opening with the duo of ‘Voices’ and ‘Rubicon’ from ‘The Fire I Long For’, it’s evident that this hometown show was one that the band were determined to kick out all the stops. The songs are tight, the band are in harmony and the set list is extremely well balanced. Unsurprisingly, tracks from the fourth album dominate, with the bulk of the set focusing on the newer songs but that also leaves room for some gems from their first three records as well.
As with all live sets, managing the tempo is a delicate act that makes or breaks the whole evening. ‘An Evening with Avatarium’ is a fine example of how to blend the heavy with the light. There is the bone crunching heaviness of ‘Rubicon’ and ‘Into The Fire/Into the Storm’ with the huge Hammond organ sound, and the addictive groove of ‘Shake That Demon’ that demands you nod your head along. Countering that, the smouldering ‘Pearls and Coffins’ extends into one of the most exhilarating guitar solos I’ve heard for years. ‘The Fire I Long For’ allows Smith to really release her inner Joplin, whilst the the cover of Blind Willie Nelson’s ‘In My Time of Dying’ (best known of course for the Zeppelin version) sees guitarist Marcus Jidell to accompany Smith in a stunning acoustic version which cools the blood.
It’s when Avatarium hit the accelerator that things get really exciting. ‘Shake That Demon’, ‘Rubicon’ and ‘Sky At The Bottom Of The Sea’ and the pulsating ‘Girl With The Raven Mask’ are just some examples of how exciting Avatarium are, playing in perfect harmony. Rikard Nilsson’s fantastic organ playing harks back to the legendary John Lord, the drumming of Andreas Johannsson links with Mats Rydström’s vibrant bass and at the head of it all, Jidell’s magnificent guitar work, underpinned by his natural bluesy style alongside Smith’s powerful clean vocals. It’s doom but it’s also beautifully uplifting, the 70s feel combined with the contemporary sound making Avatarium rather unique.
As they close with a mountainous version of ‘Moonhorse’, one can only long for the return of live music once again. Avatarium have, with this stunning live release, reminded us that there is nothing like the live experience. They have also confirmed what some of us also knew; they are one of the best bands around today.
