Review Summary: Put on your Hazmat Suit
“Never judge a book by its cover.” A cliché at this point, but still relevant as ever: for instance, until 2020, this band didn’t once enter my mind as something to listen to simply due to the apparent jester gimmick from charismatic frontman Johannes Eckerstrom.
My bad.
Avatar is likely one of the most entertaining bands in the metal scene today, able to blend melodeath with classic rock with groove metal, courtesy of Eckerstrom’s wide vocal range and the dual guitar attack of Tim Ohrstrom and the “King” Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby. This translates into a phenomenal live show, where the band showcases their musical ability and ability to own the stage. With
Dance Devil Dance, the groups 9th studio album, the group gets serious; kind of.
Look no further than the finale,
Violence No Matter What, featuring Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. A back and forth between Johannes and Lzzy, the song has a simple meaning, per Johannes:
It's okay to debate and fight and to think differently. But there is a limit, and the line must be drawn at authority held with violence, a worldview that cannot survive without enemies, a promised return to a fabricated former glory.
Though the song does tend to run its course well before the final notes are struck, the vitriol with with Johannes and Lzzy belt out their lyrics is enough to end the album on a relative high note, and listeners can tell that they enjoy condemning fascists over the course of the four minute track, making it all the more effective.
Hazmat Suit, despite the anthemic, call to arms feel, sees a post-apocalyptic world, where we’ll put our fate
in the hands of the chairman of the board, since
let’s face it, we are bait. An insanely catchy chorus and head-bobbing beat, the song belies its disaster ridden lyrics, a way to ignore, or at least forget momentarily, the obvious, that the world is ***ed, where at the end,
we sing, nothing else left to do. Make no mistake, despite the dark, despondent nature of the lyrics, this song was meant to be shouted at the top of a listeners lungs; Johannes demonstrates his still strong harsh vocals in all but the chorus, where he implores his audience to
put on your hazmuit suit and dance for me, hitting some Rob Halford-esque highs when he hits the word “dance,” just as he does in the title track. Trust me, you’ll be smiling throughout, and you might damn well put on your hazmat suit and dance for Johannes.
Biggest ‘hit’ from the album thus far,
The Dirt I’m Buried In, is a song in which an unnamed protagonist feels used, abandoned, sees their own mortality, and ultimately accepts their untimely fate. A foreboding track whose only real downfall is the oddly paced chorus, this track sees the band tackle introspection and dark subject matter while also blending in upbeat chord progressions and tone meant for radio and stadium participation.
Chimp Mosh Pit seems to have been written strictly for Avatar fans to mosh and sing along, riffs chugging, Johannes hitting gnarly high notes in the chorus, singing the funny, yet effective,
They call it the chimp death grip, they'll tear your ***ing face off and other variations throughout. It’s not Nobel prize worthy lyricism, but damnit it’s fun, it’s effective, and it makes for one helluva great time.
And honestly, the rest of the album tends to veer in this direction: catchy, riffy, head bobbing metal. Fans of Avatar will likely love it, and non-fans will likely find themselves unfettered from any form of loyalty based enjoyment.
Dance Devil Dance does not bring anything new to the table: dual guitar attacks, punchy lead riffs, an under appreciated rhythm section, and one of the most charismatic frontmen ever, in my opinion. There is a formula: but it works. Johannes alternates between low growls, mid cleans, and high shouts, quite literally sometimes in the same song; he manages to keep listeners on their toes, while Tim and Jonas chug and shred behind him, Henrik keeps the groove chugging along with the bass, and John throws in some technical fills and blasts away at the kit with controlled aggression. Dance Devil Dance, in a word, is Avatar.
Recommended Tracks:
Hazmat Suit
Chimp Most Pit
Dance Devil Dance
The Dirt I'm Buried In
