Review Summary: That mouthful of a title but no Oxford comma?
Avatarium’s sixth album continues the group’s tug o’ war of proggy psych-doom, but there’s almost a sense of going back to basics. The cinematic touches that shaped 2022’s Death, Where Is Your Sting aren’t as prominent this time around, allowing the band’s doom side to lead the charge. The opening “Long Black Waves” would’ve fit on their 2013 self-titled debut reasonably well, featuring subdued verses and a subtle chorus glued together by a chunky riff set and topped with wailing organs.
Things get even heavier from there with the guitars serving as a hefty driving force though the vocals and keyboards work to maintain the band’s seventies-rooted flairs for elegance and quirkiness. “I See You Better In The Dark” and “Being With The Dead” are particularly punchy numbers with the sort of riffs that make one wonder how they didn’t have any writing input from former founder Leif Edling. “Notes From Underground” also stands out as an instrumental with a sturdy chug to it though it’s easy to imagine how a little interplay could give it a bit more character.
On the flip side, there are still a couple softer segments rounding out the dynamics. “Lovers Give A Kingdom To Each Other” and the closing title track are a sweet pair of ballads with graceful vocal performances, the former delivering dusky acoustic folk in the vein of “Lay Me Down” while the latter is driven by gentle piano. “My Hair Is On Fire (But I’ll Take Your Hand)” (these titles I swear) is a solid go-between both moods, putting the piano toward ominous ends before the rest of the song goes into more pounding doom.
It doesn't seem like Avatarium has as many new avenues to take their sound at this point in their development, but they’re still managing to put out strong engaging material. Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead (that mouthful of a title but no Oxford comma?) doesn’t quite have as distinct an identity as their top releases but still showcases the band’s unique qualities. The performances are striking with the songwriting as memorable as ever, and the doomier makeup could be enough to sell it for listeners who were put off by their more experimental excursions. Hopefully things won’t get too played out from here but I’m not one to argue with another quality installment.