Avatarium is another project from the mind of doom legend Leif Edling, who seems to have an endless stream of creative juices flowing through his veins. Their 2013 self titled debut was an uneven listen, with a myriad of great ideas linked with jarring transitions. 2015’s The Girl with the Raven Mask was a lot better in this regard, with much improved song writing to go along with a more adventurous sound. With Hurricanes and Halos, Avatarium are set to go one better, as they deliver their most complete and compelling record to date.
It’s easy to see why Avatarium are labelled a doom band, not least because of the writer of a bulk of the songs here, but at this point they have transcended the genre and become a more accessible and experimental beast entirely. There’s doomy riffs, sure, but they’re quite few and far between, being used as one of many compositional components, rather than the foundation from which all the songs are constructed. The production also helps to lessen the crushing impact these riffs have; the guitar tone awash with a warm, fuzzy tone that is more akin to ’70s rock than metal. It strips the riffs of much of the low end that typically dominates doom, but it’s much more in character with the diverse music presented. The vocals of Jennie-Ann Smith also further this distinction, with a fabulous voice that has soulful, bluesy overtones. This married quite awkwardly on the band’s earlier material, but both sides have grown vastly since then, now working side by side with consummate ease.
Opener “Into the Fire / Into the Storm” leads with a riff that’s reminiscent of Lucifer’s Friend’s “Ride the Sky”, settling into a mid paced stomp that gets the head nodding. There’s a few subtle tempo changes that are a little choppy, but it holds together well enough and is a decent start to a record that grows in stature with each passing second. “The Starless Sleep” roots itself in ’70s rock; a song with boundless energy that features a slightly off centre melody and understated vocal lines that slowly work their way into your subconscious. The subtle hooks are something of a recurring theme throughout the record, particularly in the vocal lines, as even when they’re catchy, they’re not immediately rewarding. It works so well at the worst of times that when it clicks, it’s monstrously good. The shifting dynamics in “Road to Jerusalem” are superb; the grinding, single string riff underpinning powerful vocals and clattering acoustic chords. Guitar motifs and leads cut in and out before the drums and vocal harmonies kick in and take things up a notch, rounding off a fantastic exhibition of tension building song writing. It will, in all likelihood, be one of the best songs you’ll hear this year. Elsewhere, the slow, soulful inflections of “When Breath Turns to Air” are brilliant, leaving you wondering if there is any genre that Avatarium couldn’t put their spin on.
On the doomier scale, the eight minute “Medusa Child” takes charge as the album centrepiece, a maelstrom of buzzing riffs, thunderous rhythms and searing leads. It’s a bit all over the place structurally, but it just about holds together, and as the instrumental section slowly unwinds towards the climax, there’s no question that it’s another winner. That’s also an accolade that can bestowed upon “A Kiss (from the End of the World)”, another heavier number with a delightful, churning riff, bookended by an acoustic opening and sparse closing. The shuffling groove of “The Sky at the Bottom of the Sea” gallops along nicely, and even as one of the weaker songs, possesses the sort of irresistible charm that runs throughout the record. The title track balances beauty with an underlying sense of dread thanks to the duelling guitar swells; an evocative piece that promises much but fails to deliver only because of its brevity. A fantastic yet frustrating end to one hell of an album.
Avatarium have come on leaps and bounds since their debut in 2013, and with Hurricanes and Halos, they have made a modern doom masterpiece. An album that deserves to be heard, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this cropping up on countless end of year album lists. Bravo to all involved, and best of luck topping it.
Rating: 9/10
Highlights: “The Starless Sleep”, “Road to Jerusalem”, “A Kiss (from the End of the World)”
Links: Facebook, Official Website
Hurricanes and Halos is available worldwide on 26th May, via Nuclear Blast Records.
