AVATAR
“HUNTER GATHERER”
Album Review by Syl Pdll

10/10

Avatar is one of those bands that you could love, but also hate at the same time. With a particular musical style that distinguishes it from other bands of its genre, in addition to including theatrical and circus elements both in its musical proposal and in its presentations, it allowed the Swedes to acquire greater popularity, although it is an aspect that has not been to the liking of everyone. After a successful “Avatar Country” that was released in 2018, now this quintet returns to the scene with a new album under its arm: “Hunter Gatherer” that in the band’s words shows a denser and raw orientation unlike their predecessor, making it clear that the band has sought to reinvent itself soundly.

“Silence In The Age of Apes” is the first song and curiously it is one of the most powerful that is included in this album. Johannes Eckerström shows his vocal technique in the use of gutturals that combine perfectly with the power of the double bass drum, in addition to the duality that we appreciate in the use of electric guitars in the middle part at the end of the song which is accentuated by the inclusion of “We Accelerate!” coming from Eckerström’s heartbreaking voice makes a good start for this album.

“Colossus” shows a sound closer to industrial metal and that was another of the advances of this album by presenting a promotional video. This song is distinguished by the wide vocal range that Johannes Eckerström has, moving between very low intonations emulating that atmosphere of darkness, a characteristic element of this musical genre, to much sharper interpretations that we can appreciate in the chorus of the song in which it is also It has the collaboration of Corey Taylor and that contrasts with the voices of the Swede.

“A Secret Door” is one of the most interesting songs on this album because of the way the band moves between melodic and aggressive sounds. Influenced by alternative metal, we once again appreciate that vocal versatility that distinguishes Johannes Eckerström who begins by employing a melodic vocal range without being too mellow, then uses guttural voices and culminates by taking up much higher-pitched clean voices with the intention of denoting the sensation of appeal. . It is exquisite in every way. The hiss we hear throughout the song is courtesy of Corey Taylor.

“God Of Sick Dreams” is a song with a much more consistent sound and shows that musical stamp of Avatar, that unlike its predecessors there is no such experimentation with other musical genres that allow creating a proposal different from what has been heard in Previous jobs. The execution of the guitars and the bass stands out, who through their chords guide the development of the song.

“Scream Until You Wake” begins with the sound of the drums in all its splendor to which the other musical instruments are added as the song progresses and which is also distinguished by the vocal breadth of Johannes Eckerström, perhaps to a lesser extent than its predecessors, but it is pleasant to the ear and is enjoyed from beginning to end.

“Child” shows a powerful beginning that is developed by the hand of drums and guitars, taking up that theatrical and circus essence that has become a hallmark of the band. It is interesting that transition between clean and guttural voices that are appreciated throughout the song and that tries to describe in a somewhat terrifying way of how a child attends the funeral of his mother without losing hope that she will revive her.

“Justice” shows an approach to metalcore carried quite well by the guttural voices of Johannes Eckerström and that in the chorus part includes a melodic clean voice. A song that evokes the classic era of the band as “Hail The Apocalypse”. The playing of the guitars is brilliant.

“Gun” begins with the piano chords and shows a completely different facet from the ones we are used to by this Swedish band and I think it was a great success. It goes without saying that the voice of Johannes Eckerström even though it is a ballad shows that dark and somewhat melodic atmosphere that fits with the concept developed on this album. The effort that artists make to experiment with sounds that are completely out of their comfort zone is always appreciated.

“When All But Force Has Failed” is one of the songs that comes loaded with an extra dose of metal carried in a masterly way by the bass and in which we can also appreciate how the drums have a solo part in which it can be perceived virtuosity and technique. A short song, but it is more than enough to anticipate the closing of this album.

“Wormhole” poses a spectacular closure to this album. The strumming of the guitars in conjunction with the bass reminded us a bit of this classic metal era and that it acquires greater strength as the song progresses, reinforced using guttural voices interspersing clean voices in the chorus part. It is a song in which each of the instruments shines in the right measure including the vocal part. Avatar’s ability to reinvent itself is admirable to explore with new sounds and proposals, this album is an example of it.

Hunter Gatherer must be a candidate to compete for the best albums of this year for the sonic diversity that he possesses in each of his songs. Avatar is one of these bands that does not seek to define itself within a specific genre, but rather seeks to reinvent itself as the music scene evolves in recent times. A well-developed job that exploits the potential of each of its members. Fantastic.

TRACKLIST

Silence In The Age Of Apes
Colossus
A Secret Door
God Of Sick Dreams
Scream Until You Wake
Child
Justice
Gun
When All But Force Has Failed
Wormhole

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