Avatarium is one of the more recent ventures led by
Candlemass
bassist Leif Edling.
The band debuted with a self-titled effort in 2013, and there,
befitting a Edling-led band,
doom metal is the prime genre on display,
as several of the tunes would feel quite at home on a Candlemass album
(save the vocals, more on them in a bit).
But on successive albums Avatarium are steadily moving away from
simple doom to something quite different -- indeed, on
2017's Hurricanes And Halos, the band goes straight to early 70's
worship, as a few of the tunes have a clear
Deep Purple
vibe while elsewhere the focus is on experimental, psychedelic-tinged
prog rock.
Most of the guys here have other metal ties, but arguably the star
here is the one who doesn't, that being vocalist Jennie-Ann Smith, who
has a bit of a Ann Wilson (Heart) vibe going on and is always in
command.
This has turned into the least Candlemass-ish band in Edling's
arsenal, and while Candlemass may always be his primary band,
Avatarium is blossoming into something quite special and unique.
Upcoming album: Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead,
release date January 24, 2025.
