Avatarium is a Swedish progressive rock / doom metal band from Stockholm, founded by Candlemass songwriter Leif Edling in 2012. It has been a very interesting journey to see this band flourish so fast. Jennie-Ann Smith voice added a new touch to Edling's typical heavy doom riffs. While not touring with the band Leif still write some songs for their albums. However, with the release of The Girl with the Raven Mask (2015) and specially Hurricanes and Halos (2017), singer Jennie-Ann Smith and guitarist Marcus Jidell contributed more and more to the songwriting and consequently their music has shift the Doom focused from the self titled debut album into a progressive doom/rock sound.
Now with The Fire I Long For, Avatarium's fourth full length studio album, the band is back and from the get go "Voices" brings back the doom sound from the debut album but here infused with the 70s rock vibe from the later albums. Other songs such as "Rubicon" and "Porcelain Skull" display the same direction. I specially like the guitar work in "Porcelain Skull". Not only the riffage but also the best solos on this record. In fact, I really like how distinctive the guitar tone of this album is. It’s really dirty sounding. "Epitaph of Heroes" is my favorite song out of The Fire I Long For. It feels as a lost track from the fantastic debut album. It's certainly the heaviest classic doom song here.
"Great Beyond" is a more emotional slow tempo song which also works very well and paves way to the title track which is another highlight of the album. It’s also slow tempo and an emotional song. Here Jennie-Ann Smith deep and bluesy shine. The album closes with an interesting track that sounds like a song being played in a piano bar at 2am.
While I really liked this album, I do miss the progressiveness of the first album. Longer songs with more variety, more in the lines of "Epitaph of Heroes". Also the album is not riff focused throughout and at moments lack of heavy doom riffs gives me the feeling of emptiness. For example "Shake That Demon" is a rocker almost like a Whitesnake song, and feels out of place. And "Lay Me Down" is not a bad track but it’s too slow to be number three and breaks the album flow.
Avatarium's The Fire I Long For solidifies the bands sound as a mixture of their Doom roots with the progressive 70's rock influences. You add to the mix the unique voice from Jennie-Ann Smith, the proficient Marcus Jidell guitars and production values and Edling's typical heavy doom riffs and you have a good album for the old and new fans to enjoy.
SCORE: 79/100
Genre: Doom Metal
Released by Nuclear Blast Records on November 22nd, 2019
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Rating System
98 - 100 Perfect
92 - 97 Excellent
86 - 91 Great
81 - 85 Very Good
77 - 80 Good
69 - 76 Mixed
58 - 68 Bad
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