ALBUM REVIEW: Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead – Avatarium
Dark, heavy and poetic. Since 2013, Stockholm based quartet AVATARIUM have been forging a formidable sound. With roots tracing back to doom metal giants, CANDLEMASS, AVATARIUM have extrapolated a more wistful melancholia to add to the crashing presence of traditional doom. The result is often eclectic yet highly engaging. Album number six, Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead offers up some tantalising twists and turns and delves into the depths of atmospheric doom.
An imperious introduction showcasing all the doomy, heavy credentials of the four piece kicks off the album. Long Black Waves broods with deft yet forceful riffs. The atmosphere is palpable as the swirling background ebbs and flows to glorious crescendo for the chorus sections. The vocals are soaring and the power of the quartet is a force to be reckoned with. With slick blues-like moments bubbling under the surface and a Hammond organ punching into the thick texture, it seems that album six is off to a promising start.
The wide-ranging textural and bombastic qualities of the opener are altered somewhat for what could be considered the most accessible track on the album. I See You Better In The Dark pivots the doom onto a funk like axis that delivers an energetic rhythm. The groove that they conjure up is irresistible, however, it seems a little at odds with the moody intensity of its predecessor. Clearly AVATARIUM are setting up a winding journey and all one can do is relinquish control and see where they end up.
While Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead sounds like it could lead to some truly punishing doom, there is a delicate nature to the whole album that rings through every aspect. From the ethereal quality of the vocal phrasing to some the exquisite melodic leads, there is a lightness to the eight tracks that compliments the darker elements with a clean balance.
At times there is a pop-like sheen; I See You Better In The Dark certainly has a swagger and brightness that nods towards a radio friendly top twenty. There’s also definite influence of KATE BUSH to some of the vocal melodies and phrasing, at times to such an extent that a cover of Wuthering Heights would not be out of place on the track list. However, that is not a bad thing, it adds more to the elegant fragility of the vocals which is counterpointed by the powerful musical elements. Until Forever And Again with its colossal SABBATH-esque riffs and crashing rhythm section perfectly encompasses this elegant juxtaposition and gives credit to their skills as both songwriters and musicians.
Every track on offer delivers something diverse and truly engaging. They’re not a band that are afraid to shift gears from one moment to the next. However, this broad, sweeping scope can be an undoing. This is a kaleidoscope of doom, with each track being so individual, it’s the tonality that holds it together rather than a clear unity between each song.
There is a definite sense of freedom in the creative process behind each track. While that is great as the four-piece really get to showcase themselves, it is somewhat detrimental to the album as a whole. The unpredictability, rollercoaster nature leaves little time for thematic processing. With that said, with each listen one will find a new favourite aspect to fixate on and with that, Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead is a record that is worth many revisits.
Rating: 7/10
Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead is out now via AFM Records.
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