Swedish metal innovators Avatar have unveiled a new standalone single, “Crying Fire”, accompanied by an official video. The track arrives after an extensive touring cycle that followed the release of last year’s Don’t Go In The Forest, which was released on Halloween.
Comprised of vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson, Avatar spent the past year taking their latest material across the globe. The band’s touring schedule included a major North American headline run, highlighted by their largest-ever headline show in Mexico City.
Following those dates, Avatar returned to Europe before heading back to North America for another stretch of performances. The U.S. run included appearances at Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple, earning praise from music outlets including Ultimate Guitar and Rock Feed. The band is currently back in Europe, where they are opening for Metallica at select stadium shows.
While “Crying Fire” arrives after the release of Don’t Go In The Forest, the song was actually created during the album sessions. According to Johannes Eckerström, the band made a deliberate decision to hold onto the track rather than include it on the record.
“‘Crying Fire’ is very special to all of us. It was written and recorded as part of the Don’t Go In The Forest sessions. When making the final selection for album tracks, this one was a given. But then we started asking ourselves something: What if we saved the best for later? What if we kept this gem away from the world for a while?,” Eckerström explains.
Discussing the song further, the frontman added: “It certainly stands tall on its own. I hear a relentless firestorm of emotions. It hits me in a deeply hidden place, and I hope it does the same for you. I could say a lot about what the song is about, but I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to get out of the way and simply let it be heard for what it is. The best I can say today is that it’s about enduring pain and loving passionately.”
Rather than serving as an outtake or leftover recording, “Crying Fire” stands as a fully realized piece of music that the band intentionally saved for the right moment. The song carries the dramatic intensity, emotional weight and theatrical edge that have become hallmarks of Avatar‘s sound, making it a natural continuation of the creative path established on Don’t Go In The Forest.
For longtime followers of Avatar, “Crying Fire” offers another example of a band continuing to evolve while remaining unmistakably itself.
