Following the release of their much acclaimed, chart-topping studio album, “Death, Where Is Your Sting”, Swedish doom rock act AVATARIUM will not only embark on a European tour with SWALLOW THE SUN this Spring, but has just premiered a new music video for the album opening track “A Love Like Ours”. Watch it now below.
Says Marcus Jidell: “This song was created together with one of the world’s most interesting and skilled cello players, Svante Henryson. When I was a teenager I saw him play one of Bach’s cello suites on a Yngwie Malmsteen concert, all alone on the big stage. I have loved his talent ever since and it’s an honour to work with him! I also hope you’ll enjoy this video, created by Niklas Palmklint and Jennie-Ann Smith, as much as I do.”
Almost 10 years ago, Candlemass legend Leif Edling made the doom metal world a darker and ultimately more interesting place with new band, AVATARIUM. Edling eventually left AVATARIUM‘s ranks due to health issues, but the band forged onward, and 2022 seen them capping off a prolific decade with their fifth studio album, “Death, Where Is Your Sting”. The current line-up is featuring vocalist Jennie-Ann Smith, Marcus Jidell (Evergrey, Soen), Mats Rydström, Andreas Habo Johansson and Daniel Karlsson. “Death, Where Is Your Sting” was produced by Marcus Jidell, mixed by Mats Valentin and Jidell.
Ever since their impressive debut, AVATARIUM operated with the keywords “dark”, “heavy” and “poetic”, which best describes the Swedish outfit at its core. The band has evolved since their 2013 self-titled debut, and although they have introduced new elements along the way, AVATARIUM continue to operate within this doom-laden framework.
Yet they are somewhat unique within doom metal, fronted by Jennie-Ann, unintentionally breaking genre boundaries. She has learned a lot from working with Leif Edling, whom she affectionately refers to as The Master Of Doom, and “Death, Where Is Your Sting,“ marks the first time Smith has written all the lyrics for an album. This is significant in that lyrics have always inspired the song arrangements in AVATARIUM.
“There’s a red thread from our debut album dealing with all sorts of existential questions,” Jennie-Ann reveals. “That’s what doom is to me. I come from a different musical background, but when it comes to thinking about death, I’m a natural (laughs). Avatarium is a vehicle that soothes the seriousness, and offers the sheer joy of music. There are all these layers on the new album; it is intellectual, it is existential, there are serious topics of religion, philosophy and psychology, but you can still just enjoy the music and get lost in the riffs.”
“Death, Where Is Your Sting” was written over a two-year period, during the global pandemic. AVATARIUM was forced to adjust to the routine of band members and people around them getting COVID, delaying and rescheduling writing and recording sessions as needed. Both guitarist Marcus Jidell and Jennie-Ann believe that the album turned out for the better in the end, even though it was a very long process to get it done:
“We often wonder when we’re writing, ‘Is it too much of this or that?‘” Marcus admits. “We have the feeling that people who like AVATARIUM – our fans and followers – they enjoy it more when we push boundaries and step out in the deep water instead of just repeating the same stuff over and over. Every song has its own life, but it is supposed to be listened to as an album. It’s important for us to try to take the listener on a journey.”
“Death, Where Is Your Sting” Album Artwork
“Death, Where Is Your Sting” is available as Digipak, Vinyl and ltd. 2-CD Earbook (incl. 5-track bonus CD). The can be ordered HERE.
“Death, Where Is Your Sting” tracklisting:
1. A Love Like Ours
2. Stockholm
3. Death, Where Is Your Sting
4. Psalm For The Living
5. God Is Silent
6. Mother Can You Hear Me Now
7. Nocturne
8. Transcendent
Bonus CD (ltd. Earbook)
1. Boneflower (alternative version, live in the studio)
2. Great Beyond (alternative version, live in the studio)
3. Rubicon (alternative version, live in the studio)
4. Lay Me Down (alternative version, live in the studio)
5. The Fire I long For (alternative version, live in the studio)
