Avatarium were originally devised as a combination of crushing doom and 70s prog. But on their third album Hurricanes and Halos there’s very little doom left at all; the focus is now firmly on retro rock stylings of swirling Hammond organ and sultry psychedelia.
Into The Fire/Into The Storm is a bold opener that makes full use of Jennie-Ann Smith’s forceful, dramatic lung power and The Starless Sleep is a wonderful mix of dark fable and summery 60s pop. But there’s a sense of diminishing returns on album number three. Although it’s one of the doomier tracks, Medusa Child is overlong with cheesy child vocals. And the breezy, bluesy When Breath Turns To Air and the closing instrumental parp of the title track barely register. The album’s uneven second half is saved by the stomping Uriah Heep worship of The Sky At The Bottom Of The Sea and the ominous beauty of A Kiss (From The End Of The World), one of the band’s best tunes to date.
It’s another strong effort from the Swedes but it finds them veering away from my own taste. As the band dial down the doom I find myself less engaged. But the band’s charismatic and summery take on classic 70s rock will win them more fans and appreciation than they lose. And those listeners may well find this the band’s most accessible and enjoyable album so far.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
I do like their earlier offerings, but don’t have this yet. I don’t like that they are moving away from the doom, but perhaps they will surprise me.
For some strange reason my mind went to what it would sound like if Dio was singing that video clip for Starless Sleep.
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Her vocals make me think of Dio too. There was already less doom on the last album too but even less here! It’s all gone a bit Uriah Heep…
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Her way of holding onto the note and stretching the words out is very Dio-esque.
I like Uriah Heap, but more so if I know that going in. If I want doom, and get Heart sings Uriah Heap instead, it’s a bit of a let down.
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Haha Heart sings Heep! Good description!
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I just heard Medusa Child. I chose to stop at just at 4 minutes. There is a break just before the brats come on.
That is now the official end to that song. 4 minutes. No more.
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Bang on. I really hate children singing on rock songs. Just no.
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Another Brick In The Wall Part II. The brats suited the theme of the song so I give Floyd a pass.
A hard no to any others though.
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Only just though. Bob Ezrin was a repeat offender at this actually… Department Of Youth had them. And kids on God of Thunder too (didn’t mind them cause they weren’t singing, just being creepy)
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The brats on God Of Thunder were Ezrin’s kids.
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That’s right! Ezrin’s creepy progeny immortalised forever.
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Maybe he wanted Gene to pay for his kids education.
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I sure Gene is cool with it because he’s not all about the money.
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Awesome! Will definitely look out for it. They’re not half-bad as far as I can recall.
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It’s definitely worth a listen! Especially for the vocals, the singer is great.
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Wasn’t fussed on that track – take it away and bring me something meaner.
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Like De La Soul?
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Actually, any Heep in the 1537?
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None, I’m embrrassed to say. Apart from ‘Easy Livin’ on about 17 different compilations. I’ve wanted a good quality copy of ‘Look At Yourself’ for about 25 years now.
Do you have much?
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I’ve got quite a few but not a huge fan. Tend to like some here and there rather than full albums. But the stuff that’s good is awesome!
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I always quite fancied the one with a tank on the cover – I think that’s always a good sign for a record.
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I think that’s Salisbury. I’ve got it but don’t think I’ve ever got round to it. Demons and Wizards is top cobblers though! And the live album is pretty mighty.
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The first 4 minutes of Medusa Child are better.
Stop at 4 minutes though.
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Sounds like the beginning of some eldritch curse.
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Argh. Really like the artwork, but that track is a bit dull. Shame, cause they sound like they used to be really interesting… They should bring back the doom.
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Doom! Here comes Doom!
How you like me now?
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I like very much.
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This track works better in the album than on its own. They should bring back the doom but this isn’t one of the bad songs.
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Oh dear. I can imagine them on the phone just now: “hello, Doom? I know, I know, but let me just have 5 minutes… please… 2 minutes… 2… we’re sorry… we miss you… please…”
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HMO – you keep having really intriguing math problems in your posts!
How much should the ‘doom’ be dialed back, in order to increase the accessibility, yet keep existing listeners engaged?
Sounds like the dial got turned too far this time!
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3.14159265359 %
No more.
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and ideally no less!
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What Bop said! I wonder if adding ratings has brought out all the latent maths in my posts?
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Maybe they’ll turn the doom back up to 11 on the next one!
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Hopefully!
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They’ll be vanity Googling themselves and find this post and this comment and know that we are right and off they’ll go!
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