Singer Johannes Eckerström of Swedish metal act Avatar recently told TotalRock the band's next album is recorded and mixed, and the band are eyeing a 2023 release. As for what the vibe of the LP is like, Eckerström got to the point: "The short version is we will make you see the devil, and we will make you dance. You've heard every band say it's their best album yet. This is our best album yet."
"My best thing to liken it to is [Judas Priest's] British Steel in the sense of that… they were a great heavy metal band, a great rock and roll band, a great prog band, at times, and kind of eclectic…. [Then with] British Steel, I find they really got laser focused, cut off the fat. And we're focused on what we feel right now metal needs — this very pompous, but yet—honestly, I feel like we have to save heavy metal. Because either people are lost in the past… They did it better than we will ever do what they do. Don't do that. What's next? What's next for us? And do that without disappearing up your own asses completely.
"When people end up doing metal that is best enjoyed while sitting down and shutting up, you miss the point," Johannes continued. "Metal is the music that you move to — in the pit, banging your head, dancing around, whatever, lifting weights, drinking too much, getting pregnant, impregnating someone, doing things. It's music to move with. You have drums in the band; why would you have drums if you don't move? We look a lot to the masters… but then just… yeah, that, but not that. They did that. We're now and what's next with that. Where can we try to help bring it? And that is this album."
Of course we're super-stoked Avatar is super-stoked about their new album. But does heavy metal actually need saving? I guess it depends on who you ask. Still, we like to see a band that's always hungry! Avatar was recording their new album earlier this year with Jay Ruston (Amon Amarth, Kataklysm).
