Year: 2019
Total Time: 43:58
Label: Nuclear Blast

AVATARIUM is a ’70’s-style band, founded by CANDLEMASS’ Leif Edling. They appear to be a pleasant surprise, as they have released some impressive works during their relatively short life span. Unfortunately, Leif Edling’s health problems have forced him to step away from the band and, in their fourth album entitled “The Fire I Long For”, his role has been reduced only in aiding and writing some songs. AVATARIUM have started to acquire more and more of their own independent identity, continuing their journey through 70’s Occult Rock and classic Doom, this time adding elements even from Country music style ballads.

The highlights of the album are many, especially “Porcelain Skull” song which manages to combine influences from Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath and the crazy “Great Beyond”, a wildlife track that provokes emotions and deep melancholy. Jennie-Ann Smith’s vocals make the album magical and hypnotic. There are no weak songs, though “Shake The Demon” resonates less complete and atmospheric than the rest, with the album ending with the quiet, almost religious “Stars They Move”, which builds a staggering climax…

“The Fire I Long For” is the sound of a band moving their creativity further, pushing themselves harder than they ever did before. A release that goes on from where the band’s previous creation stopped, adding new things and experimentation while showing that, as long as their inspiration continues, it will still give us many quality albums more.

Rating: 7/10
Name: Fanouris Exintavelonis
Related Link: AVATARIUM – Facebook Page