Album review: Avatar – Dance Devil Dance

By DAN SOUTHALL

ALBUM number nine for a band like Avatar can mean almost anything. This band plays a very modern version of metal, but are never willing to sit still. From telling folk tales, to creating their own stories through albums or just happily creating something heavy like their last release, the band are always at their best when keeping the fan base guessing.

Dance Devil Dance starts with the title track opening like a Static-X throwaway before reaching a clean sung crescendo in the chorus that is as close to traditional metal a band like this could create. That is at least until the next track “Chimp Mosh Pit“ comes bellowing out with vocalist Johannes Eckerstrom doing his best Vince NeIl impression and the band backing him up with a great sleaze stomp before the track takes a 90 degree turn back towards more aggressive territory.

The album quickly shapes up as the promised ride through the band’s influences in an effort to get fans old and new moving and shaking their rump. No matter how many disparate influences are chucked into the musical melting pot, the same result is generally achieved: a head bobbing, foot tapping good time that is difficult not to enjoy.

From the almost heavy metal camp storytelling of “On the Beach” or the thrash attack of “Clouds Dipped In Chrome”, or the political attack of “Violence No Matter What” with its guest appearance of LIzzy Hale, Avatar is always firing on all cylinders and keeping the musical party going.

Because of this the small, straight shooting tracks almost get lost due to their lack of chaos. The electro pop stomp of “The Dirt I’m Buried In” manages to disguise its horror tale of being buried alive behind its sheen whilst “Train” is the band at their bluesiest and slickest best as Johannes does his best impersonation of Nick Cave on the penultimate track, still managing to weave in some devilish growls.

Avatar have always been a musically interesting prospect, and this album is no different although instead of using the entire album as a storytelling device they have focused on each track being their own compact story.