Avatar - Avatar Country

It's been two years since I discovered this band, and I must say that I've followed their steps ever since. I was indeed eager to know what would come after Feathers & Flesh, which was a break with their previous sound back in the day and which I now consider to be a transition to a new approach, consolidated in this new album. 

Whatever your opinion about the band is, it is clear that they leave no one indifferent with their so characteristic and unique sound, so hard to define in a single genre. But what can you expect from this new piece? To be honest, I bought the album and decided to review it after attending the show in Bilbao, which provides further understanding of how every piece fits in this puzzle. Anyway, there we go...

As always, I first give the booklet a look and, oh surprise! This time all the lyrics are in there, unlike with Feathers & Flesh, where I missed them so much. These are little things I am fuzzy with about the format. Nothing important, but they add kind of satisfaction and quality of experience.

We are introduced to this new land with the anthem to the King, Glory to our King, which serves an ode to a living legend that has just come true and that is spoken about in the next song, A Legend of the King. Its lyrics, mighty and epic, could well remind us of a power metal song, unlike the sound. A Legend of the King gives the listener a great mix between melodic parts, such as the intro and fast, strong, rhythmical verses sung gutturally, along with catchy choruses and some bluesy elements presented in a brief breakdown.

After we listen to his legend, the King welcomes us into his utopic world: The third cut of this album sounds more like a classical hard-rock piece in terms of harmony blocks, vocal and guitar melodies (the guitar lines here are probably my favourite of all the album) and atmosphere, but still keeps the characteristic touch added by some disonances at the beginning and the end, Johannes's vocals and perfectly ensembling backing vocals by Tim and Henrik (while everyone sang along with Johannes, I was singing  along with Tim, ha!), and a well contrasting bridge towards the end. 

Next cut, King's Harvest, could perfectly belong to Hail the Apocalypse. One more reason to state that whatever the approach, Avatar's music always sounds like them. The atmosphere set by this song is darker and the lyrics are indeed powerful. This effect is partly accomplished by the almost total guttural singing. In fact, King's Harvest is, hands down the less melodic song in the album.

We're almost halfway through the album, when the king calls us to join him the American style. The King Wants You reminds me of that advertisement we all know in which Uncle Sam wants us to join the army. With its groovy riffs, hard-rocker style and fresh percussion lines (cowbells and tambourine included), it is possibly the catchiest song and also the most surprising as far as Johannes's vocal ranged is concerned.

Then, The King Speaks, acts as an interlude to let the previous material sink in, as well as giving a funny insight into the King's thoughts through a speech in both Swedish and English. It brings together the whole concept of a country led by a monarch and gives coherence to it. Besides, it fits perfectly with what follows, if we take into account that the video released for A Statue of the King is thought of as a big meeting with a speech, so The King Speaks is also a perfect prelude to the song that comes next. The so-called song flows frantically due to drum, bass lines, melodic speech (when the song is not sung gutturally) and how the lyrics are conceived and rhymed, transmitting the urge to have a statue of the leader.

The end comes nearer with King after King. During the album each and every instrument is given the chance to outstand and here, bass is arguably the real protagonist, giving a melodic dimension to the rhythm base laid by the drums. This the most remarkable feature of the cut, of which nothing else can be said that hasn't been mentioned before.

Finally, Avatar Country comes to an end with two instrumental pieces whose only aim is to keep setting the right atmosphere until the last minute, the first of it being more relaxed and far more descriptive (regarding the name of the song) than the second.

All in all, it's been a pleasant journey through this land presented in the album. The impovement of Johannes keeps surprising me. No matter if guttural or clean: he always sounds better, higher, louder, growlier, and more powerful. Drums keep on being one of my favourite parts, though the great talent of the King, Tim and Henrik is just undeniable. 

Avatar Country is an album that needs more than one listen, a bit puzzling during the first one. This is why I consider it not to be so good as Feathers & Flesh which caught my attention from the very first second. But the more I listen to it, the more I like it and the more little details I find that complete the map of this universe put together by the album. Welcome to Avatar Country and glory to our King!

INDIX 07.15.2016 at Portu Zaharra, Portugalete

Demo cover

My friend and I arrive in the venue in a quiet night, half an hour before the beginning. A wild sound check breaks the silence and I laugh: it seems they're giving the concert for all the town from there. We go for a walk and come back just five minutes before it is due to start, but it seems that not so many people have heard the call. Finally, ten minutes later, the guys decide they can't wait any longer, and it's time to start enjoying the music.

The venue is pretty small, they almost have no room to move freely. but all that is compensated by the homely atmosphere that connects the band and the (reduced) audience. It still takes a bit longer for them to get everything prepared, and I think to myself: this is a bit unprofessional; however, I don't give it too much importance.

From left to right: Jonba, Jarris, Aritz and
Güito

The first notes are heard and I am still, just paying attention, not knowing exactly what to expect, even if I have listened to their first demo. The few people there are also waiting for something and they don't move to the first riffs the band are laying. But soon the energy fills the bar. Every time I see this I get moved deep down my heart: we're five, six... ten people maybe? And they are playing wildly, as if they were headlining Hellfest or Wacken Open Air. To sum it up in just one sentence: their energy couldn't be contained in such a small place.

Nevertheless, during the first three songs, I am still trying to take in all that they are offering, paying more attention to each line and rhythm than to enjoying the music itself, and worried because someone was about to step on the cables and fall down almost continuously (this was quite funny, to be honest). Then the magical turning point arrives. The first notes of Eutanasia sound, and a bit later, there's no way back, I'm totally into it. Only a sentence hits me in the head once and over again, like a desperate scream: "Ez da eskubide bat duintasunez hiltzea?" (Isn't it our right to die with dignity?). And I also start paying attention to other details, such as the performance that goes with each song and gives it a whole new dimension...

Güito at the end of 'Azti maestro'

I can't help but smile with the next song, Ez dago ezer (There's nothing). I like the nihilistic meaning behind, personal and recognizable mark of one of their guitarists and friend of mine. And his absent look at the end of it, while playing as though he were a robot, just makes me shiver. And from then, I just let myself go crazy with every single riff, every single note, song, joke, word, everything.

The concert ends and I try to sum up all the sensations. They've got so much potential. The sound, technically speaking, wasn't at its best, the voice was at some points hard to understand, but the venue wasn't acoustically appropriate either. So, all in all, it was an unforgettable night, and I'm glad I finally attended an INDIX show.

You can find about INDIX and all their material in the following sites:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/indixrock/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/indixrock

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfdLvtiGmotd_gmisjnIe5g

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/indixrock

Bandcamp: https://indix.bandcamp.com/album/indix-maketa

Finally, I'd love to thank my friend Rober Villanueva for taking amazing pics for this review.

Edguy + Masterplan 10.18.2014 at Santana 27, Bilbao

I could summarise the whole show in just two words: Fucking Awesome. But then you would start wondering why, for sure. So let's tell you a little bit.



First of all, we had the German band Masterplan. To tell the truth, I didn't even know what to expect from them, for I had only listened to the last album, just by chance and while doing something else. But I ended up freaking out and enjoying their share of the show just as if I knew every song. In fact, I must confess that what I paid most attention to was the bass player. His playing was absolutely perfect and the bass lines were melodic, complex and totally out of the ordinary.

One couldn't say less of the rest of the band who were putting their heart and soul into every single note they were playing. Great voice, exciting drumming and guitars, extraordinary bass lines and a keybordist making fun of everything. There was a good vibe between the members and that definitely reflected on the audience, who made the venue shake out of emotion. I definitely went back home converted into a Masterplan fan.

Then it was the turn for Edguy. Once again, I must confess: I was excited about the show, but, although I love Edguy, it wasn't one of the bands I would give everything to see live. Until yesterday. I'm not exaggerating if I say that I was deeply impressed by the quality of the show, and that I was so exhausted at the end of it that I couldn't even stand on my feet. The only bad thing was that the show lasted for too short (Although I don't know. Had it been longer, I could've died of tiredness).

The setlist was carefully selected, presenting the most representative songs in the last album (Space Police- Defenders of the Crown) without forgetting about the most symbolic hits of the band (King of Fools, Lavatory Love Machine, Tears of A Mandrake...). For the pleasure of my ears, Rock Me Amadeus was included and we all sang and danced to its rhythm and melody.

As far as sound is concerned, I was absolutely surprised by how well everything sounded. Only the voice had to sound louder, but I guess that perception was due to my position. (I was in the front rows). Tobias did a perfect performance, singing every note in tune and every high pitch perfect (with a magnific sustain and well centered and projected into the crowd). As for the rest, no single note wrong, out of time or tune, and choirs were accurately performed by Tobias Exxel, Dirk and Jens (with special regard to Space Police which is no piece of cake, and the "game" between the voices was really nice).

We also enjoyed funny speeches from Sammet (and even funnier improvised vocals that we had to repeat, as though it was an "even more difficult" kind of game) and a nice drum medley with Felix performing even the famous Imperial March (Star Wars). It was also exciting and motivating to know that this show was being recorded, so we, the audience, gave our 110%, and definitely beat Madrid audience. Definitely. For sure they were emotioned by the warmness received from us.

At last we ended this incredible night with a warm and sincere promise of having them here again. We hope that happens soon.