As AVATAR steps closer to the highly-anticipated release of their eighth full-length, Hunter Gatherer, the band has delighted fans once again with the debut of their third single from the record, “Colossus”.
Unsettling electronic instrumentation sets the tone as Johannes Eckerström provides the introduction to the track, from which the band bursts into chugging guitar lines, eerie verses and soaring choruses – culminating in one of the most dynamic tracks on the album. The accompanying video for “Colossus” mirrors the dystopian reincarnation of the band as it explores humanity’s vicious and complex relationship with technology and control. “Colossus” serves as the dark counterpart to previously released singles from Hunter Gatherer – “God of Sick Dreams” and “Silence in the Age of Apes” – the latter of which is already named one of the best metal songs of the year so far by Loudwire.
Their bold manifesto, Hunter Gatherer, is an unflinchingly ruthless study of a clueless humankind’s ever-increasing velocity into an uncertain future, furthering the reach of the band’s always expanding dark roots. The forthcoming album is the darkest, most sinister version of the band yet, with deep studies of cruelty, technology, disdain, and deprivation. Already one of Metal Hammer’s most anticipated metal albums of the year, Hunter Gatherer is now available for pre-order here ahead of its official release on August 7th.
Earlier this year the band marked the end of the Avatar Country storyline with the heartfelt thank you video A Farewell To Avatar Country, concluding the realm created by the band and actualized in their epic featurette Legend Of Avatar Country: A Metal Odyssey that blew past a $50,000 Kickstarter campaign goal in less than 90 minutes. Released in 2018, Avatar Country debuted at #2 Indie, #4 Hard Music, #8 Rock, and #25 on the Billboard 200 Chart and gathering support from Loudwire, Revolver, Metal Hammer, Metal Injection, Rock Sound, Alternative Press, New Noise and many more for their music and storytelling ability.
In 2019, AVATAR reunited with producer Jay Ruston (Stone Sour, Anthrax) at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles, California, where the foundation for each song on Hunter Gatherer was laid with the band performing altogether, as they’d done only once before, on Hail the Apocalypse (2014). The old-school method of playing as one in the studio, more akin to how they are on stage, captured the essence of AVATAR. Recorded entirely to two-inch tape, Hunter Gatherer exhibits everything that makes AVATAR standouts in the vast, rich landscape of heavy metal’s past and present.
Through ambitious compositions and vibrant visual storytelling AVATAR seamlessly blurs the line between sights and sounds. AVATAR songs are new anthems for the ages, precision heat-seeking missiles targeting a cultural landscape ready for fresh songs to champion from a band with a giant persona to rally behind. The AVATAR experience is challenging, daring, and altogether captivating.
