Avatar has always been a band that creates worlds. Since their early days in Gothenburg’s metal scene, they’ve blurred the line between theater, madness, and groove-driven metal — and their new album, Don’t Go in the Forest, is another bold invitation into their strange, glittering darkness.
From the first track, “Tonight We Must Be Warriors,” the record feels like stepping into a twisted fairytale — heavy, dramatic, and strangely human. Avatar have always known how to balance aggression with absurdity, but this time, it feels more personal. There’s something deeper behind the masks, like they’re not just putting on a show anymore; they’re letting you peek behind the curtains of their circus.
Musically, it’s everything you’d expect and more — heavy, melodic, and full of surprises. “In the Airwaves” brings back their fast and fierce side, while “Death and Glitz” dances between swagger and chaos in the best way possible. The title track, Don’t Go in the Forest, ties it all together — it’s cinematic, darkly beautiful, and somehow comforting in its weirdness.
Johannes Eckerström delivers one of his most emotional vocal performances to date. He screams, croons, whispers — sometimes all in one song. You can feel the theatrical weight, but also a raw vulnerability that makes this album hit harder. The whole thing sounds massive — the guitars bite, the drums hit like thunder, and the production wraps it all in that unmistakable Avatar atmosphere.
As someone who lives for live music and has photographed countless shows, I can already imagine what these songs will do on stage — the lights, the makeup, the chaos, the movement. Don’t Go in the Forest feels made for that — not just to be heard, but to be experienced.
If you’ve followed Avatar through their evolution, this album is a perfect next step — darker, braver, and more cinematic than ever. And if you’re just discovering them, welcome to the carnival.
🎪 Listen to Don’t Go in the Forest and grab their merch here.
LIST OF SONGS:
- Tonight We Must Be Warriors
- In the Airwaves
- Captain Goat
- Don’t Go in the Forest
- Death And Glitz
- Abduction Song
- Howling At the Waves
- Dead and Gone and Back Again
- Take This Heart and Burn It
- Magic Lantern
