This Avatar's Eagle Soars High On Heavy Metal Wings

In the mood for fresh brewed Swedish metal? Don't let the opening notes of Avatar's "The Eagle Has Landed" throw you for a loop. Behind this wheel are some superb production values which include a hint of Cookie Monster vocals that don't obscure lead vocalist Johannes Eckerstrom's fine tuned delivery. At first you think you're getting mainstream friendly hard rock but, not exactly. Get set for swashbuckling lunacy. The drumming's top notch, a tip of the hat to you John Alfredsson, You can do guns blazing bashing one minute and send us back to the glam '80s the next. If the video is any indication lunacy in liberal doses is there to be downed whole by all concerned. The shot of Johannes holding a recently deadened heart, while decidedly gross, captures the take it in stride humor Avatar looks prepared to dish out to us. What isn't palate appeasing about this laugh worthy oddball. At the four minute mark guitarist in residence Jonas "Kruger" Jarlsby does what any self-respecting fret worker has to...back away from the recent memory of the lightning sharp bridge and have the sense to turn it down a few notches to catch one's breath after what's been a blissful backstage pass into the core of weirdness. Bass player Henrik Sandlein lays his riffs down nice and easy so we can indulge in each delectable morsel. Lyrics reveal Jonas isn't quite right upstairs. The yarn spinner revels in unraveling his tale, doing so pearly whites out for our approval. "Come see up close at the feat of king. I am as I was as I will be. Look at the smoke can you hear me a-screaming. God of above, is beneath me." That's the tip of the iceberg so far as harmony hilarity goes. The third stanza unfurls overblown to the degree where parody would be considered a mandatory next step. Behold the lines: "Ladies and gentlemen, your hero has returned again. Everything is going to be okay-ay-ay. Ladies and gentlemen, your shepherd and your very best friend bow your head and let us in." That's a wish easily granted given the nifty company we're keeping. Avatar appears fully aware that subtlety doesn't reside anywhere close to their wheelhouse. Let 'em loose on behalf of Viking helmet guitar showmanship and the rest likely will fall into place nicely. Johannes loves being silly to the highest order. See his puss in the video? There's no place he'd rather be than on set hamming it up like he's merely being asked to don his second authentic skin. Much of "The Eagle Has Landed" gets used in service of setting an impenetrable mood. The cast of this motley crew have their respective instruments tuned up and armed for bear. Would you like spectacle alongside your melodic death metal? Good choice I say, Who wouldn't embrace the sensation? Your little ones, should they wander into the room, could get nightmares if they venture too close, so be careful. Long story short "The Eagle Has Landed" flies to wicked heights of loose-jointed fancy. Clear your schedule for takeoff.