Feathers & Flesh (2016−2017) Īfter several tours supporting 2014's Hail the Apocalypse, Avatar entered the studio in December 2015 to begin recording a then unnamed follow-up studio album. Towards the end of 2015, it was announced Avatar would be scheduled to appear at several festivals in 2016, to include Rock on the Range and Carolina Rebellion. Sylvia Massy was announced as producer of that album, which was then recorded in three studios across Europe. for another headline tour in August–September 2015 with Gemini Syndrome and First Decree, and in January–February 2016 with September Mourning prior to returning to Sweden to complete writing on the follow up to Hail The Apocalypse. On it was announced that Avatar would be included in the lineup of Shiprocked 2016. tour in April 2015 consisting of headline performances, and supporting Five Finger Death Punch and Mushroomhead. The music video for 'Vultures Fly' premiered on 26 January 2015 and earned distinction by being voted #1 for five weeks in a row in Loudwire's Battle Royal video countdown, as well as their 2015 Best Rock Video. and Europe as both a supporting and headline act, as well as performing at festivals such as Rock on the Range 2014 and the inaugural Louder Than Life. Since the release of Hail the Apocalypse, Avatar has conducted several tours of the U.S. The new album is produced by Tobias Lindell and mixed by Jay Ruston. The album's first single, the title track, was released 17 March 2014 and was accompanied by a video. On 11 March 2014 it was announced that Avatar's fifth album would be titled Hail the Apocalypse and was released via eOne Music. The following fall, the band spent a month in Thailand recording for a new album, planned for release in March 2014. In August 2013, after the wife of Device and Disturbed vocalist David Draiman gave birth and Draiman opted to bow out of his tour schedule, Avatar was picked by Avenged Sevenfold to replace Device and continue to tour with them and Five Finger Death Punch. tour alongside Lacuna Coil and Sevendust in February 2013. To support the American release of Black Waltz, Avatar embarked on its first ever U.S. Black Waltz marks the first appearance of the "Clown" face paint now worn regularly by Eckerström. The album was released in the US on 14 February. It reached position 25 on the album list in Avatar's native Sweden. On 25 January 2012 the album Black Waltz was released in Europe.
In December 2011 guitarist Simon Andersson left the band, being replaced by Tim Öhrström. Vocalist Johannes Eckerström performing at Bloodstock Open Air 2014 They then launched into an ambitious touring schedule appearing at the 2010 Storsjöyran, and also with Warrior Soul (March - April 2010), Dark Tranquillity (October–November 2010), and Helloween (December 2010-January 2011).īlack Waltz and Hail the Apocalypse (2011−2015) In April of the same year a deal was signed with the Japanese label Art Union, for a 19 May launch of the album. Around that time, the band signed with Sony Music for the German and Swiss release of their latest album on 26 March 2010. In January 2010 the music video for the song "Queen of Blades" was released on the band's website. The band's third album, the self-titled Avatar, was released in Sweden in November 2009 and reached the 36th position on the national album chart. The subsequent set of tours saw them perform at the 2008 Sweden Rock Festival as well as shows in support of Obituary (January–February 2008), and Hardcore Superstar (October–November 2009). Björn Gelotte from In Flames contributed a guitar solo on the track "Letters From Neverend". Īvatar's second album, Schlacht, was released on 24 October 2007, reaching spot 27 on the Swedish album chart. The band completed several European tours as a supporting act for Impaled Nazarene, Evergrey, and In Flames. Avatar's first studio album, Thoughts of No Tomorrow, was released on 25 January 2006 and peaked at #47 on the Sweden Albums Top 60. After several lineup changes, the band released two four-song EP demos in 2004: Personal Observations released on 18 January 2004 and 4 Reasons to Die on 19 November 2004. The band was formed in 2001 by drummer John Alfredsson and guitarist Jonas Jarlsby, who at the time were in separate bands. History Formation and early releases (2001−2010) 1.5 Hunter Gatherer and next album (2020−present).1.2 Black Waltz and Hail the Apocalypse (2011−2015).