Feathers & Flesh

Last updated

Feathers & Flesh
Avatar Feather & Flesh cover.jpg
Studio album by
Avatar
Released13 May 2016
RecordedCastle Studios Röhrsdorf, Germany
Suomenlinnan Studio Helsinki, Finland
Spinroad Studios Lindome, Sweden
Genre
Length67:51
Label Entertainment One
Producer Sylvia Massy
Avatar chronology
Hail the Apocalypse
(2014)		Feathers & Flesh
(2016)		 Avatar Country
(2018)
Singles from Feathers & Flesh
  1. "For the Swarm"
    Released: 3 March 2016
  2. "Regret"
    Released: 17 March 2016
  3. "House of Eternal Hunt"
    Released: 17 March 2016
  4. "The Eagle Has Landed"
    Released: 25 March 2016
  5. "Tooth, Beak & Claw"
    Released: 15 April 2016
  6. "Night Never Ending"
    Released: 2016
  7. "New Land"
    Released: 5 January 2017
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AntiHero MagazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Metalunderground5/5 [1]

Feathers & Flesh is the sixth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Avatar, released on 13 May 2016. A concept album, it is the story of an owl who goes to war against an eagle after the eagle threatens to bring the day and end the owl's reign.

Contents

Background

After 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. The band split their time between three European studios — Castle Studios in Rohrsdorf, Germany, Suomenlinnan Studio in Helsinki, Finland, and Spinroad Studios in Lindome, Sweden. Acclaimed producer Sylvia Massy, noted for her work with Tool and Red Hot Chili Peppers, praised Avatar as 'relentless', noting singer Johannes Eckerström as having 'wild energy and charisma'. Keyboard arrangements for the album were made by Aron Parmerud. The start of recording sessions also coincided with multiple updates via the band's Instagram account, chronicling their time in the studio. [3] Once recording finished, Avatar took part in Shiprocked 2016, then toured the southern United States with September Mourning and Saint Diablo. [4] [5] On 30 January 2016 in Dallas, Texas, Avatar performed the song For The Swarm, for the first time, the first original song since the release of their previous album. [6]

The February/March 2016 issue of Revolver interviewed Eckerström, who described the concept behind the latest album.

It's about this owl who goes to war against the world to prevent the sun from rising. It's a fable inspired by the work of the famous French fable writer Jean de La Fontaine, so the creatures in the fable represent a side of the human psyche or different behaviors. Something good or bad happens to them depending on what they do in the story, and at the end you learn some kind of lesson.

On 29 February 2016, Avatar began posting random images on their Instagram, referencing the date '3.3.16'. [7] The images turned out to be the cover art for the album when put together. Avatar further teased its fans to listen to SiriusXM's Octane at 4 pm on 2 March 2016. [8] This turned out to be the broadcast premier of For The Swarm. On 3 March 2016, Avatar revealed the name of the new album, Feathers & Flesh, as well as a release date of 13 May 2016 via their official website, and through social media. [9] [10] Several pre-ordering merchandise bundles were made available to order on 17 March 2016. One bundle offers a 60-page, 109-verse poem hardcover book described on the band's Facebook as 'a story too extensive for any booklet'. As an extra, the singles Regret and House of Eternal Hunt were released to coincide with pre-order availability. [11] Tour dates across North America featuring Wilson and Sunflower Dead were also announced.

Release and promotion

Avatar released a music video for the single, "For the Swarm" on 3 March 2016. Directed by longtime collaborator Johan Carlén, it features the band on a series of cubes, rotating and floating through the air, showcasing their unique apparel. [12] The video was voted number 1 in Loudwire's Battle Royale for the week ending 11 March 2016. [13]

On 17 March 2016, the singles "Regret" and "House of Eternal Hunt" were released to help kick off pre-ordering of merchandise bundles for Feathers & Flesh. A video directed by Johan Carlén was released featuring the two songs playing sequentially as the view pans around a darkened art gallery, with many paintings of birds, primarily owls, mirroring some of the artwork that the band has created for the individual songs on their album. "Regret", as the opening track on the album, is described by the band as "an intense journey through epicness" and, "...by far the most different album intro [we have] ever written." The song introduces 'The Owl', the protagonist of the album as she lays dying, reflecting on her past. "House of Eternal Hunt", described by the band as "the definition of metal", starts the tale of The Owl, a "predator ruling the sky" according to Eckerström. [14]

The first 'official' single, "The Eagle Has Landed", was released 25 March 2016. As with the previously released singles, the track was an instant gratification reward for pre-ordering Feathers & Flesh. [15] The official music video for the track was released 9 May 2016. In the video, Avatar are shown as the makers of a miracle tonic, with Eckerström as the salesman. He sells his tonic to three unwitting victims: a farmer unable to reach the last apple at the top of a tree, a former bodybuilder sick with old age, and a young man trying to offer his heart to a young girl. The tonic proves successful, however with tragic side effects. The farmer's arms grow to more than twice their normal length, the old man regains his strength however he is plagued with horrible sores and wounds, and the young man literally offers his heart to his beloved by cutting it out of his chest. The victims get together and ambush Eckerström. Before he meets his demise however, The Eagle appears in a flash of lightning, scaring off his would be killers. Moments later, it is revealed The Eagle was actually the other members of Avatar. [16] [17]

"Tooth, Beak & Claw" was released on 15 April 2016, Eckerström described the song as "...The Beach Boys reporting in from Valhalla. It's a gang of zombie surfers riding the waves of Hades." [18] Introducing 'The Eyes', they "represent all of us at our most fierce and dangerous, ready to fight blindly and full of rage for a cause we may not even fully understand." Eckerström used shifting vocal styles for this song, while Loudwire described the guitars as "riffing aplenty". [19] Those who pre-ordered Feathers & Flesh received the song for free.

A video for "Night Never Ending" was released on 3 October 2016. Directed by Johan Carlén, singer Johannes Eckerström noted the song as a "fragile message of hope and fighting spirit" while calling it a "a prelude to a tragedy", as well as "probably the most upbeat and, dare I say, happy piece we've ever released." [20] In the video, a young girl in a blue dress is being chased through a darkened forest by three childlike beings clad in white clothing and wearing animal masks: a bear, a wolf and a raven. At one point one of them removes their mask to reveal a decayed skull like face underneath. Meanwhile, two men with a bloodhound are shown in the bright of day, attempting to track something through the same woods. During the chase, one of the beings summons a large gust of wind which temporarily slows the two trackers. Back in the dark woods, the little girl coughs up water as the three gather around her. They present her with a small toy shown at the beginning of the video, as well as a mask of her own, an owl. Back in the light, the trackers come to a creek where they find the deceased body of the girl in the blue dress floating in the water. Wading into the water, one of the men, presumably her father, cradles the lifeless body in his arms as he wails into the sky. We then see the face of Johannes Eckerström, as all four children surround him. They all slowly turn and walk off into the darkness together as the video fades to black.

Another single, New Land, was released in 2017.

Track listing

All music is composed by Avatar. All lyrics are written by Avatar

No.TitleLength
1."Regret"2:01
2."House of Eternal Hunt"4:58
3."The Eagle Has Landed"5:01
4."New Land"4:31
5."Tooth, Beak & Claw"4:25
6."For the Swarm"1:54
7."Fiddler's Farewell"4:57
8."One More Hill"4:13
9."Black Waters"5:38
10."Night Never Ending"3:32
11."Pray the Sun Away"5:30
12."When the Snow Lies Red"5:16
13."Raven Wine"4:36
14."Sky Burial"6:54
Total length:63:26
Deluxe Edition
No.TitleLength
15."I've Got Something in My Front Pocket for You" (South Park cover)1:17
16."Det Är Alldeles Försent" (It's Far Too Late)3:08
Total length:67:51

Personnel

Avatar

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [21] 135
US Billboard 200 [22] 88

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arch Enemy</span> Swedish melodic death metal band

Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup from Halmstad, formed in 1995. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, The Agonist, Nevermore, and Eucharist. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan Liiva, who were both originally from the death metal band Carnage. The band has released eleven studio albums, three live albums, three video albums and four EPs. The band was originally fronted by Johan Liiva, who was replaced by German vocalist Angela Gossow in 2000. Gossow left the band in March 2014 to become the group's manager and was replaced by Canadian vocalist Alissa White-Gluz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Label Society</span> American heavy metal band

Black Label Society is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1998 by guitarist/singer Zakk Wylde. To date, the band has released eleven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avenged Sevenfold</span> American heavy metal band

Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ, and drummer Brooks Wackerman.

<i>Waking the Fallen</i> 2003 studio album by Avenged Sevenfold

Waking the Fallen is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, released on August 26, 2003, through Hopeless Records. It is the band's first full-length album with new lead guitarist Synyster Gates and bassist Johnny Christ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cult of Luna</span> Swedish post-metal band

Cult of Luna is a Swedish post-metal band from Umeå founded in 1998. They are known for post-metal music similar to the contemporary bands Neurosis and Isis. The band was signed to Earache Records in the early 2000s and released five albums, including the commercially successful albums Salvation (2004) and Somewhere Along the Highway (2006). After an extended period of inactivity, Cult of Luna returned with its Indie Recordings debut Vertikal (2013) and companion EP Vertikal II (2013), both drawing inspiration from Fritz Lang's 1927 film, Metropolis. In 2016 the band released their space-themed collaborative album, Mariner, featuring American vocalist Julie Christmas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In This Moment</span> American rock band

In This Moment is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed by singer Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth in 2005. They found drummer Jeff Fabb and started the band as Dying Star. Unhappy with their musical direction, they changed their name to In This Moment and gained two band members, guitarist Blake Bunzel and bassist Josh Newell. In 2005, bassist Newell left the band and was replaced by Jesse Landry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avatar (band)</span> Swedish heavy metal band

Avatar is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed in Mölndal, Gothenburg in 2001. The band has released nine studio albums, the most recent being Dance Devil Dance in 2023. The band has had some success on US rock radio, notably with their song "New Land", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in May 2017 and "The Dirt I'm Buried In" peaking at number 1 of the same chart in August 2023, making it the song with the longest journey to number 1 in the last 20 years.

<i>Black Waltz</i> 2012 studio album by Avatar

Black Waltz is the fourth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Avatar, released on 25 January 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alissa White-Gluz</span> Canadian singer

Alissa White-Gluz is a Canadian singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, and former lead vocalist and founding member of the Canadian metalcore band the Agonist. Her vocal style includes both growling and clean vocals (singing). Although primarily associated with melodic death metal and metalcore, she has appeared as a guest vocalist for power metal, symphonic metal and deathcore bands, notably Kamelot, Delain, Carnifex and Powerwolf, and has performed live with Nightwish and Tarja Turunen.

White Noise Owl is a rock supergroup composed of lead vocalist Pete Murray of Lo-Pro and Ultraspank, bassist John Fahnestock of Lo-Pro, Snot, and Amen, drummer Will Hunt of Evanescence and Dark New Day, and guitarist Chris Shy of Aurora Sky. Their debut EP, produced by Ben Grosse, Until We Meet Again, was released on March 11, 2014. After a series of delays, their debut full-length album, Condition Critical, is scheduled for release on November 1, 2019. The first single, "Something", was released on August 1, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorna Shore</span> American deathcore band

Lorna Shore is an American deathcore band formed in New Jersey in 2009. The group currently consists of lead guitarist Adam De Micco, drummer Austin Archey, rhythm guitarist Andrew O'Connor, vocalist Will Ramos, and bassist Michael Yager. The band is most known for their 2021 single "To the Hellfire". They have released four studio albums Psalms (2015), Flesh Coffin (2017), Immortal (2020), and Pain Remains (2022). The band has also released four EPs. Since 2017, no original members remain in the band.

Rivers of Nihil is an American technical death metal band from Reading, Pennsylvania. They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records. To date the band has released two EPs and four studio albums. Their most recent release is 2021's The Work. Their 2018 album Where Owls Know My Name debuted at number 61 on the Billboard 200, selling 2,750 copies in its first week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonic Breed</span> Norwegian heavy metal band

Tonic Breed is a Norwegian thrash and heavy metal one-man music project by Patrik K. Svendsen. Until 2019, Tonic Breed was originally a four-piece band, established in Sarpsborg, Norway, in 2006. As of 2022, Tonic Breed has released three albums, and one EP. The latest release, Fuel the Fire, involves multiple guest artists as part of a re-branding of the concept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Asonia</span> Canadian-American rock supergroup

Saint Asonia is a Canadian-American rock supergroup consisting of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Gontier, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Cale Gontier, and drummer Cody Watkins. In 2017, the band's original drummer, Rich Beddoe, left the band and was replaced by Mushok's Staind bandmate Sal Giancarelli, and one year later bassist and backing vocalist Corey Lowery left the band to join Seether and his place was taken by Gontier's cousin Cale Gontier. The band formed in Toronto, Canada in 2015 after Gontier's departure from Three Days Grace in 2013. Their second studio album, titled Flawed Design, was released on October 25, 2019. On January 26, 2020, Art of Dying drummer Cody Watkins became the new drummer for Saint Asonia replacing Sal Giancarelli.

"New Land" is a single by Swedish heavy metal band Avatar off their sixth studio album Feathers & Flesh. It peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2017.

The Eagle Has Landed may refer to:

<i>Avatar Country</i> 2018 studio album by Avatar

Avatar Country is the seventh studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Avatar, released on 12 January 2018. It is a concept album.

<i>Condition Critical</i> (White Noise Owl album) 2019 studio album by White Noise Owl

Condition Critical is the debut full-length studio album by American rock band White Noise Owl. Initially due shortly after their debut EP Until We Meet Again, the release saw multiple delays before receiving its final release date, November 1, 2019. The album's first single, "Something, was released over two years prior to the album release, on August 1, 2017. The second single, "Maybe It's Time", was released in October 2019.

<i>Hunter Gatherer</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Avatar

Hunter Gatherer is the eighth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Avatar, released on 7 August 2020.

<i>Dance Devil Dance</i> 2023 studio album by Avatar

Dance Devil Dance is the ninth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Avatar. The album was released on 17 February 2023 through Thirty Tigers. It was self-produced by the band and Jay Ruston.

References

  1. 1 2 "Avatar – Feathers & Flesh". Metalunderground. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  2. ↑ Shatkowski, Randy (11 April 2016). "Album Review: AVATAR – Feathers & Flesh". antiheromagazine.com. AntiHero Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Avatar Begin Recording for 2016 Studio Album". Loudwire.com. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Avatar, September Mourning, and Saint Diablo U.S. tour dates". metalnerd.net. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "ShipRocked 2016 – Day 2: Seether, Hellyeah, Avatar + More". Loudwire.com. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Avatar Perform New Song "For The Swarm" Live". metalanarchy.com. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Avatar Official Instagram". instagram.com. 2 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Avatar Official Facebook". facebook.com. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Avatar Official Website". avatarmetal.com. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Avatar Announce 'Feathers and Flesh' Album Details + 'For the Swarm' Music Video". loudwire.com. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Go Through AVATAR's "Regret" And "House Of Eternal Hunt" Picture By Picture". metalinjection.net. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Avatar Announce 'Feathers and Flesh' Album Details + 'For the Swarm' Music Video". loudwire.com. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Battle Royale: Avatar + Silvertung Crash Video Countdown". loudwire.com. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Avatar Unveil 'Regret' and 'House of Eternal Hunt' From 'Feathers & Flesh' Album". loudwire.com. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Avatar Reveal New Single 'The Eagle Has Landed'". loudwire.com. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "AVATAR Releases 'The Eagle Has Landed' Music Video". blabbermouth.net. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  17. ↑ "Avatar Unveil 'The Eagle Has Landed' Video". loudwife.com. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  18. ↑ "Avatar, 'Tooth, Beak & Claw' – Exclusive Song Premiere". loudwire.net. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "AVATAR: New Song 'Tooth, Beak & Claw' Available For Streaming". blabbermouth.net. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "AVATAR Releases 'Night Never Ending' Video". blabbermouth.net. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Avatar – Feathers & Flesh" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  22. ↑ "Avatar Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.