AVATAR

Comets on Fire strikes gold again with Avatar, two years after the epic Blue Cathedral. Their sound changes yet again, though its a much more drastic change than we're used to. The band sounds very different from the chaotic energetic sound that was so prevalent on Blue Cathedral and previous releases. However they sound just as good, maybe even better than they did then. Despite the change in sound, they don't lose the atmosphere they created on Blue Cathedral. One of the greatest things about the change in sound is that at the core they still manage to sound like Comets on Fire.

Dogwood Rust is a great opener, it sounds as if it starts out in the middle of the song displaying great energy right away. The dual guitars of Ethan Miller and Ben Chasny introduced on Blue Cathedral sound fantastic and jam throughout the track in all their bluesy glory. Noel von Harmonson joins in with his signature echoplex (he'll showcase his piano talents again as well), but its presence is different on this album. Instead of towering over the rest of the music as it did on previous releases, it is much quieter here and fits in with the other instruments well (with the exception of Holy Teeth). Halfway through the song the tempo slows down and the rhythm section delivers a pounding beat that carries the rest of the song to its finish.

The absence of the menacing sonic walls and electronic effects caused me to notice other great talents the band has to offer when listening to Avatar. For example, Utrillo Kushner's drumming carries these tunes as well as one could ask for. He was great on their previous releases, but here the drumming is very noticeable and one of the strongest points of this future classic album. Absolutely superb. Another thing is the vocal talent of Ethan Miller. They've always sounded distorted or reverberated on other releases, but here they sound much more natural. Especially on quieter tracks like Lucifer's Memory and Hatched Upon the Age they've never sounded better.

Any of the songs featuring Noel von Harmonson's piano playing create an exotic sense of beauty exclusive to Comets on Fire, especially in the strikingly unique and atmospheric Sour Smoke. Holy Teeth with its loud echoplex and noisy guitars does seem to sound a bit out of place on this album, though to me it sounds like a nod to their early garage punk days. But with an updated more progressive edge to it.

When it comes to prog the songwriting is very similar to that of Blue Cathedral, which is great as its very present there. It should satisfy the appetite of even those with a strict textbook definition of prog. It has the tempo changes and extended structures associated with progressive rock, all the while holding a fresh and unique sound.

Recommended to everyone really, fans of harder space rock and bluesy hard rock will certainly not be disappointed.

So much passion, so much energy, so much focus...these are just some of the things that were going around in my head when listening to this album first time around, and not forced sounding energy, a real burning fire.

This (ladies and gentlemen) is Comets on Fire's forth album Avatar, now i never heard this band until this album, and it really made me want to buy and explore more of their music. Starting out as a noise rock band the band seemed to quickly move away into the more psychedelic, stoner progressive rock aproach and this is the album were they really take it and make it their own, there are shades of The (Jimi Hendrix) Experience, Cream, theres even shades of The Beatles on this release, all pulled off with percision. Standout tracks on this album include the very ballady (the Beatles influence on the album) LUCIFER'S MEMORY, the very jazzy outro HATCHED UPON THE AGE and the two opening tracks both sounding like Hendrix himself ripping up a modern storm DOGWOOD RUST and JAYBIRD

Production wise its fantastic theres some brilliant drums on this album and the guitars have this raw fuzz to them that you only really seem to hear on psychedelic rock albums the bass has some nice low end to it as well and is played fantastically and the vocals are top notch too;

Dogwood Rust - 10/10 Jaybird - 9/10 Lucifer's Memory - 10/10 The Swallow's Eye - 7/10 Holy Teeth - 7/10 Sour Smoke - 8/10 Hatched Upon the Age - 9/10

My Conclusion? although its a great album,its not perfect, but nevertheless a worthy album to any prog fan's cd collection.

The sound these guys make is basically a psychadelic, experimental sound, reminiscent to the 70's, with elements of Jam bands like Phish, and a stoner vibe to, like Black Sabbath. So basically theirs alot of 70's in these guys.

But don't let all this fool you, because their is a cunningness behind their 70's skin, because their is great use of harmony, beautiful piano moments, an amazing vocalist and just some great proggy moment too.

The songs on the album seem quite lengthy, but to be honest, you kind of feel like their should be more, and their quite short. The songs really do have moments where anything can happen, and you'd be fine with listening to it, from noisy moments, to extended guitar solos, odd vocal passages, it really is interesting to hear.

Although I think the best songs on the album are the songs that sound more different. Their is 5 songs I absolutely love on this album, and its mainly because their so different than the other 2. I love it when the songs take on a more melodic touch, rather than just noisy psychadellia. These guys really can craft great songs, and really make something magical. Even in the jams, they take you on acid trips, and as background music, this works really well.

The musicianship is amazing too, with each member showing off whatever they can do on a chosen instrument, and some can even play several.

1. Dogwood Rust - Great how it just dives straight into the song. This sounds like Deep Purple jamming with Led Zeppelin, with Black Sabbath in the background. Great jamming in it, which really takes you on a psychadelic acid trip. 10/10

2. Jaybird - Nice laid back feel to the song. Great main riff. The song reminds me of Bad Company for some odd reason. The build up and the ending throughout is pretty cool too. 8/10

3. Lucifer's Memory - This song for some reason reminds me of Tom Waits, mainly because of the piano playing and the arrangement. The piano really does add beauty to this song. The guitar leeds are very pretty and interesting. One of the best songs on the album definitly. 10/10

4. The Swallow's Eye - The intro is very post rock. I love how the vocals are low in the mix and how noise is used to add depth. The jam at the end is cool too. 8/10

5. Holy Teeth - This song sounds like Boris (Japanese drone band). Very punky, and I love the vocals. Short and sweet really. 10/10

6. Sour Smoke - Just a great instrumental. I love that reptitive odd timed riff. This song also has quite a folky feel to it too, and at times sounds like Jethro Tull jamming with Wishbone Ash. For a long 8 minute instrumental, it really doesn't get boring, which is great because it puts Metallica to shame haha. 10/10

7. Hatching Upon The Age - Great piano riffs in the song. The vocals are the real highlight though, because they're amazing. One of the most catchiest song on the album, with a cool chorus. This is just an amazing end to a great album.

CONCLUSION: This album really suprised me. I never usually get really into bands like this, but these guys are something special. It's not perfect, but it is one great album.