AVATAR's JOHANNES ECKERSTRÖM Talks To BROKEN NECK RADIO At ROCK ON THE RANGE (Audio)

May 23, 2014

DJ Insanity of Broken Neck Radio conducted an interview with vocalist Johannes Eckerström of Swedish metallers AVATAR at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which was held May 16-18 at the Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now listen to the chat below.

AVATAR's new album, "Hail The Apocalypse", sold around 3,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 97 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released in North America on May 13 via eOne Music, the CD was recorded in Karma Sound Studios, Bang Saray, Thailand, mixed by Jay Ruston (STONE SOUR, ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER) and mastered by Paul Logus (VOLBEAT, CLUTCH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE).

AVATAR is described by many as a perfect mix between RAMMSTEIN, ALICE COOPER and SYSTEM OF A DOWN — something the band has now developed further with the video for "Hail The Apocalypse".

"Hail The Apocalypse" track listing:

01. Hail The Apocalypse
02. What I Don't Know
03. Death Of Sound
04. Vultures Fly
05. Bloody Angel
06. Murderer
07. Tsar Bomba
08. Puppet Show
09. Get In Line
10. Something In the Way
11. Tower

The visually stimulating "Hail The Apocalypse" album cover can be seen below. It vividly depicts the band steering their ship through a storm on the open sea with the apocalypse happening all around them. They're facing it, riding the waves and taking on whatever comes their way. To the band, it symbolizes the time in the darkness that made these songs.

Eckerström comments on the "Hail The Apocalypse" video, which can be seen below: "This is our best video to date. I play your friendly neighborhood doomsday prophet. You get to follow me facing the unbelievers and their reactions when chaos ensues. Good times all around and we are using some really amazing special effects to blow up the planet. Oh, and it's done like a silent movie."

AVATAR gained much attention when it comes to its creativity in videos, which are always produced by the bandmembers themselves.

Since the release of the band's last CD, "Black Waltz", AVATAR has had massive success all over the world. The singles "Smells Like A Freakshow" and "Let It Burn" peaked on No. 26 on U.S. commercial rock radio charts, where they also stayed for several weeks well ahead of more established bands in the scene. This was followed by extensive and successful U.S. tours.

The biggest break through came when AVENGED SEVENFOLD personally picked AVATAR as support band on their sold-out arena tour in Europe late 2013. AVATAR got a reception far beyond expected by the crowds, which resulted in bookings on high-profile festivals such as Download festival and Rock On The Range in 2014, among own headline dates.

AVATAR is:

Johannes Michael Gustaf Eckerström - Vocals
John Alfredsson - Drums
Kungen - Guitar
Tim Öhrstrom - Guitar
Henrik Sandelin - Bass

"Bloody Angel" video:

"Hail The Apocalypse" (song) video:

avatarhailcd_638

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