Beware of the clown! On the heels of the release of a handful of new songs, Swedish metal masters Avatar (guitarist Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby, drummer John Alfredsson, vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarist Tim Öhrström, and bassist Henrik Sandelin) unleash their anticipated tenth album, Don’t Go In The Forest, on Halloween. True to form, Avatar’s latest effort is haunting, genre-bending, and a hell of a lot of fun.
If Avatar had a mission statement, it might say, “Never make the same album twice.” True to that approach, Don’t Go in the Forest is a step forward from 2023’s Dance Devil Dance. On that album, the lead-off track “Dance Devil Dance” set an ominous tone for the rest of that carnival ride as a danceable, devilish metal album. In 2025, “Tonight We Must Be Warriors” begins with flute and military-style drums, evolving into a fist-pumping power metal anthem. It’s a rallying cry to the listener, urging us to be brave as we journey into the dark forest of taboos.
Other singles have already provided tastes of the album’s eclectic sound. The catchy, growly, thrashy “In the Airwaves” is a return to “speed,” and I can already see the mosh pits that are sure to break out on club floors. “Death and Glitz” is glam and danceable—it would not have been out of place on Dance Devil Dance. But instead of the devil, the song takes aim at society’s fascination with true crime. The phrase “tragedy with tits” is likely to be written across chests at every Avatar show from now until the end of time.
“Captain Goat” is a sea shanty for chrissakes and is already a fan favorite, with affections fueled by a video featuring a Black Philip-looking sea captain and bassist Sandelin as a merman. Is it weird? Yes. Is it weird even for Avatar? No.
The rest of the album has gems yet to be mined. The title track, “Don’t Go in the Forest,” is a straightforward rock track that illustrates the album’s theme of venturing into the unknown. “Dead and Gone and Back Again” tackles loss and renewal, and “Take This Heart and Burn It” is a blistering anthem fueled by raw emotion.
“Howling at the Waves” acts as the emotional center of the album. Featuring Johannes Eckerström on piano, it serves as a reminder to the listener that we must be strong, overcome obstacles, and be the warriors that the lead-off track instructed us to be. Will it supplant the iconic “Tower” in the live show? Who knows, but it packs a similar emotional punch.
I’ve listened to Don’t Go In The Forest close to a dozen times over the last week; with each spin, I like the whole thing a little bit more. Highlights for me include “Abduction Song.” It has a great groove to it, with a fantastic chorus and kick ass guitar solo. “Come out and play with us.” Hell yeah, don’t mind if I do. Like “On the Beach” from Dance Devil Dance, “Abduction Song” will be the track I yearn to hear live.
“Magic Lantern” is the last track of the album and a personal favorite. A known Avatar fan, I had the pleasure of joining the band’s album listening session last Friday at their Avatar Country website. Fans who tuned in made many comments about the hazy sound of this song, making comparisons to bands like Dream Theater and Alice in Chains.
Avatar is not for people who expect metal artists to sound like any one thing. This band’s willingness to embrace risk is something consistent about them and is evident throughout Don’t Go In The Forest. In less capable hands, the genre-bending, occasional silliness, and circus imagery could cross the line into goofiness. With their tenth album, Avatar has mastered the need to balance image with the need to deliver on substance. So, while ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’ isn’t a carbon copy of previous albums, the skilled ability to explore dark psychological themes, fear, and resilience is all there. Shout out to producer Jay Ruston for knocking it out of the park again.
Avatar kicks off their North American tour with a bang—an arena show in Mexico City on Halloween. The freakshow hits the US in Phoenix on November 5 and wraps up in Dallas on December 7. Bring on the circus.
