Avatar build their vast universe on a few very simple principals. All great metal is created by understanding that the riff is king and that the riff is groove. Whether it's a blast beat or a back beat, you need to understand the vessel in which your riff will be carried. Once it takes off, all you need to do is follow. Let the music play you. This is how it's supposed to be. Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden the lads grew up in the eye of a storm of local musicians made up of metal greats and legends who conquered the world and redrew the map of heavy metal on a monthly basis. This was the measuring stick, and the group have proudly taken on the challenge ever since. Helmed by the Swedish Grammy award winning producer Tobias Lindell (Europe, Hardcore Superstar, Mustasch), their name making 2012 debut, Black Waltz is available on vinyl for the first time. "Our take on playing in a band is that it's concept art," says vocalist Johannes Eckerström. "Everything has to carry the same idea and emotion. You have to be able to see what it sounds like, hear what it smells like and read how it feels."