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Avatar announce new album, Don’t Go In The Forest

“It can’t be just another album. We need to discover something, try something else…” Avatar will, fittingly, release their new record on Halloween.

Avatar announce new album, Don’t Go In The Forest
Words:
Emily Garner
Photo:
Johan Carlén

Avatar have announced a brand-new album, Don’t Go In The Forest.

Due out on October 31 (obvs), the record hears the band – vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin and drummer John Alfredsson – taking things further than ever before, as demonstrated on lead single Tonight We Must Be Warriors.

“It has become a necessity to me over the years to be able to answer one question: ‘Why is this important?’ It can’t be just another album,” stresses Johannes. “We need to discover something, try something else. It has to come from the heart. What is being said matters.

“In days of isolation and despair, maybe we need to be reminded that we are not alone? We are one of many. Maybe we also need a reminder that the burden is on our shoulders? To get it done, we need to do the fighting ourselves. In our shared pain, we find solidarity.”

Elaborating further, the singer shares: “The secret ingredient is that we still feel like we’re just getting started. Don’t Go In The Forest is an album filled to the brim with stuff we’ve never done before. It’s all songs and concepts we haven’t been close to touch until now. The mind is wild and we have lost ourselves in the darkest woods, filled with memories, and fantasies. Forbidden thoughts that must be spoken.

“It would have been impossible to make this album at any other time than now. That’s all we ever wanted, and I think you’ll find it’s all you ever wanted too.”

Check out Tonight We Must Be Warriors below:

Catch Avatar on their 2026 UK and European headline tour, as well as supporting Metallica in the summer.

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