Avatar have debuted yet another visually sunning music video, for their track "The Eagle Has Landed”. Directed by longtime collaborator Johan Carlén, this is the first official music video we've seen from the band off their forthcoming LP.

Vocalist Johannes Eckerström explains: "During the past few months I've ended up saying "this is our most ambitious work to date" quite a bit, but this one takes the cake. While still keeping it in the family we've created yet a new universe for everyone to get immersed in. A fable is a metaphor to explore the human condition and we've taken it one step further, zooming in on one song and what it has to say in and out of itself beyond the frames of the concept of Feathers & Flesh."

This is the story of five conmen traveling around the land, selling their snake oil to the easily persuaded people of the soil. Often when we want karma to bite someone's ass the most, they always seem to get away. It was fun to play the bad guy for once. I think the visuals and our treatment of the classic one take-concept speaks for itself. This is one of those you'll want to watch over and over again. I know I'm already doing just that. Enjoy!"

Avatar will release their very first concept album Feathers & Flesh, on Friday, May 13th via Entertainment One (eOne) in North America and Canada and Another Century overseas. The new release will be the band's highly anticipated follow-up to Hail The Apocalypse released in 2014, which cracked the Billboard Top 200 for the first time in the band's career.

The aim is set higher, further and deeper than ever before for Avatar. Not only is this concept album their most extensive work to date, showing the widest range of any of their albums, it also contains a story too extensive for any booklet, so they made a book. A fully illustrated 60 page, 109 verse poem hardcover book. The physical album pre-order, book, and exclusive merchandise is available directly from the band. Click here to preview.

Feathers & Flesh was recorded in Germany, Finland and Sweden in December 2015 with producer extraordinaire Sylvia Massy (Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers).

“Avatar is an amazing band,” said Massy, adding, “The singer has the wild energy and charisma I love, and the players are relentless. The album we’re making is an epic. Each song powerfully stands on it’s own, but is only a piece of a larger story. This album is the project I’ve been dreaming about for years!”

The music is as always, rooted in the extreme, with plenty of melodic sensibility and a lust for experimentation. There is a love for intense double bass drumming, riffing and shredding of timeless dimensions alongside rough edges, slow grooves and epic storytelling for the ages. The idea is that as the band digs deeper, the fists will be held up higher. The end result is a modern metal album with all the ruthlessness and power one could ask for handled with a loving songwriter’s hand, inspired by The Beatles and Queen.

Avatar have developed quite the reputation for touring the US harder than even some of their American counterparts. Most notably, the band has grown well known for their epic performances in the US festival market. After their memorable performance at Rock on the Range 2014, a first for the band, it shows no signs of stopping. Avatar will return to Rock On The Range, Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Rocklahoma and River City Rockfest in 2016. They will also be performing at Download UK this summer. All tour dates listed here.

Tracklisting:

“Regret”
“House Of Eternal Hunt”
“The Eagle Has Landed”
“New Land”
“Tooth, Beak & Claw”
“For The Swarm”
“Fiddler's Farewell”
“One More Hill”
“Black Waters”
“Night Never Ending”
“Pray The Sun Away”
“When The Snow Lies Red”
“Raven Wine”
“Sky Burial”

"Tooth, Beak & Claw” art video:

“The Eagle Has Landed”:

“Regret” and “House Of The Eternal Hunt”:

“For The Swarm” video: