Avatar

Holy crap, kids - it's Avatar today.  Avatar is a bundle of contradictions; I don't understand Avatar, and I don't care.  The name seems to have no relation to the band's image or lyric content, but it looks and sounds cool (and admittedly, is a sort of nebulous buzzword of late); the guys look like they use Marilyn Manson's makeup artist and tailor, but their sound is often (but kindof only half the time) squarely under melodic death metal; and while they're based in Gothenburg, Sweden, not only do they not sound like a Gothenburg band (think In Flames), but listening to them is like listening to some guys who love classic American metal artists and can't decide which one to sound like.  Somehow, they make all of this REALLY WORK.  Enough trying to put into words what must be experienced.  Geez, I'm a little giddy - I've been diggin' on this band for a couple of weeks, and I don't know what to play for you first; wait, no, it turns out I DO know what to play first: it's "Let It Burn" - CRANK IT!