The up-and-coming alternative group Avalon strives to make metal-infused music true to them with a mix of grunge and hardcore metal and an early 2000s feel. From their punk-angsty mixture of guitar and drums to their raw and loud vocals, Avalon crafts a new take on the age-old rock genre.
Based in northwest Ohio, four members make up Avalon: Orlando (bass and lead singer), Cameron (lead guitar), Finn (rhythm guitar) and Ben (drums).
An introduction at their old high school proved to be Avalon’s catalyst.
“Before we met Ben and Finn, me and Cam had been doing a duo-acoustic type thing … just having fun,” Orlando said. “Then we met them at our old high school’s show choir showcase… one of our friends’ girlfriends introduced us and we started jamming.”
While they work to create their own personal sound as a band, Avalon’s members certainly take some inspiration from others that came before them, though not all from the same place.
“My biggest inspiration … I would say a lot of 90s music. like Soundgarden, Nirvana,” said Orlando.
“But I am also a really big fan of Steve Vai and I try to put some of his style in my playing,” said Cameron.
“I take a lot of inspiration from heavy 80s music, heavy 80s metal,” said Finn.
Ben, on the other hand, takes a more broad approach when it comes to inspiration, looking at foundational genres and mixing them up.
“I don’t take inspiration from one person or genre specifically,” Ben said. “I just like to take genres as a whole, like jazz or metal, and try and put it all together into something I think sounds good.”
Bring Me The Horizon’s “Sempiternal” inspired their homegrown visual look.
“I was just sketching it out on paper, it was really bumpy but I was trying my best,” Orlandos said. ” It’s just sacred geometry.”
Their Live and Loud set featured three songs – “Neurotic”, “Sirens” and “Curls” – with each tune carrying a deep meaning, making it clear these artists put time and work into their craft.
“ ‘Neurotic’ is about trying to find the reason you are not feeling right. Blaming it on external things, when it is usually because of something wrong with yourself,” Orlando said. ” ‘Sirens’ I wrote about the things happening around us in the world. The problem in Palestine is what inspired me. There are children that are suffering all over the world, it just really hurts to see. ‘Curls’ I wrote for my mom, how things that affect you in your childhood can bleed into adulthood and hurt those you love even if you don’t mean to.”
Currently working on new music, Avalon plans to put out an EP soon, and will be play shows around Ohio this summer.
To get more information, check out their instagram @avalonbandofficial.
