Sully Erna
Avalon

' Do what you want without harming anyone.' This is one of the rules upon which the 'Wicca' cult is based, a neopagan religion that was born and developed in the 20th century, descending from esoteric cults related to witchcraft (wicca = witch).
The theological digression is essential to introduce this review, featuring Salvatore Paul 'Sully' Erna, not just the voice of Godsmack. Erna is a devout Wiccan, not a publicity stunt like Tom Cruise/Scientology, but a true practicing follower. Merging his diverse personality with his skills as a percussionist, drummer, harmonica player, and guitarist, his first solo work, "Avalon," comes to life.
"A record to be listened to at certain moments, at home lying on the bed with the lights off, but with candles and incense lit, it is hypnotic music." Erna has been clear in implying that the work will have nothing to do with metal, with Godsmack, or with related nods to Alice In Chains and Metallica.
The album opens with the percussion of the track-list "Avalon," where the vocal cords of the Sicilian-origin multi-instrumentalist intertwine with the candor of Lisa Guyer, a semi-unknown workmate since 2006. " Avalon " presents with a psychedelic call focused on letting go of all forms of disturbance, confusion, agitation, and with the appreciation of silence and tranquility, tracing the main lines of the record, indeed centered on reflection, reflecting on the time that passes in "7 Years," one of the most beautiful tracks of the album with that Middle Eastern touch that feels like a hand repeatedly brushing against the forehead, one, two, three times, and again, until the piece blooms into the true expression of the artist Erna, the melody on silence, the impeccable self-production work almost exclusively involving the singer himself, all culminating in an engaging chorus, " It's time to fly, seven years gone by " and perfectly concluded with a fitting warm guitar solo.
The experiments are just beginning, so the Celtic initiation step of the first single from the album, " Sinner's Prayer " doesn't surprise, rather it continues a journey without a destination begun at the outset, a journey without a target just like the legendary island of King Arthur, Avalon in fact. Returning to the piece, " Sinner's Prayer " features a quieter and more straightforward structure compared to the previous tracks, it certainly won't be a chart-topping hit, because it doesn't intend to be, a simple composition with a finale by cellist Irina Chirkova wrapping it up.
The flutes of "My Light" perhaps make it the most commercial track on the album, the acoustic chords provide a soft base, and the sweet refrain " I'd never wanna leave you anyway, you became my light " complete with a 'Soul-Oriented' ending might make some people turn up their noses, but the percussion of "The Rise" immediately brings everything back to the same level, on the plane of mysticism and shadowy atmospheres, Lisa Guyer's voice resumes drawing undefined imaginary lines (I haven't smoked anything), taking the scene from the head honcho. Thus, after the excellent "Until Then" piano piece, the second track that strays a bit from the album's atmosphere without lacking quality and sentiment, we set off again with " The Departed ", the music is the same as "Voodoo" (closing track of the first album with Godsmack), and the vocal base continues to change tone and warmth, however, my criticism of the piece is that it resembles one of the main verses of the song "War And Peace", from Godsmack's latest album "The Oracle", perhaps the first real flaw of the album (but we're at track 8).
We are close to the conclusion, but surprises are certainly not lacking, in the rock of " Eyes Of A Child ", there are atypical verses for him, " Resurrect me Jesus Christ ... deliver me from this pain ", it is indeed the first time Sully Erna considers a Christian element positively, until now only barbs ( " Give me a reason to pray " from "Shinedown", a 2006 track ).
The journey to Avalon, to the legendary, closes with the instrumental "In Through Time", it is now time to analyze, reconnect and awaken, the journey is over, and it's time to extinguish the candles, the incense, and turn on the light.
" Avalon " is an example of how an artist can blend his multi-instrumentalist identity with an eccentric and particular character, the various more or less serious earthly sins, from the unbridled passion for poker, to a strange car accident, not forgetting the ghosts of a presumed implication in murder never definitively ruled out, have certainly influenced the drafting of this record. "Do what you want without harming anyone", Erna perhaps still has something to learn, in the meantime, let's enjoy the exposé of his sins.