Avalon (Sully Erna album)

Background

In October 2006, Sully Erna began working on a solo album, though he was uncertain of its final form. He mentioned having side material but emphasized that Godsmack remained the group's primary focus.

While other Godsmack members pursued the side project Another Animal, Erna launched a solo tour from May 1 to August 1, 2008, performing songs such as "Eyes of a Child" and "Until Then," which did not appear on any Godsmack release. During 2008, rumors about Godsmack's future circulated, but Erna stated the band was in good shape and that everyone was simply exploring different side projects. In March 2009, Erna finished recording his first solo album, titled Avalon, which he described as his best work and the result of nearly seven years of effort.

Sound

Erna described Avalon as very different from his previous work, incorporating Native American tribal rhythms and Middle Eastern bluesy vocals. He noted that the album was not created with radio expectations in mind. The recording featured instruments such as hand drums, cellos, flutes, and piano, a departure from his signature Godsmack sound. Guest musicians included Lisa Guyer, who had sung on Godsmack's previous album, classically trained cellist Irina Chirkova, and Dead Can Dance percussionist Niall Gregory.

Promotion

To promote Avalon, Erna approached film companies about placing songs in upcoming movies. He was asked to record "Sinner's Prayer" for the 2010 film The Expendables, but the song was not used after director Sylvester Stallone changed the scene it accompanied. "Sinner's Prayer," featuring Lisa Guyer, was released as the lead single to U.S. radio and as a digital download on August 3, 2010. A music video showing Erna's solo band performing the song was released on September 15, 2010.

Critical reception

Avalon received generally positive reviews from music critics. James Christopher Monger of AllMusic gave the album three and a half out of five stars, praising Erna's inventive approach and the powerful result achieved without electric amplification. He highlighted the single "Sinner's Prayer" for its expanded sound, bolstered by contributions from Lisa Guyer, Irina Chirkova, and Niall Gregory.