Fittingly on Halloween this year, Swedish shock-rock metal band Avatar released their tenth studio album—titled Don’t Go In The Forest—and they are currently on the road supporting the release; which included a stop in Columbus, Ohio at Kemba Live! on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Since forming in 2001, the band has combined visually dark live production and horror theatrics with their heavy music, and last night was no different as they sported cryptic makeup and wore goth -ish outfits; in the realm and antics of early shock-rockers KISS, Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson.
Wide ranging, singing-screaming combo vocalist Johannes Eckerström, who is easily one of the best rock-and-roll frontpersons of today, exclaimed to the crowd: “Avatar lives in your minds! Avatar lives in your hearts!”
The band’s unmistakably unified music talents, active onstage movements, animated facial expressions and their deep connection with the crowd made for a spectacular performance that left everyone wanting it to never end.
The fans, many dressed in goth-like attire with painted faces, completely filled the venue from front to back and tossed around a few blue beach balls during the show.
From the new record, the headbanging quintet performed: “In The Airwaves” (which is this tour’s namesake), “Death And Glitz,” “Captain Goat,” “Tonight We Must Be Warriors,” “Howling At The Waves,” “Don’t Go In The Forest.”
Although they didn’t perform anything from their first four albums, they still went as far back as 2012 to perform a few from Black Waltz as well as crowd favorites and singles: “Hail The Apocalypse,” “Dance Devil Dance,” “The Eagle Has Landed,” “Legend Of The King,” “Colossus,” “The Dirt I’m Buried In,” “Smells Like A Freakshow,” and others.
As always, Avatar goes all out and consistently delivers a remarkable, memorable performance that should never be missed when they stop in town.
The tour’s supporting artists were Alien Weaponry and Spiritworld.
Originally formed 15 years ago by Auckland, New Zealand brothers Lewis Raharuhi de Jong (vocals, guitar) and Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong (drums), trio Alien Weaponry (complete with bassist Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds) blew fans away with a solid variety of genre styles that blended perfectly together: nü-metal and math rock with occasional thrash and groove.
The one-of-a-kind sometimes tribal-like music is about the Maori people—an indigenous community in New Zealand—and the lyrics include both English language and the language of te reo Māori.
Despite often being stuck stationary behind the mic as the lead, Lewis didn’t remain stagnant; he often threw his long dreads around and frequently shifted across the stage with bassist Tūranga to make for an energetic stage show.
The band moved the venue with Lewis’ requests for fans to jump in unison as the band plowed through a superb 30-minute set, which included songs from their recently released album Te Rā (Napalm Records).
Prior to Alien Weaponry, Spiritworld—dressed in country-western mariachi-like clothing—threw down with fierce, fast-paced headbanging thrash music that had hardcore style lead vocals and backing vocal chants.
The self-described “death-western” band’s setlist included tracks from their latest well-received album Helldorado(Century Media), released in March.
The U.S. five-week run of the In The Airwaves Tour concludes next month before traveling to Europe early next year.
Tour Dates
AVATAR (click to enlarge)
ALIEN WEAPONRY (click to enlarge)
SPIRITWORLD (click to enlarge)
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