It was a cold, nasty, and, frankly miserable Thursday night in Nashville, TN. That didn't stop the circus from coming to town. Avatar brought along Spiritworld and Alien Weaponry for the ride.
Spiritworld was first to bat. Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2017. Spiritworld consists of Stu Folsom on vocals, Matt Schrum and Randy Moore on guitar, Nick Brundy on bass, and Preston Harper on drums. The band unleashed their signature "death western" style to the delight of a city known for its country music.
The band took the stage, clad in zoot suits and cowboy hats. I assumed it was a bit just for the Nashville show, but upon further research, it's their typical wear! Spiritworld's aesthetics are different from what I've seen for metal bands. Typically I'd write that off as a gimmick, but it feels natural for Spiritworld. A band of thrasher outlaws, what's not to like?
Frontman Stu Folsom has an insane stage presence; he never stops moving. EVER. Stu embodies the word "frontman." Everyone in the band seemed to be having fun, which is refreshing nowadays. I'd love to rewatch the concert a couple of times and focus on each member.
Their set was almost cinematic but far too short! The audience was practically begging for more. I was not familiar with Spiritworld before this show, but I will definitely be checking them out!
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Alien Weaponry is a metal band from Waipu, New Zealand. Alien Weaponry consists of Henry De Jong on drums and vocals, Lewis De Jong on guitar and lead vocals, and Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds on bass and vocals. The band blends traditional Maori chants, stories, and history with modern metal.
Alien Weaponry began their set with a Haka, a traditional Maori chant, typically accompanied by rigid but unified motions. It's a beautiful thing to witness. A few folks in the crowd joined in on the chant. Each member took the stage individually and joined in the Haka until they began their first song, "Relic of Damnation."
Alien Weaponry performed with a confidence well beyond their years, and tonight's concert showed exactly why they’re rising so fast in the metal world. They manage to make heavy music both powerful and meaningful. They delivered not just raw power but a sense of cultural pride, reminding the entire audience that heavy music can hit hard while still hitting close to home.
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Avatar is a groove metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band consists of Johannes Eckerström on lead vocals and piano, Jonas "Kungen" Jarlsby on guitars, Tim Öhrström on guitars and backing vocals, Henrik Sandelin on bass and backing vocals, and John Alfredsson on drums.
The Great Metal Circus was finally upon us. Avatar was next up to bat. The crowd grew restless as their preshow music devolved into a thunderstorm, crashing waves, and nautical bells. Through the smoke emerged Avatar, Johannes wearing a long dark coat and brandishing an eerie glowing lantern. Their set kicked off with the first single off their newest album "Captain Goat"
The stage design for this show absolutely blew me away. The stage had multiple platforms on tracks that brought on and off set pieces and band members. John's drum set was even split in two to bring on the band. I've never seen a track system on a smaller stage before! I originally thought it was just for Captain Goat, as the song harps on the boat theming. I was delighted to see it being used the entire time.
Avatar pulled out all the stops, including some deep cuts like one of my personal favorites, "Silence in the Age of Apes," and "Legend of the King." From the pearly white coats of "Avatar Country" to the sparkling red and gold coats of "Dance Devil Dance," For each album, the band came out in the prospective stage costume from that era.
Avatar blends stage theatrics, hilarity, and mischief in a seamless concoction of in-your-face showmanship. This band is a perfect gateway to those in your life who swear metal is "too frightening" or "too intense." The crowd had folks both young and old. Lots of kids and lots of, what I assume, grandparents. Metal brings people together from all walks of life.
Avatar brought out the double-team tear-jerkers for this set. "Howling at the Moon" followed by "Tower." Two emotionally devastating songs, Eckerstrom at the piano is an emotional tour de force. I've seen Avatar four times and bawled my eyes out to "Tower" every single time. This show was no exception. The song recently had a single vinyl release, featuring a live version, but this song HAS to be experienced in person for full effect.
The tears quickly dried up amongst the crowd as the band ripped into "Let it Burn" an absolute fan favorite. John, the drummer, but also lovingly referred to as "The Robot" beat the drums into submission. He is by far the most entertaining drummer of modern metal. His facial expressions and dances behind the kit are a sight to behold.
Avatar took the stage for final bows as "We'll Meet Again" by Vera Lynn echoed over the PA. Each member waved to the crowd, throwing out picks and drumsticks as they individually left the stage until Eckerstrom was left standing by himself in a smoke-filled stage. He took one last bow before slinking back into the curtain. Just like that, the show was over. The crowd begged for more, but that was it. The house lights came up.
Avatar is one of those bands that is HIGH on my recommendation list when they're coming to town. There's a little something for everyone, and I leave their shows inspired, not only by the performers but by the stagehands and techies that make it all possible. This band is the definition of performance.
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