Ladies and Gentlemen, Avatar has returned again, everything is going to be okay-ay-ay-ay
Well, Brisbane, following Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, you absolutely did not disappoint when Avatar returned to Australia, just as promised. And wow, everything was okay-ay-ay-ay. It really was.
My introduction to the band was that song. My mate Troy told me, “Check these guys out,” and I thought, “Oh yeah, this is pretty cool! Catchy, fun, and they’ve got a great look and vibe.” The rest, as they say, is history I pretty much became a fan.
Hailing from Sweden, a country known for producing some incredible music, Ghost, Europe, Sabaton, Candlemass, Arch Enemy, In Flames, Opeth, Hardcore superstar, Treat, HEAT, Eclipse… do I need to keep going? Avatar have well and truly earned their place on that list. They’ve created a monster of a sound that really has to be experienced live. In my opinion, there’s nobody else quite like them.
Their style is different, their sound is unique, and they keep evolving. Somehow, they seem to get better every time I see them, well I guess that’s only twice but nevertheless.
Avatar are more than just a top-tier band. They’re born entertainers, and that was obvious last night. Johannes Eckerström on lead vocals and piano, Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström on guitars, Henrik Sandelin on bass, and John Alfredsson on drums were all incredible. The musicianship was seriously tight from start to finish and this band know how to play.
And Johannes? He has about a million personalities. You can see that he loves every one of them. The signature makeup, the grin that barely leaves his face, the movement, the voice he’s one of the best showmen in modern music. The clown and ringmaster idea could easily feel like a gimmick, but Avatar make it work. It fits the music, the image and the whole world they’ve created.
It was also great catching up with some old friends in the pit and having a laugh. There were plenty of beautiful people there, along with a few who might need to take a long, hard look at themselves. But that’s the pit for you.
I saw a beautiful family there, father and kids watching Avatar for the first time. What an experience for them. I think we all remember our first concert. Mine was Stryper in Melbourne June 87 Festival Hall when I was about 15. It was my first trip on a plane by myself, travelling with my cousins and headbanging at a Stryper show. Go figure. It was amazing, those memories stay with you.
There were so many friends in the crowd, I love chatting to everyone (yeah, I know normal for me) and everyone seemed to know we were in for something special. Avatar didn’t disappoint. The humility of this band is incredible, and you can tell they’re still loving every minute of what they do.
A snapshot for me and my personal highlights, so many…
“The Eagle Has Landed” is an absolute cracker live. It’s one of my personal favourites, so I was surprised when it appeared fairly early in the set. It has such a huge, dramatic sound, with the guitars, bass and drums all hitting hard. It was an early highlight for me.
The intro with the lantern was brilliant, with Johannes looking like some kind of Ferry master, cloaked and ready to take us somewhere strange. It was the perfect way to lead into “Captain Goat”, which brought that theatrical Avatar feeling straight to the stage.
“Get in Line” was pure craziness. The theatrics were everywhere, and Johannes built the song up beautifully. The crowd was absolutely incredible all night, especially the headbangers. They were right into it from the start.
“Bloody Angel” is a classic from the Black Waltz album, released in 2012. That album helped kick things off for so many fans, including me, and the song sounded even better live. It has that dark, dramatic Avatar feeling, but the guitars and drums make it hit with plenty of force.
Another cracker from that album was “Smells Like a Freakshow.” It was a clear winner during the encore. The whole place was feeling it, and Brisbane was absolutely smashing it. We cannot forget some other killer tracks from that album that were absolutely nailed last night “Let It Burn” another epic tune.
“Crying Fire” was one I really wanted to hear live, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a more mellow song maybe that’s the wrong choice of wording? But the melody grabs you and pulls you in. It just sits there and rocks in its own way. It was a beautiful moment in the set.
Then there was “Colossus.” Man, that song sounds so damn good live. It’s incredibly heavy, with crushing guitars, pounding drums and a chorus that hits you right in the chest. It was easily one of the highlights of the night. The band so theatrical again still and full of personality while belting out the chorus of the beast.
“The Dirt I’m Buried In” gave us a more melodic moment. It’s one of my favourite tracks, and it sounded fantastic. The lighting and stage production were phenomenal throughout the show, and they added so much to the atmosphere. Along with the beautiful theatre a marriage made in heaven so suited to the band.
And then “Hail the Apocalypse” finished us off. What a finale. The guitars were huge, the drums were pounding, and the entire room was lifted one more time before the end. It was the perfect way to close the night.
Before “Howling”, Johannes took the time to speak to the crowd and thank everyone for coming. He was very humble. He said the band could have given up years ago, but they chose to keep going.
You could see how much the band still cares about what they do. Johannes even said that if only one person had turned up, it still would’ve been worth playing but Brisbane showed up in force.
I reckon we’re going to see plenty more albums and plenty more evolution from Avatar. They don’t look like they’re planning to stop anytime soon.
I also want to give a shout-out to Pyrefly, who opened the show. They did a great job, and I really liked their look and overall vibe. The Madonna cover was a cool surprise as well. I’ve never seen a circle pit to Madonna before! I’ll definitely be checking them out again and finding out more about the band as this was my first time seeing them. I was usure if Avatar had a support. But so happy they did and I’m keen to invest some more time into checking out this Sydney band as they really warmed us up.
The security, crew and staff at The Princess Theatre were also fantastic. Everyone behaved, everyone had fun, and the whole night ran incredibly well. And then there is Tyson, same as my surname, never missed an opportunity to give me shit! But mate you are an absolute legend thanks for being awesome as always, but the crowd behaved and everyone was in a great fun party mood!
Avatar have come a long way from being a death-metal band from Sweden. They can now play death metal, hard rock, melodic songs and groove-driven tracks, yet it all still sounds like Avatar. Not every band can do that.
So, farewell Avatar. It’s been two years since I last saw you, and you were phenomenal once again. What a Sensation! What a Sensation!
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide you were treated to something special.
New Zealand, get ready to rock, because you’re in for an insane show.
Thanks as always to my team H2Z and ThePhoenix.au. Until next time.
Mert
