Avatar Bring the Heavy & Theatrics to The Fillmore
There isn’t a whole lot that can help beat the low of a Monday, especially when the weather has literally switched back and forth between cold and hot and back to cold. Not only is this interfering with my ability to decide what to wear during an outdoor run or walk (I’m always either too warm or too cold), but it doesn’t help with actually wanting to get outside before the first real snow of the year arrives. However, there was a metal show in downtown Minneapolis that I have had my eye on for months and I had to be there, regardless of the less than ideal day of the week or the less than ideal weather. Swedish metal band Avatar were in town and there was no way I was missing this one.
First up for the night was SpiritWorld, a self described death-western band. Taking influences from Western imagery and themes and infusing it into their brand of thrash and death metal, SpiritWorld hit the stage with force for the duration of their set. Even though their set was short and sweet, SpiritWorld came out swinging, bringing the heat on stage for every second, even proclaiming they were not there to do a lot of yapping, they were there to do a lot of riffing. The band members even took the Western theme to heart in their outfits, each one dressed the part, bringing their aesthetic to life. Prior to seeing this band live on this tour I had not heard any their music, or of the band for that matter; however, after seeing them live I have a feeling a handful of their tracks will be making their way onto my running playlists.
The penultimate band of the night was New Zealand metal band Alien Weaponry, a band that is out not only supporting Avatar, but is also supporting the release of their new record “Te Rā,” which dropped earlier this year in March. The band took the smokey stage one by one to start their set before entering what felt like a rhythmic and ambient sonic experience. While Alien Weaponry didn’t play a lot of songs (I believe there was around 5-6 in total), their longer than average tracks were full of riffs, head banging, and they even brought forth the first few crowdsurfers of the night. While Alien Weaponry may not be exactly my cup of tea, I can definitely appreciate the performance and energy they put forth during their time on stage.
Finally, it was time for Avatar, the main event for most of the crowd in attendance. Ever since I saw this band open for Trivium nearly a decade ago at The Myth, they have had me hooked on their theatrical live show. The last time I was able to catch them was when they played First Avenue back in 2019, which was a LONG time ago, and I was so excited to be able to finally see them perform again on stage. The band wasted no time showcasing new material from their Halloween release “Don’t Go In The Forest,” opening with leading single “Captain Goat.” The band’s setlist was a great curated mix of songs from all across their discography; while leaning a little heavier into their newer material, Avatar brought the classics into their nearly twenty song set. It was clear from the start that the crowd was in it for Avatar; not that the crowd wasn’t into the show before, but there was a very noticeable shift in energy once Avatar took the stage that held strong for the rest of the night. What I appreciate about Avatar’s live set, outside of the theatrics that go along with it, is just how much the band puts into their performance. While I missed one or two of the band’s tours since they played First Avenue back in 2019, for this show they brought out a track on stage with moving components (including lighting rigs and the drum kit, which did split in half for part of their set). Even though Avatar’s music may not be for everyone, their live show does have a little bit of something for everyone. The band’s live performance is more than enough for me to keep coming back and I can’t wait for their return to the Twin Cities.
