Avatar Brings Their Don't Go In The Forest Tour To Enthralled Fans In Raleigh, NC.

Fans were geared up and ready for a full night of metal music. The gathering outside The Ritz in Raleigh, NC, was a sea of battle jackets, black band shirts, and painted faces, all excited to see Avatar perform live. Along with the theatrical spectacle of the headliner, fans were also anticipating seeing the crushing death metal from Frozen Souls, along with the orchestral brutality of Fleshgod Apocalypse. It was going to be a night of pure showmanship that every person in attendance was going to devour and carry in their memories forever.

Frozen Soul

Getting the night started was Frozen Soul. Bathed in cold blue lighting with heavy fog, the presence in The Ritz instantly became heavy with the weight of the fans' excitement hanging in the air. The thunderous beat of the drums shook the venue floor while the guitar tones crushed through the speakers, all while being paired with the deep guttural vocals that pulsed through your body.  Immediately, the crowd began to headbang with their fists raised high as the band created a heaviness that was relentless, giving the crowd a raw, old-school death metal experience. As the set concluded, Frozen Soul effectively set the aggressive tone for the rest of the night.

Fleshgod Apocalypse

The shift in atmosphere was dramatic once Fleshgod Apocalypse took the stage with their orchestral intro and theatrical presentation. With the combination of technical death metal, blast beats, and symphonic melodies, the crowd was captivated by the band’s alluring aura. The members of the band worked together seamlessly as they commanded the stage even through the complexity of the performance. The tightness of the musicianship was showcased throughout the whole set by the band switching between beautiful orchestral arrangements and violent, aggressive vocals and instrumentation. As the band made their way through the set, the fans became more and more chaotic, all while becoming emotionally invested as the songs progressed, which elevated the night into something grander and more immersive, and had the fans' emotions heighten for what was yet to come.

Avatar

The anticipation was at an all-time high as the venue went dark and the stage was bathed in a soft blue glow. The fans were on the edge as they watched the members of Avatar slowly emerge from the darkness like shadows walking through a forest. The theatrical presence of the band was wild to see live. Vocalist Johannes Eckerstrom had no shortage of maniacal expressions and wild stage movements throughout every song. The performance was made to feel larger than life with the elaborate lighting, smoke effects, and dramatic pacing of each band member. Not only did the band’s stage presence impress the fans, but the balance of groove-heavy riffs, explosive breakdowns, and melodic vocals that paired against the brutal screams captivated the entire venue so that every set of eyes was locked in on the stage. The fans were constantly moshing, headbanging, and screaming back the lyrics to the band, feeding off the energy the band was pushing out in waves. Avatar not only performed a set, but they transformed the show into a complete theatrical experience that left every fan exhausted, energized, and wanting more even after the final notes had faded away.