On Thursday, May 16th, 2024, the Swedish metal masters of Avatar descended upon Reverb in Reading, PA with their theatrical “Great Metal Circus” tour. This was a night of pure metal mayhem that left the crowd utterly drenched in sweat, face paint, and possibly some other bodily fluids.
The night kicked off with solid opening performances from Oxymorrons and Conquer Divide, who got the pit churning early. But the real chaos began when Avatar hit the stage.
Frontman Johannes Eckerström emerged in full ringmaster regalia, commanding the crowd’s attention like a deranged circus ringleader. From the first crushing notes of “Dance Devil Dance,” it was clear Avatar came to put on one hell of a show.
The setlist spanned their catalog, from old bangers like “The Eagle Has Landed” to new cuts off Dance Devil Dance like the anthemic “The Dirt I’m Buried In.” Each song was an over-the-top spectacle, with Eckerström’s haunting vocals layered over the band’s pummeling riffs and acrobatic stage moves.
For a small club with no pyrotechnics, the production values were still respectable, with colorful lighting effects, atmospheric haze and one unforgettable moment where Eckerström ventured into the crowd for an impromptu balloon animal show and trombone solo. Yes, you read that right.
Highlights included the soaring melodies of “Bloody Angel” and the sheer brutality of “Hail the Apocalypse” during the encore. Throughout the two-hour set, Eckerström’s banter and crowd interaction kept things wildly entertaining between songs.
In the end, Avatar’s Reverb show was pure metal theater at its finest – a sensory overload combining Cirque du Soleil-level visuals with face-melting riffs and unrelenting intensity. The “Great Metal Circus” is one tour no self-respecting metal fan should miss.
Avatar Tour
