I first became interested in Swedish metalheads Avatar nearly a decade ago after hearing a few of their songs on Lou Brutus’ “Hard Drive” national radio program, and was captivated by their unique style and sound – blending elements of bone-crushing death-toned metal with melodic elements and theatrical touches. I started looking up some of the group’s videos on YouTube, and knew I wanted to see this group live after viewing a YouTube video of their 2015 set at Germany’s Wacken Open Air Festival. So when I learned they were playing at Reverb in Reading, it was a no-brainer – I had to be there!
The nearly three-hour road trip was well worth it. I arrived inside the venue in time to catch the last three songs of the concert openers, Michigan-based femme metal quintet Conquer Divide. The group utilized two singers as they blended melody-driven metal with hardcore intensity; they ended their set with a song from their new “Slow Burn” album, “welcome2paradise.” Conquer Divide was well-received by the crowd, and received increasingly louder cheers as their set progressed.
Next up was New York-based hip-hop/metal foursome Oxymorrons. Featuring two lead vocalists, a drummer and a guitarist-bassist, Oxymorrons fired up heavy beats and grooves, and mixed spoken word with melody as they did a number of songs off their just-issued album “Melanin Punk.” Some of their songs included the set-opener “Enemy,” “Graveyard Words” and the catchy “Moon Chasers.” Oxymorrons were wildly entertaining and fun, turning their set into a raucous, lively party that had nearly everyone in the room bobbing their heads and grooving by the time all was said and done.
Tolling bells soon signaled the arrival of Avatar to the stage, and the group stormed into their performance with the title track of their latest album, “Dance Devil Dance.” Mixing elements of melodic, groove, death and power metal with circus-like theatric elements, Avatar – painted clown-faced frontman Johannes Eckerstrom, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Ohrstrom, bassist Hendrik Sandelin and drummer John Alfredsson – proceeded through a set mixing more songs from the new album with established favorites from previous albums. After the Queen-toned favorite “The Eagle Has Landed,” Avatar triggered crowd-surfing with “Valley of Disease” and “Chimp Mosh Pit” from the new album, followed by “Paint Me Red,” the dark-toned “Bloody Angel” and “Make It Rain.” During “Puppet Show,” Johannes ventured through the crowd to the back of the room, where he inflated a balloon art creation before breaking out and playing a trombone. The group continued with “When the Snow Lies Red” and another song from the new album, “Do You Feel in Control,” leading to a dueling guitar exchange between Jonas and Tim. Johannes presented more balloons during “Black Waltz,” before taking up position behind a piano for a solo rendition of “Tower.” After “Colossus” from the new album, Avatar finished the main set with “Let It Burn” and “A Statue of the King” with Jonas donning a regal cape and crown. When the packed house demanded an encore, Avatar returned to do three more numbers: the single “The Dirt I’m Buried In” from the new album, followed by the longtime favorites “Smells Like a Freakshow” and “Hail the Apocalypse” to end the night. Avatar came, saw and conquered; Johannes took control of the Reverb audience with his flamboyant personality, and he and the band executed their songs with all-out purpose and intensity. The result was an elated, churning, crowd-surfing audience and an exhaustive, heavy-rocking good time.
