Australia… you thought they forgot! They did not. They waited. They sharpened their claws. They let the forest grow wilder, darker, hungrier. Three years is a blink in eternity, yet long enough for the trees to learn your secrets. Now they return not as visitors, but as conquerors. Bring your torches. Bring your madness. Bring your soul laid bare. Step into the woods and let The Clown paint your face with fire. But do not go in alone… because once you enter, you never truly leave.
AVATAR‘s incredible vocalist, showman and ringmaster, Johannes Eckerström is positively exuberant at the prospect of returning to our corner of the world.
“There is no up and down in space. Even on a spherical celestial body, like the one we all live on, the idea becomes arbitrary if you think about it. What does “down under” even mean? All we know is that when we finally came to see you, everything was ABOVE AND BEYOND! So that’s what we’ll call you! AVATAR is going to the ABOVE AND BEYOND, returning to Australia! And to make it even better, we finally get to go to New Zealand for the FIRST TIME EVER! It’s been a lifelong goal of ours, and it’s about time! YOU have the chance to join us in making history! We have a lot to prove and earn, and you are the ones we want to prove it to and earn it from! See you soon!”
And you can bet the fans are even more excited to finally have them back.
When we declared AVATAR one of the greatest live metal bands on the planet in 2023, some were incredulous. Then Australia witnessed the absolute crushing the band delivered live. They came, they tore the place apart and they conquered. Their then new album, Dance Devil Dance, hit #1 on both iTunes Rock and Metal Albums Charts (and #6 across all genres), and their doubters were never heard from again.
The good people at Everblack Media may have put it best in their review of the Brisbane show from 2023:
“Now I’d heard and read about Avatar’s live show for many years and spoken to people who have caught them on the European festival circuit and every single one of them has said the exact same thing….they are fucking awesome! But what we got was something special and memorable and nothing short of a motherfuckin spectacle of epic proportions and I will be there front and center whenever they choose to return.“
Now AVATAR return after the triumphant release of their new album, Don’t Go In The Forest, which continues their legacy of crushing riffs, soaring hooks, masterful songwriting and shadow‑soaked storytelling.
Eckerström explains that despite being ten amazing albums deep into their career and now with a US number one single under their belt they still take nothing for granted. “The secret ingredient is that we still feel like we’re just getting started. Don’t Go In The Forest is an album filled to the brim with stuff we’ve never done before. It’s all songs and concepts we haven’t been close to touch until now. The mind is wild and we have lost ourselves in the darkest woods, filled with memories, and fantasies. Forbidden thoughts that must be spoken.”
He elaborated further in a chat with My Touche Blog.
“In other genres, like salsa, uplifting music is usually paired with uplifting topics — love, dancing, sunsets. Heavy metal, though, is this strange marriage of darkness and good times, which probably explains why it’s so cathartic for people. As a listener and a songwriter, there’s something cathartic about exploring those forbidden topics. You open those forbidden doors in your mind. And with each album, I feel like I get the chance to peel away another layer of bullshit. Every album has been as honest as I could be at that time.”
But the moment you think you’ve found your core, life hits you again. You grow older, wiser, you confront parts of yourself, you purify something by writing about it… then you remove that layer, and suddenly there’s more bullshit underneath.”
Last time Avatar were in Australia fans were left speechless at the pure majesty of their live performance. This time they are raining the bar even higher. Prepare to pledge your allegiance. The reckoning is coming!
AVATAR 2026 Australian and NZ Tour Dates
Wednesday 26th August ADELAIDE, Lion Arts Factory
Friday 28th August MELBOURNE, Northcote Theatre
Saturday 29th August SYDNEY, Manning Bar
Sunday 30th August BRISBANE, Princess Theatre
Tuesday 1ST September AUCKLAND, Powerstation
Tickets:
Pre-sale: Friday 27th March 9:00am Local
General Public On Sale: Monday 30th March 9:00am Local
From: https://thephoenix.au/avatar-2026/
