Avatar - Open it up for Avenged Sevenfold!

December 5th 2013

Birmingham, LG Arena, UK

***1/2

Avatar not got their live sound perfected yet!

Avatar ***1/2 is a Swedish band that the UK have not heard much about, but they have been going for over twelve years and have released four albums including the new 'Black Waltz'. They have been asked personally by Avenged Sevenfold to open up today's show and in the past they have supported Obituary, Hardcore Superstar, Warrior Soul, Dark Tranquility and Halloween. They start their set off with the single 'Torn Apart' which has a very heavy beat to it, and this steady beat really gets people in the crowd grooving and accepting the band.

They have some determination to impress today but sometimes their heavy sound out drowns what is going on onstage. Singer Johannes Eckerström looks very like a clown like circus version of Brandon Lee from 'The Crow' films wearing the distinctive trench coat. I would say this look has been done before but he really does it with style and every member of the band look really cool.

Johannes twiddles his cane round and round and then throws it away and breaks into second song 'Let it Burn', which has an AC/DC Esq. monotonous guitar rhythm to it but has a heavier darker vibe. 'Black Waltz' was an album that really impressed me, it's heavy dark attitude really comes across well and the production is first rate and come a long way from their last release the self titled 'Avatar'. Some of the sounds on the album sound like Melodic Death Metal done in a Hard Rock way and you do wonder how Avenged Sevenfold found out about this act.

Near enough ever song on show today comes of the album 'Black Waltz' which I think is a sign that they don't have much faith in their older material, which is a real shame. 'Paint me Red' has a feel of fellow Swedes, In Flames but doesn't really go anywhere and was one of the weakest songs in the bands set. 'Vultures Fly' goes down the same way as the track before but 'Smells like Freakshow' is superb and brings the band up to a higher standard. This song really ends off the bands set with style and make them a good act to open up an evening with, but I would love to see them in a smaller venue.

Avatar are a really good band and I think 'Black Waltz' will get them noticed by magazines and people, I did see a lot of people purchasing their album and t-shirts. I even went and looked for the album in the shops until I could find and buy it and I will be checking them out again when they come back to the UK.