The Fillmore could feel it “In the Airwaves” tonight at the historic Fillmore in downtown Detroit. Woodard avenue was slamming Thursday night with Erykah Badu playing just two buildings over at the Fox and the Detroit Red Wings playing up the street at the LCA. The hotspot for the night was definitely at the Fillmore with the Swedish heavy metal band Avatar. Having covered Avatar twice in the past you just know you are in for one hell of a stage show from the boys from Sweden. Avatar brought some friends along to help celebrate the band’s latest album “Don’t Go In the Forest.” Doors opened up around 6:00 pm with the night kicking off at 7:00.
Getting everyone in the mood was the band from Las Vegas Spiritworld. To be honest I have never heard of them wish I had though. I been missing out on some heavy rips of face melting metal. Lead singer Stu Folsom and the boys hit the stage with “Relic of Damnation” throwing the Fillmore into a tizzy. The band vibes were electrifying and raw with a side of f**k you! The eight-song set held you hostage that’s for sure. My favorite from the night and now on my Spotify playlist is “Waiting on the Reaper” after that song hit you just may need to take an extra blood pressure pill, holy hell what a track. Lead singer Stu Folsom describes their music as, “death – western metal.” If you’re like me and never heard of the band well, you have now. Get your ass out to a city near you and prepare to get shocked!
After a short break to check for any body parts out of place it was time for the New Zealand heavy metal rockers Alien Weaponry to take the stage. Formed in 2010 in Auckland, New Zealand brothers Lewis Raharuhi de Jong (vocals, guitar) and Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong (drums), Alien Weaponry (complete with bassist Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds) hit their fans away with a solid one-two punch to the gut with a variety of nü-metal with occasional thrash and groove metal. It didn’t take long for the place to turn into a mini airport. The crowd surfing was coming at you from all different angles. The one-of-a-kind tribal-like music is about the Maori people—an indigenous community in New Zealand. Lewis made note of the band being from a wee bit small town way over there, we come to rock Detroit.
Guitar player Lewis often threw his long dreads around walking the stage to mosh with bassist Tūranga to make for an energetic stage show, a show that will require a neck brace and a few aspirin for some the next morning. The trio played songs from their recently released album Te Rā via (Napalm Records). “Taniwha” was the highlight of the set complete with extra vocals piped in from Randy Blythe. The crowd pleaser “Kai Tangata” was damaging to the soul, metal is good for the soul. AW has been kicking ass since 2010 with now signs of letting up, more like ramping up. The trio is like your local electric plant hardwired and ready to jolt you the 30-minute set is a total must see. Set included tracks Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea, Mau Moko, Rū ana te whenua, Kai tangata, Taniwha.
The time has finally arrived the Fillmore was about to be wowed. The lights went dark, the intro music hits and the red theatre like curtains open up. Avatar standing on a platform that was on a track slowly make their way to the front of the stage to a thunderous roar from the crowd. Lead singer Johannes Eckerström dressed in a cloak and holding a lit lantern withe band members standing to his side open up with “Captain Goat” with fog rolling around with blue lights making for a dark lonely night in some back-alley kind of feeling. After that slow burn the band hit us with “Silence in the age of Apes” a more heavier face ripper. The security staff had its hands full from the get go with all the crowd surfing one could handle.
Drummer John Alfredsson’s elevated platform was cool and different at the same time. Alfredson’s kit was split in half lit up in white lights, would come together then split again on each side of the stage launched into “The Eagle Has Landed.” Eckerström, now without his cloak, dressed in his black vest, long gloves, and iconic face paint guitarists Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, along with bassist Henrik Sandelin stimulate the packed house. Fans of all ages were seen throwing horns, jamming on their air guitars, and heads violently going back and forth without a care in the world, metalheads just hit differently. The band played a hand full of new songs of their latest album Don’t Go In The Forest which features “In the Airwaves” loaded with aggression, violence and raw attitude. I can guarantee you the car next to you at the light is rolling up the windows asking themselves what the hell is going on. The 18-song set was masterfully done and one of the more theatrical shows you will ever attend.
The highlight of the night for me and the Fillmore crowd came in the form of “We’ll Meet Again” which happened to be the encore. This track brought some heavy guitar rips along with some high octane leaving the crowd in a frenzy and waiting more. “Let It Burn” left you with metalbumps aka goosebumps Eckerström voice highlighting throughout. Other hits included “Bloody Angel” “Colossus”, “Legend of the King”, and “The Dirt I’m Buried.” The tour is still happening so don’t miss out on this theatrical tour you will not be sorry. Thanks for stopping by and keep rocking America!
Avatar performing live at the Fillmore November 20, 2025
