Avatar Concert Review Van Buren Theater 11-05-25
Concert Review and Photos By Roc Boyum
Avatar Concert Review, Van Buren Theater in Phoenix, AZ -11-05-25
On November 5, 2025, Avatar rocked the Van Buren Theater in Phoenix, AZ, kicking off their “In The Airwaves USA 25” tour. The venue was nearly filled to capacity with devoted Avatar fans, many of whom donned the signature face makeup of their charismatic frontman and master showman, Johannes Eckerström.
The tour is supported by two opening acts, SpiritWorld and Alien Weaponry. SpiritWorld came out to get the night started with a heavy and aggressive sound which immediately ignited the Phoenix audience.
The New Zealand groove-thrash-metal trio known as Alien Weaponry started their show withdrummer Henery de Hong behind his drum kit performing one of the forms of “Haka,” a native New Zealand dance that captivated the audience and served as an introduction to the New Zealand culture for many of the concert goers. The band gave the Phoenix audience a strong six song set with several of their songs sung in their native language. Alien Weaponry continues to thrill audiences with their high energy performances while introducing the metal community to the cultural heritage.
Avatar: A Rising Force In Music
The Swedish metal masters known as AVATAR always thrill audiences with their immersive lighting, theatrical themes, innovative stage designs, and their full throttle performances. For this tour, the band came out onto a darkened stage with all the band members standing at each side of a square wheeled platform that moved from deep back in the stage and slowly making its journey to the front edge of the stage.
Singer Johannes Eckerström was at the front of the platform, dressedas a hooded figure holding a lantern much like “The Hermit” in the Rider-Wait deck of tarot cards; a striking entrance indeed!
Drummer John Alfredsson had a very unique and interesting drumkitsetup with his main double bass drum split in the middle on two separate wheeled platforms that were at opposite ends of the stage and joined together to create his complete kit.
The band gave the Phoenix audience a fantastic 14 song set that included an additional three song encore. The LP most represented on this night was their latest release; appropriately released on Halloween 2025 titled, Don’t Go Into The Forest with 5 songs from that LP presented throughout their set.
Throughout their show the fans engaged in plenty of crowd surfing, fist pumping, singing, and cheering, even to the newer material that was released a mere 4 days before this show; quite impressive.
Avatar is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining bands currently on the scene, and their stature continues to grow with each return to the USA. As they plan their next North American tour, it is highly likely that we will see them headlining a larger venue, such as the Arizona Financial Theater in downtown Phoenix.
Get out and enjoy the electrifying experience of this incredibly entertaining, high-energy band live whenever you can. Bring their music along on CD, LP, or through streaming to keep those positive vibes flowing. Let their melodies serve as a reminder that, despite the negativity you may face each day, there are still wonderful things happening around you. It’s your choice to make the most of every day!
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