“Don’t go.
Don’t go in the forest”
Yes, I bloody will. That’s if VEGA Copenhagen was considered a stand in for the forest as the venue for the Avatar Don’t Go in the Forest 2026 tour stop.
First to warm up the crowd was Agabas. Can’t say I knew them before I came to this gig but after that gonzo performance, I will be checking them out later.
The next act on the bill was one long anticipated by many in attendance. New Zealand trio Alien Weaponry took the stage, bringing with them a powerful blend of modern metal and Māori heritage. All three members are of Māori descent, and their cultural roots are central to the band’s identity, particularly through lyrics frequently performed in the Māori language. Guitarist and Lead singer Lewis de Jong, drummer Henry de Jong and bassist/backing vocalist Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds delivered a relentless performance from start to end that featured their new album Te Rā heavily. Great start to the evening.
“Out of the Shadows. Into the dark”
The venue was plunged into darkness. Thick fog spilled across the stage and into the crowd. Four cloaked figures emerged, illuminated only by a lone lantern, and launched into Captain Goat. The theatrical introduction gave way to Silence in the Age of Apes, after which the cloaks were shed and the familiar spectacle of Avatar fully revealed itself.
Vocalist Johannes Eckerström commanded the performance as always, a charismatic ringmaster, addressing the audience like a fervent preacher welcoming them into the domain of Avatar Country. Guitarists Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström delivered tightly crafted, infectious riffs with a rhythmic bounce that kept the crowd in constant motion. Bassist Henrik Sandelin provided a steady, groove-driven foundation, while drummer John Alfredsson matched Eckerström in visual intensity, frequently locking eyes with the crowd and shifting seamlessly between fluid technical playing and stiff, mechanical precision.
It was a fantastic mix of the old and new with songs from their many albums. Legend of the King, Let It Burn, The Eagle Has Landed, In the Airwaves, Bloody Angel, Death and Glitz (a personal fav from the new album), Colossus, The Dirt I’m Buried In, and Tonight We Must Be Warriors. The crowd responded with unwavering enthusiasm, singing along to every moment of the setlist.
We even had a few quieter moments as Eckerström performed Howling at the Waves and Tower solo on piano, offering a stripped-down, more intimate break from the madness.
The night concluded with a three-song encore featuring Dance Devil Dance, Smells Like a Freakshow, and Hail the Apocalypse. It once again highlighted why Avatar are one of the most unique voices in metal and under that sideshow circus paint is a band that can craft a banger of a tune in many styles.
If you have not done so already, seek them out. Even if you have, go again. You won’t be disappointed.
Setlist
Captain Goat
Silence in the Age of Apes
The Eagle Has Landed
In the Airwaves
Bloody Angel
Death and Glitz
Blod
The Dirt I’m Buried In
Colossus
Torn Apart
Howling at the Waves
Legend of the King
Let It Burn
Tonight, We Must Be Warriors
Don’t Go in the Forest
Smells Like a Freakshow
Hail the Apocalypse
