AVATAR
w/ Alien Weaponry, Spiritworld
11/18/25 – The Sylvee – Madison, WI
©Justin Nuoffer/NuofferMedia.com
A rare Tuesday night show had the city of Madison, WI in a frenzy. Hosting the chaos was the crown jewel of music venues in the state, The Sylvee. Along the front of the building, fans lined up early. The cold winds were no match for the warm hearts of the Avatar fandom, and judging by the size of the line, the entire army they have cultivated over the years showed up.
As the doors opened, fans passed under the massive marquee reading “Avatar In The Airwaves USA 25 TONIGHT.” The glass siding above illuminated the sidewalk out front as all of the freaks and geeks made their way into the security and ticket check. Once through that point, the entire venue opened up. The Avatar merch booth stood off to the right and was packed with shirts and trinkets. Straight ahead were stairs leading down to the main floor, with the massive stage front and center. Along the back wall, the bar was packed with bartenders dishing out drinks. In the corner, the opener’s merch stand was set up in front of the staircase leading to the second level, which featured more standing room, seating, and another large bar. Above everything were six private suites available for rent for each show.
Making their Wisconsin debut, Spiritworld had a fresh set of ears and minds to impress. The band, dressed in bucket hats and detailed mariachi suits, hit the stage under a dark red light. Opening with “Relic of Damnation,” their blend of death metal and western style blasted The Sylvee’s unsuspecting crowd.
The mastermind of Spiritworld, Stu Folsom, bounced along the front of the stage and whipped the microphone cable behind him while unleashing hellish screams. As they moved through “Waiting On The Reaper” and “Moonlit Torture,” the Madison crowd began to fall into the band’s vibe. Bassist Nick Brundy and drummer Preston Harper locked in tight grooves all night. Guitarists Randy Moore and Matt Schrum handled a steady flow of riffs and shredding.
The wailing guitars on “Lujuria Satanica” added a depth most metal bands never touch and at points gave off the feeling of screams. Reaching back to their first album Pagan Rhythms, they busted out “Comancheria” and “Unholy Passages,” which leaned more toward straightforward metal. The fans loved it and the crowd surfers came in strong.
Check out the Spiritworld concert photo gallery below:
Spiritworld ended their explosive set with their recent single “No Vacancy in Heaven” and their breakthrough track “ULCER.” For a first performance in the state, they made it clear they were here to stay, especially after the “Go Pack Go” chant.
As direct support, the New Zealand natives in Alien Weaponry returned to The Sylvee for the first time since 2021. This time the stage was cleared with only a drum kit on a small riser center stage. Henry De Jong walked out alone. Standing behind his kit, he began a traditional Maori haka. The room went silent, then the band launched into a sharp and powerful assault of metal sung partly in their native language. To the right stood bassist Turanga Morgan-Edwards and to the left guitarist Lewis De Jong. Opening with “Ru Ana Te Whenua,” their metal strength was instant. All three shared vocal duties, which is rare these days, and their sound was undeniably unique.
Morgan-Edwards played with intensity and fiery passion. Every note he hit was strong and fast, and every scream was fierce. His moko tattoo added weight to his spoken Maori. Across the stage, Lewis De Jong picked furiously at his guitar strings. His long dreads swung in every direction as he headbanged through the set, and his vocals added depth. As a group they remained cohesive, confident, and true to their own style. The crowd devoured every moment. Crowd surfers poured over the barricade.
Check out the Alien Weaponry concert photo gallery below:
They tore through tracks like “Mau Moko” and “Taniwha” and closed with “Kai Tangata.” The selections came from two of their albums, Te Reo and Tu. As they concluded, awe swept across the Madison crowd just as it had the last time they played the venue.
With Avatar building a massive following over the last decade, The Sylvee filled quickly with fans in their favorite freakshow attire and face paint. The barricade was rowdy before the band even took the stage, but when the stage lights turned blue and the band was wheeled out on a platform the ground shook. All members stood in dark hooded robes and frontman Johannes Eckerstrom held out a lantern on a chain. As the band stepped off the platform, Eckerstrom remained and began singing.
They kicked off the night with “Captain Goat” from their newly released Don’t Go Into The Forest. The new album was not the focus of the full show, but they played six tracks, including “Death and Glitz,” “In The Airwaves,” “Howling At The Waves,” “Don’t Go Into The Forest,” and “Tonight We Must Be Warriors.” The songs hit the crowd hard and the Madison fans knew the lyrics well. Avatar later took a moment to thank local station WJJO for supporting them from the beginning.
The night was more than an introduction to a new album. It was filled with theatrics and classic hits that helped bring them close to selling out The Sylvee. Mixed between the new material were heart pounding riffs and crushing drums. With “Silence In The Age of Apes,” “The Eagle Has Landed,” and “Bloody Angel” early in the set, the band showed they were not holding back. With their gypsy freakshow decor and shifting stage lighting, the band fell immediately into peak form. Guitarists Tim Ohrstrom and Jonas Jarlsby anchored each side of the stage, often meeting in the center to shred solos and interact with the fans. Crowd surfers moved nonstop, often reaching for high fives as they passed. The atmosphere was electric.
Bassist Henrik Sandelin laid down heavy bass lines that rattled the walls. At times he lifted his mic stand to deliver vocals. The three string players spent much of the show in full headbanging mode, their long hair swirling in circles. The theatrical elements pushed the performance even higher. The rolling platform allowed for added layers in the show beyond simple costume changes. With it, Eckerstrom showcased his vocal range by performing “Howling At The Waves” with the band and “Tower” alone with only a microphone and a piano. His commentary was humorous, and his voice was captivating.
Then came “Legend of The King,” which featured Jarlsby being rolled out sitting on a throne dressed as a king. He shredded while remaining stoic as Eckerstrom climbed onto the platform, singing directly to him. It was another moment that highlighted the band’s sense of theater.
The final three songs of the evening were a fierce punch of their biggest hits. Kicking off the encore with “Dance Devil Dance,” the crowd erupted and the mosh pit exploded, but the true chaos came when Eckerstrom hyped the crowd by calling them a freakshow. Anyone who knew the band understood what was coming next. “Smells Like a Freakshow” sent the room into mayhem, and they closed with their most popular track “Hail The Apocalypse.”
As quickly as they walked out, they left, all together on the rolling platform behind a curtain. Moments later they returned and tossed out guitar picks and drumsticks. Avatar kept engaging the crowd and every time they asked for applause the Madison fans got louder until the band finally stepped offstage for good.
Check out the Avatar concert photo gallery below:
The Swedish metal outfit once again came to Wisconsin and delivered a show for the ages. Everything about the band is thought out and planned. The visuals, costumes, makeup, and lighting each feel like characters of their own. Musically they are at the top of their game, and the newest album has clearly been well received even in its early days. Fans left thrilled and the streets outside The Sylvee were packed and festive. Avatar delivered everything you could want in a live band and both openers hit just as hard. What an evening.
