LIVE REVIEW: AVATAR + PYREFLY @ THE PRINCESS THEATRE 30/08/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi Photos Charlyn Cameron

The Princess Theatre transformed into a bubbling and swirling mosh pit of theatrical madness and face paint fury as Avatar brought their ‘Don’t Go In The Forest Tour’ to Brisbane. They were joined by Pyrefly to deliver a gig of uncompromising force. The huge crowd joined the bands, with arms in the air, fist pumping, head banging ferocity and had a really fun time.

The chilled venue welcomed Sydney nu-metal/metalcore band Pyrefly to the stage to commence the evening. The band: KJ Risk (lead vocals), Andrew Courtney (guitar), Alanis "Sticks" Bentley (drums), Trent "Treadly" Knights (bass) and Hades Hellfire (guitar) delivered a tight and interesting six-song set.

Pyrefly started their set with their original tracks ‘Foreword’ and ‘Lost’ from their 2026 album ‘Lost & Found’. The band’s drummer was amazing as the beat thundered through the venue. The hair was flowing and the headbanging was warming up. The track ‘Imotep’ highlighted the vocal skill of KJ Risk and the chant along sections with the “fight, fight, fight” got the crowd singing and helped build the energy for what was still to come.

But it wasn’t until the band stopped to welcome the crowd to the gig and told them that “this is the largest crowd we have ever played to in Brisbane” that the crowd really started to actively engage with the band. The fantastic track ‘Blind’ really had the crowd going with the nu-metal heavy mixed with metalcore melodic rock. It didn’t necessarily fit the sonic mould, but the circle pit started and the crowd were headbanging along. KJ Risk left the stage and walked out into the crowd and demanded a proper circle pit with a wall of death experience – “with added violence”, but Brisbane missed its cue and had to do it again. The singer was knocked to the ground as a ‘stacks on’ game was played. It was over quickly and KJ Risk returned to the stage and thanked the moshers for taking him off his feet.

The ice was broken now. Pyrefly finished a short burst of ‘Blind’ before they unleashed their rendition of Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’. Well, the crowd went off! The singing exploded! Pyrefly’s guitarists duelled it out. It was great fun! Pyrefly ended their set with ‘The Void’ as the song was sung to a red skull and KJ Risk went down to the barrier, and grabbed a fan’s phone and filmed the band on stage before returning it. The last chords were delivered as the guitarist ran along the barrier giving high fives to everyone.

Pyrefly got the crowd warmed up, the place was bouncing along and revved up as the guitarists threw picks out into the crowd as they left the stage.

The stage was made ready for Avatar. It was stripped back, the kit was removed and the double drum kit was tested. The soundwaves coming out of the two bass drums were a sonic force of loud and heavy beats.

Well, “ladies and gentlemen”, the space was needed for the performance that Avatar were about to deliver. The house lights dimmed, and the stage was bathed in fog and blue light and there was the sound of a storm as rain and thunder played over the PA and heralded the entrance of Avatar cloaked in robes. There was a medieval chant as the band, and frontman Johannes Eckerstrom, who was holding a large lantern aloft, commenced the opening song, ‘Captain Goat’, and it has ‘Viking’ overtones.

And, if you ever wondered where the Vikings went – they joined heavy metal bands – and are conquering the world: Avatar are prime examples. I can see them coming over the ocean in their longboat, with the drums beating and taking over the longhouse and enchanting the local women. The crowd at The Princess Theatre was so there and in Avatar’s thrall.

Back to music, and the second song was ‘Let It Burn’ as the band de-robed - cloaks were off. The stage lights were bright and Johannes Eckerstrom, with his distinctive clown face make-up with ear-to-ear grin was on full display. The band: Jonas "Kungen" Jarlsby, Tim Öhrström and Henrik Sandelin were headbanging with helicopter hair harder than the crowd, and the drummer John Alfredsson, who looked like he belonged on a Viking longship, kept the beat, the time and the performance together. The massive crowd singalong, the circle pit and bouncing mayhem had started in earnest.

Avatar stopped and welcomed the crowd to their end of tour blow-out concert. The crowd rested. The band then issued Brisbane “the challenge” before performing the speed metal of ‘The Eagle Has Landed’. The circle pit opened and the hardcore dancing was on. The band looked pleased.

‘In the Airwaves’ followed and it was a real rock and roller of a song with the sonic pounding of the drums, with added huge guitar solos. JohannesEckerstrom drank from a gasoline jerry can between the verses and instrumentation, before spraying water all over the stage. As the song ended, the band took themselves off stage, telling jokes, “We are over here to take your jobs and your women”, that made the crowd laugh and cheer.

One solo guitarist stayed behind and the spotlight found him. He, then, played the most amazing and the most beautiful guitar riff melody line of ‘Bloody Angel’. It was truly beautiful. The rest of the band returned to the stage with Johannes Eckerstrom now wearing his iconic red coat, hat with his walking staff. It brought the circus ringmaster theatrics to the forefront of the set as they added power to the song, before the guitar riff returned and ended it.

The dance-rock glam of ‘Death and Glitz’ followed. Suddenly, a figure emerged onto the stage with what looked like a ski mask and wearing a helmet with a cymbal stuck on it. He had a beer can and a shoe. He then did a “shoey” and walked off. The crowd looked on, puzzled, but then laughed. Avatar then ordered Brisbane to ‘Get In Line’ and enjoy ‘Silence In The Age Of Apes’.

The stage was cleared. Red light flooded the venue. Sirens sounded and red and orange lights glowed as the band stood to attention and performed the dark gothic track of ‘Colossus’. Then, unexpectedly, a keyboard was placed on stage, and Johannes Eckerstrom performed the plaintive and emotional love song that is ‘Torn Apart’. It was beautifully eerie and mesmerising. Then, Avatar plunged back into glorious noise with ‘Howling At The Waves’ before unleashing the fan favourite ‘The Dirt I'm Buried In’ and then following it with the huge headbanging singalong of ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’.

Avatar have mastered the sonic and lyrical blending of the light and dark, brooding and upbeat, and it carried the crowd along on a wave of excitement that was hard to beat. The crowd bounced, stomped, clapped, sang, headbanged and the energy in the venue just increased. The main set ended with ‘Tonight We Must Be Warriors’. Its military beat and tin whistle refrain were a controlled piece of theatre that was brilliantly realised.

Then, Avatar left the stage. Suddenly, a remote controlled car with a red balloon attached drove across the stage. The “balloon did not go up”, it kind of ‘wafted’ before Johannes Eckerstrom returned to the stage to chat to the crowd about not understanding Australian accents, his love of the film Crocodile Dundee, Paul Hogan and the concept of the Avatar family before the band re-joined him to play ‘Crying Fire’.

Then, the band left the stage again before returning as Johannes Eckerstrom whipped up the crowd as he “is the gift that keeps on giving” as Avatar performed the perennial fan favourite ‘Smells Like A Freakshow’, that saw another circle pit go off and the singing increase. Avatar said goodnight again and left the stage.

The chant went up from the crowd immediately and at full volume for “one more song”. Avatar obliged and returned to play ‘Hail The Apocalypse’. This ending was an epic power metal track performed with skill, passion and humour. Johannes Eckerstrom promised the adoring crowd that Avatar will be back as the band said goodnight and goodbye.

Avatar delivered their ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’ set and it was a masterclass in controlled madness. It was brilliant!