LIVE FROM THE PIT: Avatar, Alien Weaponry and Witch Satan Club

Despite the combative weather, Bristol’s O2 Academy heaved with face-painted, leather clad attendees preparing themselves for the tenured melodic death of AVATAR. Supported by much lorded black metal upstart WITCH CLUB SATAN on their second set of UK dates, following a blinding appearance at Birmingham’s Supersonic festival. Following them came New Zealand’s premier groove metal outfit in ALIEN WEAPONRY.

Whilst hampered towards the start by weak guitar mixes, WITCH CLUB SATAN were still able to present a cohesive and abrasive set. Interweaving traditional black metal confrontation with a striking stage presence, evocative costuming, and a brief tonal diversion into a more experimental vocal driven song. What ties the band together really clearly, besides the ritualistic image and grinding black metal riffs, is the interplay between the trio on stage.

The group were able to feed effortlessly of each other which coincidentally works to stir an audience of both incited witches and profligates alike. The only real issue the band faced was that the theatrics of their sets could not be fully realised within their opening slot. Overall, an engaging performance that could benefit from a slight time extension to fully explore its themes.

With guitar sound adjusted, the high energy of ALIEN WEAPONRY’s onslaught of unending thrash whipped the audience out the trance WITCH CLUB SATAN had been able to invoke, sending the stands into something more akin to a riot. Despite only being a three-piece, the New Zealand band’s jagged sound combined with each member’s stomping stage characteristics sent the crowd into a communal frenzy, with heads of all ages banging along to the tight nu-thrash influenced lines. The band’s set functioned as a more than sufficient warm up for the night’s main event.

With the smoke machine bellowing, AVATAR was revealed. Whilst theatrical had been on point the whole night, the effort and detail put into the production of the headliner was truly a punch above the rest. A Neon render of the logo flanked from the rear along with a fence of strobe lighting, whilst the band appeared draped in long fine robes with singer Johannes Eckerström clutching a gargantuan lantern.

The band’s set was filled with complementary contrasts of melodic grooves and baroque vocals in songs such as the opener and the new album single Captain Goat and the more traditionally groove oriented classic Smells Like a Freakshow. The showmanship continued in the band's constant costume changes, from gothic gowns to leather peacoats, and the matching set of red and orange Ibanez guitars sported by both rhyme and lead.

Towards the set's end, the entire stage setup was swapped in only a few minutes for royal red banners as a throne was brought out onstage for the conceptual Legend of the King in a tight bit of stage craft.

The key takeaway from AVATAR’s set was the well-rehearsed nature of it all. From Johannes Eckerström constantly engaging stage presence keeping the energy up all night, to well timed use of the spring activated backing vocal mic stands, providing a clear demonstration of why the band have been able to remain pillars of the more theatrical end of the metal scene. Whilst they have been going for twenty plus years, they have not slowed down at all and are a must see for those with an interest in the more tongue-in-cheek leaning and theatrical side of death metal.

Words: Zach Davis

Photos: Kieran Atkinson