Avatar Bring Their Circus of Chaos to Silver Spring
Words and Photos by Mike Sprouse / Odd Rocker Photography
There are concerts you attend, and then there are concerts you survive. Avatar’s recent show at The Fillmore Silver Spring was the latter; an unrelenting carnival of sound, sweat, and spectacle. A night where the whole room felt like it was perched on a wobbling carnival ride, and you’re not entirely convinced the bolts are screwed in tight. That’s part of the charm. Avatar’s theatrical style is rooted in their identity as a “metal circus,” blending heavy riffs with surreal stagecraft.
Avatar formed in Mölndal, Sweden, back in 2001, carving their way into the melodic death metal scene before evolving into something far stranger as they’ve built a reputation for turning concerts into bizarre, immersive performances that feel equal parts carnival, opera, and battlefield. By the time Johannes Eckerström stepped into his role as frontman, the band began experimenting with theatricality. His clown-inspired persona became the centerpiece — equal parts unsettling and magnetic.
The makeup isn’t just for shock value; Avatar managed to take what could’ve been a gimmick and turned it into a defining feature. The clown aesthetic ties directly into their music’s themes of chaos, absurdity, and rebellion. It’s a visual metaphor for the band’s worldview: life is a circus, and they’re the ringleaders.
Avatar’s 10th studio album, Don’t Go in the Forest, dropped in October, and it’s already shaping their live shows. Tracks like “The Dirt I’m Buried In” climbed to No. 1 on US rock radio, proving their blend of spectacle and substance resonates far beyond the stage.
Watch the official music video for “The Dirt I’m Buried In” by Avatar on YouTube:
The Fillmore itself has that perfect balance of intimacy and grandeur. It’s big enough to feel like a proper arena experience, but small enough that you can see the whites of Johannes Eckerström’s eyes when he leans into the crowd with that sinister grin.
The energy was already buzzing before the lights dimmed on Nov. 23, with fans painted up in Avatar’s signature clown makeup, leather jackets creaking, beers raised high. You could feel the anticipation like static in the air.
When the band stormed the stage with “Captain Goat,” it was immediate chaos. The guitars cut through like jagged glass, and Johannes commanded the room like a deranged ringmaster. Avatar wasn’t here to play nice; they were here to burn the place down.
The setlist was a masterclass in pacing. “Silence in the Age of the Apes” followed, its mechanical stomp shaking the floorboards. Then came “The Eagle Has Landed,” which had the crowd chanting like it was a national anthem for the damned.
“In The Airwaves” brought a strange, almost psychedelic groove, like being caught between a nightmare and a dream. “Bloody Angel” was haunting, with its slow build erupting into a wall of sound that had people clutching their chests.
By the time “Death and Glitz” and “Blod” hit, the room felt like a furnace. Sweat dripping, hair flying, fists pumping; it was primal. “Colossus” was crushing, a song that feels like it could level buildings, while “Howling at the Waves” gave the crowd a moment to breathe, though not much.
“Tower” and “Legend of the King” brought the theatrical flair Avatar is known for. Costumes, lighting shifts, and Johannes’s bizarre monologues made it feel like a twisted stage play. “Let It Burn” was pure catharsis with fans screaming every word like they were exorcising demons. “Don’t Go in the Forest” was eerie, almost playful, before plunging into darkness. “The Dirt I’m Buried In” hit hard emotionally, a reminder that Avatar isn’t just about spectacle, they can cut deep when they want to. And then “Tonight We Must Be Warriors” closed the main set with a rallying cry, the kind of track that makes you want to charge into battle with strangers you just met in the pit.
Watch the official music video for “Tonight We Must Be Warriors” by Avatar on YouTube:
Of course, Avatar wasn’t done. The encore was a three-song gauntlet: “Dance Devil Dance” turned the floor into a writhing mass of bodies, “Smells Like a Freakshow” brought back that carnival vibe with a vengeance, and “Hail the Apocalypse” was the perfect closer—apocalyptic, triumphant, and utterly devastating.
Watching Avatar, you’re reminded of how rare it is for a band to balance musicianship with theater. Plenty of metal acts can play fast and loud, but few can make you feel like you’re part of a surreal circus. It’s almost like seeing Alice Cooper reborn for a new generation, but with Swedish precision and a heavier punch.
And let’s not forget the crowd. Silver Spring showed up strong. Maryland has always had a loyal metal scene, and you could tell by the way fans screamed every lyric, moshed without hesitation, and stayed locked in until the final note.
Leaving The Fillmore, the air was sharp and cold, but nobody seemed to care. People were buzzing, recounting favorite moments, laughing about near-misses in the pit, and already talking about catching Avatar again when they roll through next. That’s the mark of a great show because it doesn’t end when the lights come up. It lingers, echoing in your bones, reminding you why live music still matters.
Avatar didn’t just play a concert in Silver Spring. They staged a war, a carnival, a ritual and for those lucky enough to be there, it was one hell of a night.
Setlist
1. Captain Goat
2. Silence in the Age of the Apes
3. The Eagle Has Landed
4. In The Airwaves
5. Bloody Angel
6. Death and Glitz
7. Blod
8. Colossus
9. Howling at the Waves
10. Tower
11. Legend of the King
12. Let It Burn
13. Don’t Go in the Forest
14. The Dirt I’m Buried In
15. Tonight We Must Be Warriors
Encore
16. Dance Devil Dance
17. Smells Like a Freakshow
18. Hail the Apocalypse
Here are some photos of Avatar performing live at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Nov. 23, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography.
Keep scrolling for coverage of the opening acts!
SpiritWorld, Alien Weaponry open for Avatar and Bring Controlled Chaos to The Fillmore
There’s something about a Sunday night metal show where you’re shaking off the last bit of the week while bracing for the next. That’s how the room felt when SpiritWorld opened with this wild mix of thrash, hardcore, and spaghetti western swagger that shouldn’t work as well as it does. Stu Folsom stalked the stage with the confidence of someone who’s been sharpening the same knife for years, and it showed. The riffs snapped, the breakdowns hit with a satisfying thud, and somewhere between songs I caught myself thinking about how metal bands keep finding new angles on old ideas. It’s funny, some folks say heavy music never changes, but nights like this prove that’s not even close to true.
Next up, New Zealand’s Alien Weaponry stepped onto The Fillmore’s stage and they came out swinging, dropping those thick, rolling rhythms that land somewhere between haka energy and a freight train rumble.
You could feel the kick drum thudding in your chest in that way that reminds you why small clubs beat arenas almost every time. Their Māori-language vocals carried this sharp, commanding edge, too, as people who’d walked in cold suddenly found themselves pulled toward the barrier like the floor had a magnetic field.
Here are some photos of Alien Weaponry and then SpiritWorld opening Avatar at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Nov. 23, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography.
