Avatar – Powerstation, 1 September 2026: Review & Photo Gallery

Sarah Kidd and Photos by Leonie Moreland

2nd September 2026

Avatar are undeniably theatrical, which is half of their charm, as Eckerstrӧm would announce later in the evening “Welcome to the circus!,” he of course being the ringleader extraordinaire, sporting flawless face paint reminiscent of Alice Cooper and a wide mouth smile that when he opened his jaw fully was both impressive and slightly unnerving.

It has been a very long wait for New Zealand fans of Avatar to finally witness them live in their beloved country, but the Swedish legends were determined last night to make it the best first experience that any fan could hope to have.

It is officially the first day of spring in Aotearoa, and there is a renewed energy in the air as a sea of black files into Powerstation. With lazy long evenings creeping ever closer, the concert announcements have started to roll in. Avatar the perfect way to begin the next few months that for once offer a rather tasty array of metal and alternative bands to choose from.

To begin the evening however, some homegrown metal in the form of none other than Bulletbelt. Formed in 2009, the Wellington stalwarts have a serious list of band names on the CV that they have played support for, from Belphegor and Venom Inc, right through to Dragonforce and Arch Enemy to name but a few.

Striding out last night, Bulletbelt looked quite at home on the Powerstation stage, for it is one they know well, founding member and quite easily one of the heaviest tattooed members of the New Zealand metal scene, Steve Francis taking his spot behind the skins, his muscles tensing as he prepared to deliver what he is well known for – punishing and precise intensity.

Kicking off the set with Burn It Up it was pleasing to see that the room was already well populated with those who appreciate good metal. Punishment Of God from their 2020 album Warlords followed next – and word to the wise if you have not yet seen the official music video it is well worth checking out.

It cannot be denied that Bulletbelt have cycled through more than a couple of lead singers, but with Diego Attinger now at the helm, the band seem to have found a new vigor that burns from within. Toss in musicians like Fynn Graves, Tim Mekalick and Josh Desmond who threw down some imposing guitar solos, and you have a band that reminds you that New Zealand metal is up there with the best of them.

Closing their set with Flames Of Hell and rather excitingly new material in the form of Midnight Fistfight, and Bulletbelt reminded all who were present that they still hold solid ground in the realms of blackened heavy metal.

Formed in Mölndal in 2001 and with ten studio albums under their belt, it has been a long time coming for Avatar to finally play in New Zealand, and the fans were chomping at the bit as the lights lowered and the sounds of a ship at sea filled the room.

At 6”3, frontman Johannes Eckerström already cuts a foreboding figure, but dressed in a hooded cape and holding a lantern high as he moved slowly through the darkness into view he was even more imposing.

As the rest of the members followed suit, the opening notes of Captain Goat rang out, a track that is not a traditional sea shanty so to speak but certainly stylised like one, and hugely popular with the crowd as they bellowed the chorus back.

Ditching the capes with a flourish, the band launched into Let It Burn from their 2012 album Black Waltz which allowed Eckerström to prove that he is not just a pretty face as he moved from clean to unclean vocals easily, Avatar demonstrating that they could smash out heavy metal live with ease.

As The Eagle Has Landed begun, Eckerström paused to drink from a black gasoline can, a nice visual touch to the madness that the band portray; hell even the guitar tech was wearing a leather executioners mask. It may seem silly to some, but it is details like these that can endear a band to an attendee and anchor a lifelong following.

In The Airwaves, the second of six tracks that would be performed from their latest album Don’t Go In The Forest last night was delivered at break neck speed, possible Slipknot influence heard in its undercurrent, the synchronised windmilling of hair overseen by John Alfredsson on drums who at times is almost as animated as the ringleader himself.

A change of outfit saw Eckerström don a red coat, with hat and cane as accessories for both Bloody Angel and Death And Glitz, the latter again from their latest album released on Halloween last year; Henrik Sandelin on bass going back to back with both Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström on guitars. At one point Alfredsson stood and conducted an almost dance of band members before once again returning to his throne and smashing out some smooth double kicks without breaking eye contact or a sweat.

To many a patrons surprise, the guitar tech suddenly lurched into view wearing a helmet with a tiny symbol atop it. He paused, reached up and used a large soft brush to clean the hand of Alfredsson who was stoically holding his position of pointing at the crowd. Suddenly Alfredsson looked down, hit the tiny symbol and Avatar launched into Get In Line as the tech scooted off back to his home in the corner.

Again it is these little touches that make seeing Avatar live compulsory, but make no mistake, Avatar aren’t a gimmicky band. Sure they have their spiel, Eckerström later delivering quite the monologue on how the band are a family, a family of freaks that the fans are now bound to.

But there was also a serious message tied in there, one of kindness and acceptance, and to find joy in a world that will at times be vicious no matter what you do, so you may as well be yourself and have fun while doing so. Word of the day; solidarity. And what a word that is.

Colossus was unrelenting in the best way and led into Torn Apart nicely, again our frontman’s unclean vocals making the faces in the crowd contort with delight and nods of respectful approval. Taking it down a notch for Howling At The Waves, a keyboard with synth was brought out for Eckerström who soon discovered that the synth was not working. Gesturing to the tech Harry, the exchange soon turned into a light-hearted comedic moment as Harry was playfully teased for not getting things working, the audience soon breaking out into song once they discovered it was also Harrys birthday.

Sadly, the synth could not be revived so the song was played with just the keys, Eckerström demonstrating a dark romantic side to his persona.

The Dirt I’m Buried In led into a trio which included Crying Fire and Tonight We Must Be Warriors, the band marching in a line across the stage without missing a beat, those ultra smooth double-kicks sending delicious shivers up the spine as Jarlsby laid down some hefty string work.

Bidding farewell an encore was of course demanded; no one wanting the hellishly entertaining night to end.

Avatar returned and immediately dropped Don’t Go In The Forest, a song that is such an earworm that you will find yourself humming it long after the show has ended. Announcing that they had time for not one but two more songs, Avatar performed Smells Like A Freakshow which the day one fans in attendance went absolutely wild for and to close the title track from their 2014 album Hail The Apocalypse which saw them leave under blinding strobe lights and anxiety inducing reverb.

Returning one last time to take a bow, Avatar looked thrilled by the sea of grinning faces and cheers of delight; they generously handed out guitar pics, drumsticks and setlists before waving goodbye one last time, the promise of their return still lingering in the air.