Metallica Just Gave Avatar One Hell Of An Endorsement Before Their Australian Tour

If you needed any more convincing that Avatar are one of modern metal’s most formidable live bands, here’s an endorsement that’s hard to top.

Fresh from wrapping up another European leg of their blockbuster M72 World Tour, Metallica have singled out the Swedish theatrical metal outfit for special praise, thanking them for “raising the bar” as one of the tour’s support acts.

“Every night felt like a spectacle. Massive thanks for raising the bar and keeping crowds on their toes!”

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Sharing a gallery of live photos from the run, Metallica wrote:

“Ringmaster Johannes and the Swedish madmen from @avatarmetal brought something completely new to the #M72 stage. Every night felt like a spectacle. Massive thanks for raising the bar and keeping crowds across Europe and the UK on their toes!”

For a band whose live show has become the benchmark for arena metal over the past four decades, it’s no small compliment.

Avatar frontman Johannes Eckerström says hearing those words from Metallica “means the world” to the band.

“Metallica has always been an inspiration, so sharing those stages with them and having them recognize what we bring as a band is something we will always be grateful for,” he told Loudwire.

“They’ve set the standard for live performance for generations and hearing them say that we brought something new to the M72 stage and helped raise the bar means the world to us.”

Reflecting on the tour, Eckerström added: “This last month has been a wild ride and we’re incredibly grateful for every moment. London marked our final show supporting Metallica on the M72 World Tour.

“What started as a wild, untouched opportunity soon became memories we will carry forever. We leave this run grateful, inspired, and proud to have been a part of it. To each and every one of you who watched, listened, sang along, or discovered us somewhere along the way, thank you.”

Meanwhile, Aussie fans won’t have to wait long to see what impressed Metallica so much.

Avatar return to Australia later this year armed with their recently released tenth studio album, Don’t Go In The Forest, marking their first visit since 2023, when their explosive live show won over local crowds and helped cement their rep as one of heavy music’s most theatrical live acts.

The upcoming run will see Johannes Eckerström and co. bring their signature blend of crushing riffs, theatrical spectacle and carnival-esque chaos back to stages around the country in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Suss all the details down below.