On Friday November 21st, I drove from my home in Cleveland area and arrived at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, PA. It was oddly warm as I was walking towards the venue. As I got closer, I felt my heart beginning to race, I felt the hairs on my arms and neck standing on end… I knew that the evening was about to kick off, and it felt fantastic! If you have never been to Stage AE, it is an amazing venue. The staff and the snacks there are pretty awesome!
I got there at doors, and the security guards even made jokes about how “early” I was, they said that AVATAR was not hitting the stage till 9:30p, and I smiled and said: “I know. The thing is, I love to get to the venues early! I never miss the openers. You never know who is going to go intergalactic! I mean, at one point, Metallica was an opener, they were a local garage band! I want to give the openers the same love I give the headliner!” They were blown away, and thanked me for having that mindset.
It was time to start the show, SpiritWorld kicked things off, and they were a hell of a way to start. SpiritWorld’s formed in Las Vegas in 2017, calling their sound “death-western” — that mix of thrash and death metal, but filtered through cowboy imagery. The current lineup: Stu Folsom on vocals, Randy Moore on lead guitar, Matt Schrum on rhythm guitar, Nick Brundy on bass, and Preston Harper behind the drums. According to Wikipedia, their stage presence leans into that Western horror motif — think rhinestone suits, wide-brim hats, and moral desolation. Their recent album, Helldorado (2025), brought that vision into full focus, and live, they channeled it with ferocity.
The crowd responded fiercely. SpiritWorld’s riffs twisted like tumbleweed in a storm. Stu Folsom roared like a gunslinger possessed, and the rhythm section held the mayhem tight. Their shorter opening set didn’t feel like an appetizer at the saloon, it felt like I had just slammed a triple shot of whiskey straight to the gut. Their songs like “Waiting on the Reaper” and “Relic of Damnation” landed with real weight. By the time they stepped off stage, they’d left the room ready for the mayhem to come. On a side note, one of my friends who was supposed to attend but could not, messaged me while I was at the show to ask how it was going and I told them that SpiritWorld was the most bipolar stage presence that I have ever seen! These thrash artists came out looking like a 70’s Bluegrass band from hell… I absolutely approved!
Next up was Alien Weaponry, and before I talk about their performance, I have to say that I had no idea who they were, where they were from, and what they were about… so I see the drummer come out, get behind his kit, and started to do the haka. Not knowing they were from New Zealand, I felt that to be a tad inappropriate considering the haka is a ceremonial dance performed to express pride, unity, welcome, or a challenge. Again, not knowing anything about these guys, I assumed that it was some guy who saw this and thought that it was cool… I was WRONG! I am happy to admit this! Moving on…
These guys came out, started to tear up the stage and their set carried a different kind of fire. Hailing from Waipu, New Zealand, this trio has a unique voice in metal: brothers Henry de Jong (drums) and Lewis de Jong (guitar, vocals), and Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds (bass, backing vocals). What I found on Wikipedia, they blend groove and thrash metal with lyrics in te reo Māori, drawing on their heritage to fuel both message and melody.
They launched into a set that felt both urgent and deeply rooted. Their newer material from Te Rā (2025) brought dense riffs, tribal rhythms, and raw emotion. When Lewis sang in Māori, it wasn’t a novelty — it felt like a reclamation. And Henry’s drumming carried a pulse that was both pummeling and respectful, like he was grounding ancient stories in brutal metal. Morgan-Edmonds anchored them with solid bass and backing vocals that gave depth to their anthemic energy.
The audience was fully engaged. There were nods, fists in the air, and a raw connection when Alien Weaponry played tracks that spoke of land, history, and struggle. By the end of their set, they’d built a bridge between their culture and the pit, and you could feel people crossing over.
It was time for the one, the only, AVATAR! the headliner, and they absolutely destroyed my expectations, yet again! This is the third time I have photographed them, and the fourth time I have seen them live. What I have learned about these guys is that you cannot expect what they have in store for you! Their sound, their theatrics, and their overall presence is unmatched! Last night, I knew going in that I was going to entertained, but they did not only exceed my expectations they destroyed them!
For over two decades, this Swedish band has carved its own path in the metal world. Current members: Johannes Eckerström (vocals, brass, keys), Jonas “Kungen” Jarlsby (guitar), Tim Öhrström (guitar, backing vocals), Henrik Sandelin (bass, backing vocals), and John Alfredsson (drums). Since forming in 2001 in Mölndal (originally under the name Lost Soul), they’ve grown into a theatrical force, mixing melodic death metal, alternative metal, groove and macabre showmanship.
I went into the show thinking that it would be similar to the last couple of times I saw them, and I could not have been more wrong! I have never seen a modular stage setup before! From start to finish, there was at least 10x-15x changes of the stage and such. From the very opening of the show, the band was wheeled around, transitioning from different places on the stage, outfit changes, and such! I want to say more, but at the same time I do not want to be one of those who spoils the show! I can honestly say that this was in the top five of my favorite shows I have ever seen in my life!
To say that their performance was cinematic would be selling it drastically short. The stage was wreathed in blue fog, and the band rolled out on a platform from the back of the stage, cloaked in capes. Johannes stepped forward, lantern in hand, he looked a bit like a preacher calling his congregation to the altar of metal for the evening mass. From there, they began their set with “Captain Goat” with thunderous conviction. The dual guitars of Jarlsby and Öhrström carved sharp, almost swing-like riffs across the stage, while Sandelin’s bass gave depth and Alfredsson’s drums underscored every twist like a heartbeat.
What stood out was the balance: moments of brutality followed by surprising softness. At one point Johannes sat at a piano, keys glowing, and played a more intimate passage. Johannes was wearing a “new jacket” a spike and studded leather jacket as he played “Tower”. He joked with the audience about his affections for this new jacket, and said that it would be a shame to only wear it for the one song, he then played another song, I think it was “Glory to Our King”. This melodic intermission broke the tension just long enough for the next wave to crash in. They closed the night with an encore that included “Dance Devil Dance,” “Smells Like a Freakshow,” sending the crowd into a frenzy. They could not have wrapped the evening any better, their final song of the night was “Hail the Apocalypse”! That is the first song I heard from them and remains one of my favorite songs to this day!
When it is all said and done, the show was more than a concert, it felt like a journey. SpiritWorld brought the desert grit, Alien Weaponry brought cultural fire and purpose, and Avatar tied it all together with spectacle and heart and soul. For a metalhead like me, someone who lives for the grind, the groove, the theatrical, it was a night that will live rent free in my mind for many, many years!
