Don't Go In The Forest Tour Featuring Avatar, Fleshgod Apocalypse & Frozen Soul
When Avatar first dropped their tour dates back in January, the stop in Buffalo felt like a lifetime away. But after a solid run of shows at Buffalo Riverworks this year, the wait is finally over. We’ve got a massive triple-threat hitting the stage: the theatrical chaos of Avatar, the absolute destruction of Frozen Soul, and the symphonic brutality of Fleshgod Apocalypse. It has been 9 years since I have seen Avatar perform. The day was rainy and gloomy before the show began, and it finally cleared up as I got closer to the venue. As I walked up to the venue, the line of fans was quickly forming. This show was less than 100 tickets from selling out. Buffalo was the city to be at, if you weren’t at Buffalo Riverworks, hopefully you got a chance to catch In Flames, Thrown, and Distant at the Town Ballroom.
First up is Frozen Soul, a band that needs no introduction to the Buffalo metal scene. We last caught their electrifying performance when they toured with Killswitch Engage, Kublai Khan, and Fit For A King. Originating from Dallas, Texas, this five-piece quickly made their mark with a relentless death metal sound. Since our last encounter, Frozen Soul has dropped a new album, No Place Of Warmth, featuring 11 crushing tracks and guest appearances by Machine Head, Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, and Sanguisugabogg. Frozen Soul set the tone for the night ahead, starting off strong with “Skinned By The Wind.” During song 2, “Beat to Dust,” singer Chad offered to give out free merch to anyone in the crowd during that song because the band enjoys giving away merch. Frozen Soul did not have to be there that night. Chad’s dad unfortunately passed away the night before. Even though he said he didn’t have a great relationship with his dad, he knew that the show must go on, and his dad would have wanted him to finish out the store. The whole band was excited to be back in Buffalo. During the 4th song, “Absolute Zero,” Chad threw on a helmet with metal wings and spikes on it. I would say these guys are a band you don’t want to miss, if rip your face off metal is your style, check out Frozen Soul.
Fleshgod Apocalypse stormed the stage next. Hailing from Italy, this symphonic death metal powerhouse boasts six albums in its discography. True to their distinctive name, Fleshgod Apocalypse fuses classical music theatrics with the epic brutality of death and symphonic metal—a combination that defines their unmistakable sound. Fleshgod Apocalypse wasn’t exactly my usual style, but they delivered an outstanding performance. Their sound was remarkably creative, blending intense screaming with operatic vocals. Francesco Ferrini (piano) even sang during the second song, “I Can Never Die.” The band’s elaborate outfits perfectly matched the dramatic music. At one point, the drummer came to the front to help energize the crowd. You could truly feel their passion, especially in the expressions on their faces.
Since forming in Mölndal back in 2001, Avatar has evolved from a Swedish melodic death metal outfit into a global heavy metal circus. With ten studio albums under their belt, including their most recent descent into the dark, Don’t Go in the Forest, released this past Halloween. The band has proven they aren't afraid to take the long road to success. That patience paid off in 2023 when “The Dirt I’m Buried In” climbed to number one on US rock radio, marking the longest climb to the top of the charts in two decades. “The Dirt I’m Buried In” is the most listened to on Avatar’s Spotify. It's a testament to a band that has spent twenty-five years mastering the art of the slow burn. Avatar took the stage next. As the room went dark, cheers erupted while the drum kit slowly split in two, and a mysterious platform rolled onto the stage—members cloaked, with singer Johannes Eckerström holding a lantern.
Each band member took their place to launch into “Captain Goat,” and every fan in the crowd seemed to be singing along. Over the course of the night, Avatar played an impressive 17-song set (including the encore), featuring “Death and Glitz,” “Colossus,” and, naturally, “The Dirt I’m Buried In.” Their performance was meticulously choreographed—like a finely tuned circus, but with a metal edge. The energy was electric, with fans crowd surfing, jumping, and demanding more. I especially enjoyed the dramatic costume changes, such as the Pierrot clown outfit for the slower tracks. As the night drew to a close, the crowd’s energy never waned. Avatar capped the show with three special encore songs: “Don’t Go in the Forest,” “Smells Like a Freakshow,” and “Hail the Apocalypse.” And, fittingly for a circus-like spectacle, confetti showered the audience at the finale.
And that’s a wrap on this one, but trust us, 2026 is only getting started! The Concerthopper crew is just warming up, and we have so much more incredible coverage, mind-blowing photography, and live music chaos in store for you this year. You absolutely do not want to miss a single beat of what’s coming next. Want to stay ahead of the crowd? Smash the “like” and “follow” over on Facebook and Instagram and join the community! We'll see you in the pit!