Swedish Metal Visionaries Set to Support Iron Maiden and Metallica on European Stadium Runs
Swedish heavy metal titans AVATAR have returned with their most ambitious chapter yet, dropping the thunderous new single “Captain Goat” alongside the announcement of an extensive international touring campaign that will see the band dominating stages across Europe through 2026.
The quintet — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — continue their relentless ascent following the critical acclaim of 2023’s Dance Devil Dance, which spawned the rock chart-topping anthem “The Dirt I’m Buried In.”
“I think it will be very clear to people hearing ‘Captain Goat’, that the rules once again have changed,” states frontman Eckerström. “It will always be metal. It will always be Avatar. We will never do the same song twice and we will always find ways to reinvent ourselves. It’s the only way we know how to do this, and the only way to give ourselves a shot at being the best we have ever been.”
The track serves as a dark meditation, using Satanic imagery and underworld mythology to explore life’s harsh realities. “‘Captain Goat’ uses the motif of Satan and the spirit’s journey through the underworld as a meditation,” Eckerström explains. “It is a negotiation with the harsh state of being and finding acceptance as you navigate the ruthless darkness of life.”
The accompanying music video pushes creative boundaries, blending mythological imagery with the band’s signature theatrical flair. “In the video, we find a way to play with that, shamelessly lending imagery from various myths, folklore and legends,” the vocalist adds with characteristic humor.
Avatar’s touring schedule reads like a metalhead’s dream, featuring coveted support slots with two of metal’s most legendary acts:
IRON MAIDEN EUROPEAN TOUR 2025 The band will join the legendary British metal icons across Europe throughout July and August 2025, hitting major venues including Madrid’s Cívitas Metropolitano, Berlin’s Waldbühne, and Paris La Défense Arena.
METALLICA SUMMER 2026 Avatar will support the four horsemen at select European stadium shows, including Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park, Budapest’s Puskas Arena, and London Stadium.
EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR 2026 In between these massive support runs, Avatar will embark on their own headline tour across Europe in February and March 2026, hitting intimate venues in 13 countries.
Since their formation, Avatar have built a reputation as one of metal’s most innovative and visually striking acts. Their theatrical live performances, combined with Eckerström’s distinctive vocals and the band’s genre-defying approach, have earned them a devoted global following and critical acclaim.
The band shows no signs of slowing their quest for “absolute world domination,” with promises of more new music on the horizon.
“Captain Goat” is available now on all streaming platforms.
AVATAR TOUR DATES
WITH IRON MAIDEN – EUROPE 2025
July 3 – Belfort, FR – Eurockéennes
July 5 – Madrid, ES – Cívitas Metropolitano
July 6 – Lisbon, PT – MEO Arena
July 9 – Zurich, CH – Hallenstadion
July 11 – Gelsenkirchen, DE – Veltins Arena
July 13 – Padova, IT – Studio Euganeo
July 15 – Bremen, DE – Bürgerweide
July 17 – Vienna, AT – Ernst Happel Stadium
July 19-20 – Paris, FR – Paris La Défense Arena
July 23 – Arnhem, NL – GelreDome
July 25-26 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park/Cannstatter Wasen
July 29-30 – Berlin, DE – Waldbühne Berlin
Aug 2 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy
Aug 9 – Kortrijk, BE – Alcatraz Festival
WITH METALLICA – SUMMER 2026
May 24 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park
June 11 – Budapest, HU – Puskas Arena
June 19 – Dublin, IE – Aviva Stadium
July 5 – London, UK – London Stadium
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