Ice Nine Kills & Avatar
August 23, 2024
Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, Calgary, AB
Canadian Beats Passport
An interesting weekend for concerts in Alberta with Metallica taking over Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Friday and Sunday. Some of the openers have routed their own tours around the Metallica dates. Ice Nine Kills, who is playing day two of the Metallica shows – has teamed up with In This Moment, Avatar, and TX2 to bring us the Kiss of Death 2 tour. I didn’t get off work in time to catch TX2 and In This Moment was not allowing photographers – so this will be focused strictly on Avatar and Ice Nine Kills.
Finally! I get to shoot the insane Swedish act AVATAR! A thoroughly entertaining set each of the 3 times I’ve seen them prior, I went in expecting a killer show from these guys, and they totally delivered. Singer Johannes Eckerström just keeps the crowd absolutely captivated with his antics, his energy, and a charisma and stage presence that few can match. A super tight band, catchy songs, and a manic clown pacing the stage the whole set.. what more could you ask for?
For me, the highlight is ICE Nine Kills – I first discovered them when I shot them on the Trinity of Terror tour with Motionless in White and the Black Veil Brides. I was blown away from the moment they started. Horror movie-themed songs paired with props, zombies, costume changes, and more entertainment value than you can even comprehend – INK is an absolute must-see act. (And my most listened-to band of the last couple of years) – Spencer Charnas is a fantastic storyteller and lyricist, interweaving a vocal style that covers everything from super melodic and catchy cleans to shrill manic screams, all the way to devastating growls.
A set heavily focused on their most recent album, Welcome to Horrorwood, fans were also treated to their cover of “Walking on Sunshine”. Some fan favourites definitely made the set, such is “IT Is The End”, “The American Nightmare” and “Funeral Derangements”. Don’t miss these guys the next time they’re near you!
