Is there a more thankless task than opening for Iron Maiden in Europe’s largest indoor stadium? Probably not. Avatar gave it their all, and to their credit, they were excellent. But in the eyes of the 40,000 Maiden diehards packed into La Défense Arena, they were destined to be little more than a warm-up act. That said, the absence of overt hostility was notable; something that, not long ago, would have been almost guaranteed. In fact, they were rather warmly received. It’s a sign that heavy metal etiquette is evolving, slowly but surely, for the better.
Which is good, because Avatar deserved a better shake. Their set was tight, theatrical, and filled with powerful, melodic songs that showcased their strength as one of the standout metal bands of the past 25 years. Their stage presence is commanding, their catalog impressive, and their performance deeply committed. In another context, they might have stolen the show. But no matter how talented, how ambitious, or how well-prepared, no matter how much goodwill the audience had for them, they were always going to be up against one unchangeable fact: they are not Iron Maiden.
***DISCLAIMER: I didn't have a photo credential to shoot the show, and I had forgotten the battery for my small point & shoot camera so all pics were taken from the crowd with my smartphone, hence their horrible quality. I've included them anyway to give a sense of what the show looked like***
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