Au-Thor Nayia K.Rose (Nayia Kanavou)
(All photos by Nayia K.Rose)
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| Avatar live in Milano,Italy, 3/3/2026/ Photo taken by Nayia K.Rose (with iPhone) |
It's already been more than two months and I'm longing my trip to Milan, Italy and the unforgettable memories from the Avatar show at Alcatraz. From the undescribable beauty of Duomo to a metal night that is worth living over and over again. The show took place at the historical Alcatraz venue in Milan with special guests Alien Weaponry and Witch Club Satan and Avatar as the headliner (of course) on March 3,2026. Avatar and MC2 live thank you for the invitation, for letting the demon in, now precious demon brings stories,images and experiences to share with everyone who couldn't be there on the March the 3rd.
Disappointed Italians...Not by the bands but by me- ha gotcha - by me because instead of choosing the exceptional Italian cuisine I chose Mac Donald's, sorry my beloved Italians, I had very limited time and I wanted to see as much of your beautiful city as possible while being there. Back to the concert. Being said that I was travelling alone as I don't know anyone from Italy, even though I live so close to the country and it was quite a last minute trip, I didn't know exactly what to expect as I've been to Italy before, years ago, but just for one day facing no problems at all, but I had never been to a concert there before (I have mixed experiences from shows and festivals in different countries). Arriving a bit earlier at the venue, doors opened at 6:30, I arrived around 5:30, I was treated with respect by the venue employees at the door, they were very helpful and respectful. First people to get in, were the ones who were holding the precious ones (the secret gathering tickets). For those who don't know what this is, an Avatar secret gathering ticket is in other words is some short of VIP ticket. Those "golden" ticket holders get to meet the band before the show, take photos with them while the band welcomes them in their glorious bath robes. Also some special merch is included in this ticket, go check it out yourselves, what are still doing here? Oh you want to know how the show went? You'll wait, cause I decided I'll be way more unhinged from now on, cause I just... can! it's a blog here and it's mine and I have free will and so do you, never forget that.
Outside of the venue, people had arrived as early as 13:00 o'clock forming a line, I know cause by that time I arrived at my hotel witch was a few minutes away and passed by the venue as it was on my way anyway. I'm watching you, haha, no I don't. Don't worry. People wearing makeup to match the vibes, to match Johannes' (vocals,piano) clown makeup, holding signs, screaming, beautiful. Second came the Avatar Country Citizens (early entry tickets) and the rest of the ticket holders,us guests and accredited photographers-journalists at 18:30.
Show started on time, many people were on time for the opening band, Witch Club Satan, all female feminist black metal trio from Norway. Heavy sound, dirty sound, we like that, black metal without a little dirt is not black metal. The girls are heavily theatrical, wearing DIY costumes, long dresses, horns and the classic black metal make up, entered the stage in slow motion lighting small wicks which they gave to the audience. The Norwegians bring up serious issues about the world during their set, yelling that there should be no mercy for the Epstein files and how silence is a crime. Around the middle of the set they do their spoken ritual, "Water Girl" accompanied by the song "Mother Sea", by the way, fuck you(in every playful and good way possible 🤣) cause those two always trigger my post traumatic stress by reminding me my teenage years when my mum cut all my hair and everything else that is said in "Water Girl", I relate to that and every single time I've seen them live this part of the show fucks me up, but in a good way. It hurts but I enjoy it. At some point the girls run to the backstage and return to the stage naked only wearing their long black wigs and blood(fake..blood... I think,I hope so).The girls informed the crowd they would have to leave early as they had a long way to drive to the next city and if they wanted merch, "hurry up, we are leaving by nine", they invited the people to dance with them for one last time and the Italians grabbed their last chance to mosh with the girls before the end of their set.
A few moments later and a few hands that grabbed my butt chicks later, by both men and women, come on guys, sometimes I wonder aren't there any other butt cheeks in the room, why do they always go for mine?! Aaaand, sound check and ready for the next band.
Alien Weaponry, one of the best things that came out of New Zealand according to Johannes.
Alien Weaponry (Lewis de Jong -Lead vocals and Guitars, Henry de Jong – Drums and Backing vocals, Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds – Bass and Backing vocals) have grown quite a reputation not only to their mother country, but also worldwide. Avatar and Alien Weaponry have said on interviews and social media previously, that they wanted to go on tour together for quite some time and finally their schedule dates aligned and made it happen. For me this band is a unique one. You don't see every day a metal band opening their show with a Haka(traditional ceremonial dance) and singing in Maōri language.
Alien Weaponry's setlist in Milan, Italy, on March 3, 2026, at Alcatraz, featured a high-energy, five-song set: "Rū Ana Te Whenua," "Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea," "Mau Moko," "Taniwha," and "Kai Tangata," according to Setlist.fm and Instagram posts. The band went ahead and performed their signature Māori metal hits.The final song was "Kai Tangata", a song about an ancient Maōri ritual, followed by a moshpit, of course. The Italians went crazy for the boys!
The time you all waited is here, time for the Great Metal Circus from Sweden, AVATAR. Their set was quite enriched with older and newer songs, but also with some surprises for the Italians, as by the time Johannes sat down to play the piano, instead of playing "Howling at the Waves", he started playing "Bella Chiao" and all the Italians started singing the song like a choir, even I was singing it and I had no idea I knew the lyrics, but due to my little Greek roots, I realised lately I can understand the basics of the Italian language... I didn't even know I could do this. You see, you go to see Avatar, you leave knowing a new language, you have to try it yourselves. Also played Sarà perché ti amo" (by Ricchi e Poveri) for the Italians and then their own "Howling at the Waves", from their latest album "Don't Go In The Forest". The piano part was also enriched with an attempt by Johannes to speak Italian, showing off his piano jacket, we like the piano jacket and him also swearing in Italian because he was being interrupted during his piano speach. Good times. The Italians approved. So did I.
But let's start from the start. Avatar's set started with"Captain Goat", I am so fascinated by the costumes, the theatrics the atmosphere.Capes, lantern... The slow vibes wouldn't last long, as by the end of the song Johannes takes the cape off, throws it away and the band characteristic hair windmills took over the sage with the second song "Silence in the Age of Apes", which I was very excited to see live. The setlist was a little bit differentiated due to logistics and "Tower" was replaced by "Torn Apart", also a great one, very good choice, very emotional song and at the same time a song you can headbang and mosh to.
The setlist kept going on with a little bit of disco vibes with "Death and Glitz" , with the king entering the stage (Jonas Jarlsby , guitar, king of the Avatar Country) and heavier stuff, the good stuff, the ones that smell like a freak show.
Avatar also played "Don't Go In The Forest" and some other songs that were included in the setlist were the classics "Bloody Angel" with everyone in the croud singing and "Hail the Apocalypse" with everyone going crazy headbanging their souls out their bodies.
The energy was great, it is a pleasant treat to get to see such a variety of metal sub-genres in just one band, in just one metal show, blended all together and somehow the show rolls so smoothly and everything is so balanced. However the style and the vocals are characteristic and it is very clear that when you listen to one of Avatar's song, you can instantly recognise it's them.
The show was complete and great inside the venue, but the show kept going on outside ,with the scammers who sell fake band merch outside of the venue trying to sell Lewis from Alien Weaponry a poster of themselves. Which was the funniest thing ever. And just like that, having me rolling, the night was over... But was it over? Is it truly over? Because I want it again...and again... And again! And if you were there, you probably want to live it again,too!
And just because everybody wants it, Avatar just announced a new European tour, Italy included. One show in Padova, Italy! Again by MC2 live, be there!
Cheers, let's do this again!
