Live Nation has announced today that iconic rock band Evanescence will make a welcome return to Australia and New Zealand in March 2027, for a huge run of headline arena shows. Responsible for one of the world’s most iconic and successful debut albums, Fallen, featuring defining singles like “Bring Me to Life,” “Going Under,” and “My Immortal”, Evanescence will take fans through a vast array of material, from this debut long-player through to the just-released album, Sanctuary, which features the global hits, “Afterlife” and “Who Will You Follow.”
The Australian leg of the tour, presented by Triple M, will commence at Perth’s RAC Arena on Friday 5 March, before heading to AEC Arena in Adelaide on Sunday 7 March, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday 9 March, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Friday 12 March and concluding at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Tuesday 16 March. It will then head to New Zealand for an exclusive show at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Saturday 20 March.
Vodafone mobile customers can be among the first to secure tickets during a 48-hour presale commencing Tuesday 9 June at 12pm. Visit vodafone.com.au/ticket to find out more.
Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets in Australia. Mastercard presale starts Tuesday 9 June at 12pm and ends Thursday 11 June at 12pm. Plus, Preferred ticket access to some of the best tickets are available from Friday 12 June at 1pm. Check out priceless.com/music for details.
An artist presale will kick off on Tuesday 9 June at 12pm, running until Thursday 11 June at 11pm.
Everyone who has pre-ordered the new album, Sanctuary, via Jungle Merch will have early access to tickets beginning Tuesday 9 June at 12pm, running until Thursday 11 June at 11pm.
Evanescence last toured Australia in late 2025, as special guest on Metallica’s M72 World Tour, when they also played some intimate, small-capacity side shows. Prior to that, they celebrated 20 years of debut album Fallen with a tour in August 2023. Now, with new album Sanctuary under their belt, comes a welcome opportunity for fans to see Evanescence in their full live glory!
A Project Called Love Smack Dab In The Middle Review
“Smack Dab In The Middle” opens with significant energy. The track delivers a vibrant mix of influences reminiscent of both PUSA and the Smashing Pumpkins. Its unique sound transports listeners back to the 1990s while integrating elements of ska. The verses introduce a laid-back rhythm, setting an inviting atmosphere. Suddenly, the chorus erupts with powerful guitar riffs that elevate the entire experience. This shift embodies the contrast between calmness and explosive energy, emphasizing the band’s musical range.
Transitioning to “So Sublime,” the song begins with a striking guitar riff. As the track progresses, the ska vibes return, encouraging listeners to dance. The music embodies a playful spirit with a hint of irreverence. The dynamic structure keeps listeners engaged as the verses scale back before the energetic choruses burst forth. It maintains a lively and infectious rhythm that enriches the listening experience, making the listener feel as if they’re part of something immensely enjoyable.
Closing this super single is “Cold Ashes.” This track again showcases alternative influences, blending rock, pop, and punk elements. The result is an experience that feels genuine rather than manufactured. The melodies are incredibly catchy, leaving an impression that lingers long after the song ends. Each composition radiates a raw energy, distinguishing it from smoother, computer-generated sounds often heard in today’s music. The authenticity in these songs resonates deeply, connecting the listener with the heart of the music.
Smack Dab In The Middle – Sound and Atmosphere
A Project Called Love demonstrates their versatility across this single. Each song brings a fresh perspective while maintaining a cohesive sound. The consistent quality throughout all three tracks is impressive and speaks to the band’s dedication to their craft. Such a commitment to authenticity shines through, effectively engaging listeners from the outset.
In “Smack Dab In The Middle,” the amalgamation of 90s influences and modern thoughts creates a unique listening experience. The transition between styles reflects a maturity that many bands strive for. Each member’s contribution is evident, allowing the blend of sounds and styles to shine.
Smack Dab In The Middle – Performance and Production
“So Sublime” carries a breezy, fun vibe that is infectious. The interplay between the verses and choruses creates a dynamic auditory environment. You cannot help but want to move, as its spirit sparks joy and celebration. This song serves as an embodiment of the happiness often sought through music. When paired with its preceding track, it creates a seamless flow that feels intentional and thoughtful.
Meanwhile, “Cold Ashes” wraps everything up with a bang. The mixture of genres allows for varied instrumentation that keeps the listener engaged. Each element is deliberately placed, ensuring that the song unfolds naturally without forced transitions.
“Smack Dab In The Middle” showcases A Project Called Love’s growth as musicians. Each song not only highlights their strengths but also explores different aspects of their artistry. Anyone seeking music that resonates authentically should definitely give this project a listen.
This song is pure rock. The crunchy guitar sound, enhanced by an equalization that makes it sharp and somewhat vintage, cuts right to the soul. The snare drum has a strikingly solid sound. This is the kind of music that urges listeners to raise their horns to the sky as a classic symbol celebrating the sacred fire of rock. The vibes also evoke bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Black Crowes.
The music blends the elements of classic rock beautifully. This band possesses solid execution. The bass and drums lock in nicely, providing a solid backbone. Meanwhile, the guitars deliver riffs and solos that uplift and energize. The vocals have an appealing high timbre that reminded me at times of Lenny Kravitz, which adds the required grit to the song.
Around the 2:30 mark, there’s an impressive solo that showcases remarkable technical skill. This song commands movement; it makes you tap your foot due to its engaging rhythm.
Call on Me – Sound and Atmosphere
In today’s world, dominated by artificial intelligence, a dose of rock is needed. The return of genuine instrumentation reminds listeners of the raw emotion and power music can evoke.
Midnight Miles successfully channels a feeling of nostalgia with their fresh approach to rock. The balance between modernity and vintage elements contributes to the authenticity of the piece. The passionate performance fills the track with energy and excitement.
Call on Me – Performance and Production
The production quality stands out, emphasizing each instrument’s clarity. The mix allows the listener to appreciate the nuances of the performance without feeling overwhelmed. The depth in the layers brings out the emotion embedded within the music.
There’s an undeniable charisma when the guitarists engage in rhythm and harmony. The interplay between the instruments creates a lively dynamic. One can feel the artists’ enjoyment as they perform, which only enhances the listening experience.
Fans of classic rock will resonate with the influences, while newer listeners will appreciate the freshness embedded within the familiar sound.
The music not only evokes feelings of nostalgia but also urges one to celebrate the moment. Energy flows throughout the composition, making it hard to resist moving along with the beat.
“Call on Me” combines impressive musicianship with relatable themes while maintaining a polished production quality. This is a single that enriches any rock fan’s playlist and paves the way for more memorable performances in the future.
Swedish theatrical metal masters AVATAR have officially blindsided the heavy music world with the surprise release of a brand new standalone single titled “Crying Fire”. Far from a throwaway B-side or an afterthought, the band has revealed that the track is an incredibly personal, high-caliber masterpiece that they intentionally withheld from their latest record cycle to unleash as a lethal, strategic sonic strike when the world least expected it.
Listen to Today’s Metal Breakdown Daily:
Stream today’s full broadcast on the Loaded Radio Podcast network for an aggregated breakdown of this massive Avatar track premiere, plus updates on extreme music global festival routing updates and exclusive hard rock audio content.
The Sealed Vault: Withholding a Masterpiece
The architecture of “Crying Fire” was forged directly alongside the studio tracking dates for the band’s tenth studio album, Don’t Go In The Forest, which arrived last October via Black Waltz Records. While the group recognized the song’s massive potential immediately, charismatic frontman Johannes Eckerström notes that the band came to a collective, unconventional decision to alter its release path.
“‘Crying Fire’ is very special to all of us,” Eckerström shares. “It was written and recorded as part of the ‘Don’t Go In The Forest’ sessions. When making the final selection for album tracks, this one was a given. But then we started asking ourselves something: ‘What if we saved the best for later? What if we kept this gem away from the world for a while?’”
That patience has paid off for the fanbase, delivering a monumental track that thrives completely outside the traditional album rollout cycle.
“It certainly stands tall on its own,” Eckerström continues. “I hear a relentless firestorm of emotions. It hits me in a deeply hidden place, and I hope it does the same for you. I could say a lot about what the song is about, but I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to get out of the way and simply let it be heard for what it is. The best I can say today is that it’s about enduring pain and loving passionately.”
The unyielding sonic punch of “Crying Fire” is backed by the elite production hands of heavy rock legend Jay Ruston, who sat behind the mixing and tracking boards for Don’t Go In The Forest. Ruston’s stellar pedigree includes historic collaborations with genre icons like Anthrax, Steel Panther, and Uriah Heep.
The producer’s relationship with the Swedish outfit runs incredibly deep, first entering their orbit as the mixing engineer for their breakthrough record Hail The Apocalypse and reprising that role for Feathers & Flesh. He eventually took the reins as primary producer for the fan-favorite concepts Avatar Country and Hunter Gatherer, proving to be the ultimate catalyst for capturing the band’s chaotic, heavy metal carnival energy.
The standalone drop follows a massive wave of commercial momentum for Avatar. Their ninth album, 2023’s Dance Devil Dance, elevated their mainstream footprint significantly, boasting a high-profile vocal duet with Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale on “Violence No Matter What” and yielding the massive crossover anthem “The Dirt I’m Buried In,” which triumphantly conquered the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
Formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2001 by vocalist Johannes Eckerström, AVATAR has evolved into one of the most visually mesmerizing and sonically diverse forces in contemporary metal. Renowned for their conceptual music videos and theatrical, clown-themed live performances, the band’s core lineup has remained remarkably stable for nearly a quarter of a century. Alongside Eckerström, the lineup features original architects Jonas Jarlsby (guitars), Henrik Sandelin (bass), and John Alfredsson (drums), with guitarist Tim Öhrström completing the dual-axe line just over a decade later. Blending groove metal, melodic death, and industrial hard rock, Avatar continues to redefine the boundaries of heavy music pageantry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ Block)
Q: Is “Crying Fire” part of a new Avatar album?
A: No. “Crying Fire” has been released as a standalone digital single. It was originally recorded during the studio tracking sessions for last year’s Don’t Go In The Forest album.
Q: Who produced Avatar’s new single “Crying Fire”?
A: The track was produced by Jay Ruston, who also produced the band’s last album Don’t Go In The Forest, as well as Avatar Country and Hunter Gatherer.
Q: What record label released “Crying Fire”?
A: The single, along with the Don’t Go In The Forest album, was released via Black Waltz Records.
Q: Has Avatar ever had a number-one rock radio single?
A: Yes. The band hit No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with their single “The Dirt I’m Buried In” from the 2023 album Dance Devil Dance.
TL;DR: The Quick Breakdown
The Surprise Strike: Swedish metal band Avatar has released an explosive standalone single titled “Crying Fire”.
Deliberately Hidden: The track was recorded during the Don’t Go In The Forest sessions but was intentionally withheld by the band to release at a later date.
The Production Team: The single was produced by longtime band collaborator Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Steel Panther).
Deep Emotional Themes: Frontman Johannes Eckerström states that the heavy track deals with themes of enduring pain and loving passionately.
STAY LOUD!
Never miss a beat in the heavy music or hard rock world. You can catch this exclusive breakdown, along with daily extreme music updates, artist deep-dives, and non-stop rock by subscribing to the Loaded Radio Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.
Want to take the heavy metal community wherever you go? Download the official Loaded Radio App right now on iOS and Android to access our high-quality 24/7 live stream, exclusive news updates, and on-demand podcast archives natively from your phone.
Do you think Avatar made the right move saving “Crying Fire” for a standalone release, or should it have been included on the main tracklist for Don’t Go In The Forest? How does this track rank against their Dance Devil Dance material? Let us know your take in the comments section below!
Norway’s Tessia wraps up an extensive, multi-year sci-fi and dark fantasy narrative with their latest 12-track release, The Cataclysm. Operating as a fully independent progressive and melodic death metal project, the band took complete control over the worldbuilding, lore, and visual assets to close out the overarching storyline they have been developing from the ground up.
First Impression
As the album started unfolding, I asked myself: why haven’t I heard about this band before? The immediate impact of aggressive riffs and sharp melodic movement establishes a high technical baseline right out of the gate. Driven by a powerful exchange of harsh growls and distinct clean vocals, the opening sequence instantly proves that this is a severely underrated project.
Similar Sounds
If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.
MaYaNFleshgod ApocalypseAmorphis
Visual Vibes
The stark black and red artwork perfectly captures the album’s apocalyptic theme. Featuring a fractured landmass splitting beneath cosmic bodies, this visual of a world tearing itself open directly mirrors the aggressive energy of The Cataclysm.
Track on Repeat
“Futility of Fate (The Cascade)”
A track that hits hard with a sharp opening riff and heavy growls creating an aggressive, straightforward energy built entirely for a live crowd.
In-depth Notes
Musical Shape 🎸
The structural foundation of The Cataclysm relies on sharp dynamic contrast, driven by fast, relentless guitar work and continuous melodic movement. To keep the pacing engaging, the band consistently disrupts their own momentum with calculated drops in tempo. By suddenly shifting into quiet, atmospheric passages before snapping right back into heavy death metal arrangements, they build real tension. With the backing of orchestrations added at the right moment, blending smoothly into the heavier riffs, the album avoids a flat, single-speed assault in favor of constant, aggressive movement.
Vocal Performance 🎤
The vocal performance leans heavily on powerful, commanding growls that dominate a large portion of the album. When clean singing enters the mix, it isn’t used as a predictable formula; instead, Julie Berthelsen showcases a highly unique voice that provides a distinct melodic contrast, locking in naturally with the faster instrumentation. This approach ensures the aggressive songs hit with maximum impact while allowing the melodic moments to stand out clearly against the heavy riffs.
Production Quality 🎧
The mix delivers a sharp, balanced sound that keeps the death metal foundation heavy without burying the atmospheric layers. Every element cuts through clearly and arrives at the exact right timing, ensuring the massive riffs and dynamic vocals hit with full impact without muddying the track.
Themes and Concepts 💭
The album’s concept and setting are interesting, but they wouldn’t hit nearly as hard if the heavy instrumentation didn’t fully back them up. The music drives the narrative right alongside the lyrics. By building direct storytelling elements straight into the tracks, Tessia brings the whole concept to life and keeps the experience firmly grounded and lively.
Final Verdict
★★★★★★★★★☆
Driven by massive death metal riffs and a strong theme, Tessia delivers a perfectly executed, aggressive experience on The Cataclysm. One of the best albums in 2026!
Mood Meter
%
Intensity
%
Melancholy
%
Darkness
%
Emotional
%
Serenity
%
Energy
%
Romance
%
Joyfulness
Perfect For…
Nature – sitting in nature, with your thoughts Driving – but keep your eyes on the road Working – When a co-worker comes to your desk to show you photos of his kids, turn the VOLUME UP. Working on Arts– inspirational melodies
Tommy Lee shared that he took both tap and ballet dance lessons in his youth, finding an interest in the beat-driven experience of it all. Continue reading…
If you love this music: 
