Some bands release B-sides. Avatar release time bombs.

Today, the Swedish theatrical metal juggernauts — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — have unveiled the visually arresting new video for standalone single “Crying Fire,” a track that was very deliberately kept off last year’s Halloween-released full-length, Don’t Go in the Forest. Not because it wasn’t good enough. Because it was too good to lose in the shuffle.

Watch the “Crying Fire” video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pJDxS5mXOM

“‘Crying Fire’ is very special to all of us. 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?” Eckerström explains.

He continues: “It certainly stands tall on its own. 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.”

Translation: this one hurts in all the right places.

The drop caps off a scorching 12 months for the band. Don’t Go in the Forest arrived on October 31, 2025 — because when else would Avatar release a record about forbidden woods and beautiful madness? — and kicked off a globe-spanning touring cycle that included their biggest headline show to date in Mexico City, marquee appearances at Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple, and a return to Europe where they’re currently melting the faces of Metallica fans as direct support in four European cities.

REMAINING METALLICA SUPPORT DATES — SUMMER 2026
6/11 — Budapest, HU — Puskás Aréna
6/19 — Dublin, IE — Aviva Stadium
7/5 — London, UK — London Stadium

2026 FESTIVAL DATES
6/7 — Trondheim, NO — Trondheim Rocks
6/20 — Dessel, BE — Graspop Metal Meeting
6/26 — Oslo, NO — Tons of Rock
7/2 — Ballenstedt, DE — Rockharz Festival
7/3 — Donauinsel, AT — Donauinselfest
8/8 — Gdańsk, PL — Rockowizna Festival
8/15 — Sullingen, DE — Reload Festival
8/22 — Göteborg, SE — Göteborg Brinner

AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND — 2026
8/26 — Adelaide, AU — Lion Arts Factory
8/28 — Melbourne, AU — Northcote Theatre
8/29 — Sydney, AU — Manning Bar
8/30 — Brisbane, AU — Princess Theatre
9/1 — Auckland, NZ — Powerstation

NEWLY ANNOUNCED UK + EUROPE HEADLINE TOUR — LATE 2026
11/20 — Wolverhampton, England — KK’s Steelmill
11/21 — Southampton, England — O2 Guildhall
11/22 — Cardiff, Wales — Depot
11/24 — Dublin, Ireland — National Stadium
11/25 — Belfast, N. Ireland — Limelight
11/27 — Norwich, England — UEA
11/28 — Newcastle, England — Northumbria Uni
11/29 — Edinburgh, Scotland — Corn Exchange
12/1 — Amsterdam, Netherlands — Gashouder
12/3 — Oberhausen, Germany — Turbinenhalle
12/5 — Budapest, Hungary — Barba Negra Red
12/6 — Prague, Czechia — Sasazu
12/8 — Innsbruck, Austria — Musichall
12/9 — Linz, Austria — Posthof
12/10 — Ulm, Germany — Roxy
12/11 — Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg — Rockhal
12/12 — Zürich, Switzerland — Komplex
12/13 — Frankfurt, Germany — Zoom
12/15 — Padova, Italy — Hall
12/16 — Ljubljana, Slovenia — Cvetlicarna
12/17 — Zagreb, Croatia — Boogaloo
12/18 — Bratislava, Slovakia — Majestic Music Club
12/19 — Wrocław, Poland — A2

Avatar have long since evolved past “band” status into full-blown concept art — a traveling circus of choirs, brass, Moogs, cellos, riffs, and unapologetic heavy metal theater that has set attendance records from Scandinavia to Sydney. “Crying Fire” is simply the latest reminder that when this circus rolls into town, resistance is futile.

Two eyes closed, one eye open. Press play.