AVATAR Releases Festive Single 'Naughty List' Featuring ZAKK WYLDE

Swedish heavy metal visionaries collectively known as AVATAR — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — have been put on the "Naughty List" by Santa.

In classic AVATAR fashion, there is NO place they'd rather be. Closing out the calendar year with a twist, the pioneers of avant garde deliver a track gift-wrapped in authenticity, individuality and unapologetic expression. The official music video for their newest single "Naughty List" features none other than Zakk Wylde who employs his signature craftsmanship on a fiery solo further amplifying this standout track, making this a release fans surely won't want to miss. Öhrström personally asked Zakk if he would like to be a part of the song while both were supporting METALLICA last summer.

"The idea is that the 'Naughty List' is full of people who are different rather than bad, and someone needs to have their backs, too," says Eckerström. "It is a song about forgiveness and acceptance, and doing what is actually the right thing to do, rather than just following the norm."

This Halloween, AVATAR celebrated the first anniversary of their latest studio masterwork "Don't Go In The Forest". The ringmasters show no signs of slowing as they return to the road for their 2026 European headline tour to close out the year. Soon after, Latin America will join the circus in January of 2027.

Following an action-packed summer supporting METALLICA on the "M72" world tour across Europe, AVATAR are set to reunite with them once again in the summer of 2027 for the North American tour alongside LIMP BIZKIT as support. With more headline dates, international touring and a second summer alongside METALLICA ahead, AVATAR continue to expand their spectacle.

The follow-up to 2023's "Dance Devil Dance", "Don't Go In The Forest" was once again produced by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER and URIAH HEEP, among many others.

Ruston first worked with AVATAR when he mixed "Hail The Apocalypse", a role he reprised on "Feathers & Flesh" before taking the wheel as producer on "Avatar Country" and "Hunter Gatherer".

"Dance Devil Dance" featured a guest appearance by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM on the song "Violence No Matter What". The record also included the single "The Dirt I'm Buried In", which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

Johannes formed AVATAR in 2001. The band's lineup has remained virtually the same ever since, save for guitarist Tim Öhrström, who entered the fray just over a decade later. AVATAR also includes guitarist Jonas Jarlsby, bassist Henrik Sandelin and drummer John Alfredsson.

Photo credit: Johan Carlén