Ever heard of harajuku-core? In the ever-diversifying world of metal and its many sub-genres, it takes something extraordinary to stand out. Enter Hanabie: an all-women band drawing on the distinct aesthetic of Tokyo’s famous hub of fashion and youth culture, infusing something a bit different into an oversaturated metal scene. Supported by American bands Outline in Color and Left to Suffer, the night was anything but ordinary!
American post-hardcore band Outline in Color kicked the night into high gear, performing a brief set before Left to Suffer took the stage.
The American deathcore band started off with a distinctly heavier tone and some intermittent heavy bass drops designed to build up and release musical tension, successfully resulting in a respectably-sized circle pit. The tone of the night briefly changed when an attendee in the circle pit either fainted or was knocked unconscious, requiring medical attention. As soon as it happened, the band quickly responded to and paused their performance while staff attended to the concertgoer. The show resumed shortly after.
Vocalist Taylor Barber showed off his powerful, low gutturals – a clear highlight of the performance. Brand new to the scene, this band made their start in 2019 and quickly amassed a following. Each of the members demonstrated a lot of promise and potential that makes Left to Suffer one worth keeping an eye on.
Japanese harajuku-core metallers Hanabie followed shortly after, putting on an incredibly energetic performance from start to finish. Despite being relatively new to the international scene, the entire band exhibited themselves as seasoned professionals. The performance was entertaining and well-executed both musically and artistically: Lead guttural vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri and bassist Hettsu all engaged with audience members and showcased their distinct, colourful, and powerful stage presence. Drummer Chika, while placed at the very back of the stage, could be seen fully enjoying the moment and performing her instrument with passion. The band as a whole clearly took joy in performing and it was echoed in their energy – the audience fed off of it and helped build a great atmosphere.
They also made a statement that showed respect to the audience by waving the Canadian flag and speaking English, despite some potential language barriers. Seemingly smaller things like this end up making a significant impact on audiences because they provide an opportunity to form unique connections with crowds at each tour stop, and it’s clear that Hanabie did this incredibly well.
Since their music was quite new to us, we expected music akin to Japan’s most famous metal act, Babymetal. Instead, Hanabie showed us that they have their own distinct sound and style, infusing their Japanese culture to accent the music and make it their own.
While the live mix of each of the night’s bands made it difficult to hear each element of the music (a lot of vocals and a lot of heavy bass), Hanabie put on a show we won’t soon forget. When they make their way through Calgary again, we’ll be there!
