Hanabie, The Gloom In The Corner @ The Gov, Adelaide 13/11/2024
Japanese nu metalcore outfit Hanabie are all the rage right now and a big Adelaide crowd in attendance at The Gov was a testament to that. Not really sure what I would be experiencing heading in to The Gov but it was very much a different appreciation of this band who definitely have bigger things in front of them when the rest of the world catches on.
They are definitely unique, that is for sure combining the elements of metalcore, hardcore punk and nu metal with flashes of hip hop and electronica described as “Harajuku-core”. Then throw in the words J-Pop, Trancecore and anime and I think you are getting close to painting the Hanabie picture. It really doesn’t matter what it’s called, the crowd went nuts and it is very clear why fans are drawn to this band as they do offer something quite unique compared to what else is out there. Adelaide was the final stop on their maiden headline Australian tour, no doubt capturing hearts and minds and creating positive new impressions for a return visit sometime in the future.
Opening proceedings was Melbourne band The Gloom In The Corner who have had a massive year. They well and truly warmed the stage and some. The windows at The Gov were shaking, it was loud and it was awesome. Solid touring this year has seen them become quite the formidable band bringing a certain level of intensity making ear plugs a necessity as I walked in on From Heaven To Hell. They have some big songs in the armoury with the likes of Misanthropic and Ronin. New song Assassination One is an absolute belter making their presence felt on The Jericho Protocol and leaving fans with the bold statement they have seen The Gloom In The Corner.
It was over to Hanabie who took things to another level as they took to the stage to a hero-like reception one by one. It seemed like introducing they were introducing contestants on “The Price Is Right” with Yukina (vocals), Matsuri (guitar), Hettsu (bass) and Chika (drums) ran on to the platform waving to their adoring fans who returned the adulation with plenty of clapping and cheering.
The frenzy started with O•TA•KU Lovely Densetsu. To the passive observer it might be a case of ‘what the hell is going’ but when you peel back the layers they are doing some incredible things.
That energy was abundant in NEET GAME and the vibe in The Gov was palpable and hard to not be swept up in that. Koala outfits and being encouraged to do a shoey was all part of the fun and was hard not to a have soft spot for Hanabie. The affection from the band was returned to the crowd with plenty of heart shaped hand gestures. Their set was loaded with singles Kotoshi koso Gal~Shoka ver.~ and GIRL’S TALK topped off by the encore epics Choujigen Galaxy and Today’s Good Day & So Epic which is a bold reminder of the experience tonight. Remember the name Hanabie, as we will be hearing a lot more about them in 2025.
Live Review By Rob Lyon