Most tours usually have that one band that doesn’t quite fit the genre they’ve been placed into, but this tour was special. Every band on the bill laughed in the face of genres and did their music their way. Who needs genres anyway? None of these bands do. I struggle with intros, so let’s just get right into the good stuff!
Kicking off the evening was Philadelphia’s finest: Kaonashi. The pure energy and talent that this group brings to their live shows is something you have to see to truly understand. Vocalist Peter Rono has things to say, and he’s going to say them and scream them and bring chaos and emotion to his performance. Guitarist Alex Hallquist rips through guitar lines that are seemingly out of time but then twist back into the groove. The time signature changes can catch you off guard, but that’s what adds to the fun of their music. Speaking of time, Drummer Ryan Paolill somehow manages to tie all this chaos together. I love listening to drummers who excel at spinning through different timings, and Ryan is one of them. It was chaotic, it was emotional, it was a dance party in a blood red Camry and it was 100% Kaonashi.
Next up was one of my favorite metal bands of all time. Yes, all time. The legends from Japan: Crystal Lake.
Before we get into Crystal Lake’s set at The Roxian, let’s talk about how Pittsburgh royally screwed up last year. Do you all remember when Crystal Lake played at Preserving Underground? No? Of course not, because you didn’t show up. I will not let you live this down. Do better. Although, it was a magical evening getting to see Crystal Lake play such a small set, I will never forgive you for doing them dirty. They still came out swinging like there were 10,000 people in the room, so it’s your loss. Anyway, back to the show.
Crystal Lake is another band that brings absolute chaos to the stage. It is non-stop. Even Drummer Gaku Taura doesn’t sit still. He’s off his throne more than he’s on it. Guitarists Yudai Miyamoto and Hisatsugu Taji shred through the set while putting in 20,000 steps (and kicks). Bassist Mitsuru isn’t far behind. In fact, he may bring as much energy as Miyamoto and Taji combined. Vocalist John Centorrino puts 110% into every performance, and this one was no exception. Centorrino had some big shoes to fill, and I can safely say he’s surpassed his duties as frontman. This band has evolved while staying true to what made them great, and I can’t wait to hear their upcoming album. “Blüdgod” is a nice little preview of what’s to come.
This next band has been buzzing around my socials for a long time, but I never really gave them a listen, so I had no idea what to expect. The crowd erupted every time a new member of the band hit the stage. This had to mean they were good, right?
Hanabie is one of those bands that takes a style of music, bends it until it almost breaks and reshapes it into their own sub-genre (or at least pioneers that genre). As they took to the stage I immediately thought this was going to be some J-Pop with a little bit of edge. I was so wrong. This was a lot of edge, mixed with just a hint of J-Pop. My jaw hit the floor when the first sound out of Vocalist Yukina was one of the lowest guttural growls I’ve ever heard live. The package does not match the product, and I am here for it. I love bands that don’t stay in their lane when it comes to their style of music, and Hanabie drives all over the road. Their set was tight and executed with precision. Every move and sound had a purpose. Hanabie is another example of what makes Japanese Metal amazing. It’s so clean and precise that it almost feels robotic, but it definitely has personality. If you’ve never heard Hanabie and are just here for the photos, PLEASE give them a listen. Judge them not by their furry wardrobe and light up sunglasses. Enjoy them for their heavy breakdowns, intensely sharp vocals (I mean that in a good way) and wildly fun chaos.
Have you noticed a theme with these bands yet? Have I said chaos enough? No? Well, the night wasn’t over just yet, and the master of chaos was hitting the stage. Kim Dracula, who is very fittingly from Tasmania, is best described as chaotic trap metal. Again, another artist who took some genres, ripped out the best parts of them and made them their own. When’s the last time you saw a saxophone played in heavy music? How about some funk bass lines? Kim’s got it all and more. The thing I love about Kim Dracula songs is you never get comfortable in a groove. As soon as something feels like it’s finding its place the song is flipped on its head and a new genre pops out. Kim will be screaming, then rapping, then scream rapping, then a saxophone run will break out, followed by a breakdown, then we’ll somehow find ourselves in an “Even Flow” cover. The visuals were just as compelling as the music. The lighting and smoke wasn’t overdone. Everything had its place. This was another theme that ran through all of the bands that evening. The chaos was there, but it was controlled; it had a purpose. That’s hard to pull off smoothly, but all of these artists were able to do it.
