LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: HANABIE AT THE ELECTRIC BRIXTON, LONDON 07/11/25
Full photo gallery here
There's something different about fans of J-Rock. The intensity of fandom is a level above what is standard to see in the UK. At Electric Brixton the Japanese quartet Hanabie are joined by closer-to-home rock outfit Lake Malice.
To an already packed room, Lake Malice’s singer Alice Guala informed fans and newcomers alike that the band's album writing process is fully underway and it's expected to drop next year. A vague timeline but exciting none-the-less.
Showcasing what to expect, ‘Ghost in a hell’ is described as being about being disconnected and isolated but offers the same energy and chaos that fans have come to expect from the Brighton duo.
“If you see a man with a guitar, protect him at all costs” Guala shouted as guitarist Blake sprinted into the mosh pit. Lake Malice are part of a new breed of electronic nu-metal lighting up the alt scene in the UK and their support slot with such a keen and dedicated crowd will no doubt have earned a few new admirers who weren't yet acquainted with them.
For those already familiar, ‘Scatterbrain’ and ‘Stop The Party' scratch the itch in just the right way, the latter seeing a drum being passed into the pit.
“When I first came to London two years ago I had an amazing time” Yukina, lead singer of Hanabie grinned.
Back in 2023 in the sweaty depths of The Underworld in Camden, few could have imagined the quartet filling the Electric, a room triple the size, but in a relatively short period of time the band have gathered legions of new fans and selling out bigger and bigger venues seems to be the trajectory they are on.
Although mixing a sugary sweet look with growling metal may have been done before, Hanabie make it all look incredibly authentic, not least because of their genuinely impressive musicality and ability to deliver heavy metal that really slaps.
Emerging to ‘Warning!’ there almost isn't a second to catch your breath in the furious set apart from the moments when the band paused to chat to the crowd in staccato but perfectly understandable English. This is a band that puts in the hard yards to engage their fans in every way possible.
‘Spicy Queen’ really exemplifies the band's sound. Growling screams, feminine vocals, intense breakdowns all wrapped up together in a way that hits so hard you can't look away.
“This is the best tour ever. Are you ready London? Let's go crazy”. The pits respond in kind to such bangers as ‘Ware Amatou’ and ‘GIRL TALK’. Mixing Japanese and English vocals seamlessly.
The band itself are multi-talented. Lead Yukina leading the stage presence with her cute look and deep screams. Guitarist Matsuri the primary composer in the outfit with bassist Hettsu the in-built costume designer. Along with recent addition- drummer Chika, all the members are worth their weight in gold, creating a cohesive and talented group.
“Last chance to dance”. Comes the call as an encore of ‘O•TA•KU Lovely Densetsu’ whips the crowd into one last frenzy.
It's a shame the Tokyo quartet is so out of reach for so many London fans. Everyone in attendance certainly grabbed the rare opportunity to see the band in Brixton and its clear they will wait with baited breathe for their return.
Words by Imogen Bird
Photos by Florelle Servageon