From Harajuku to Brighton: HANABIE. and Lake Malice Unite Fans in London

With a sold-out Electric Brixton and people queuing for hours before the doors opened, we knew it was going to be a great concert. The lineup brought together two bands that have been gaining serious momentum: HANABIE., the Tokyo-based HARAJUKU CORE group, and Brighton’s Lake Malice, whose fast-growing reputation as a live act has made them one of the most exciting names in UK heavy music right now.

Lake Malice

Lake Malice opened the show with a set that felt anything but a warm-up. Alice, Blake, and Emily gave it everything from the first note, with Alice’s voice moving between aggressive and melodic without missing a beat. Blake’s riffs, along with his jumps, cut through the mix while Emily locked down the rhythm behind them.

Besides playing some well-known songs to their fans, such as “Scatterbrain” and “Nobody Wants to Be You,” a surprise performance of a new track brought a wave of emotion from the crowd and Alice herself. What stands out at their shows just as much as the sound is the message: their concerts are a safe space, and Alice made a point of repeating that on stage.

HANABIE.

HANABIE.’s set began with the same level of intensity and didn’t let up, with each member (Yukina, Matsuri, Hettsu, and Dr. Chika) entering one at a time for the crowd’s enjoyment. From the opening with “Warning!!,” the crowd was moving non-stop, with crowd surfers flying and fans screaming every word. Their mix of bright visuals, fast transitions between pop and heavy vocals, and high-speed rhythms raised the venue’s energy even higher.

Yukina’s ability to jump from sweet to brutal vocals in seconds gave the performance a constant edge, and the rest of the band matched her energy throughout. There was barely time to breathe between tracks like “Bucchigiri Tokyo,” “Spicy Queen,” and “Meta-moru-phose!”

A standout moment came when the members of both bands met on stage for a shared toast, likely of sake, celebrating the end of the UK tour together. It was rare to see such a loud show pause for something that genuine. HANABIE. then closed with “O•TA•KU Lovely Densetsu,” wrapping up the night. With Lake Malice continuing to rise and HANABIE. proving they’ve got the crowd and performance to grow even bigger, it’s clear both bands are on the way up.