Exhausted. But that good exhausted, you know? After an onslaught of four bands and about 4 hours of their variations of metal/metalcore/nu metal, you leave The Pageant in St. Louis buzzing, but wiped out.
Kim Dracula and Hanabie. brought together a wild experience when adding openers Kaonashi and Crystal Lake to their 2025 co-headlining 25-city North America spring tour.
This will be a super short write-up because, well, we’re exhausted.
But suffice it to say, we’re the better for having experienced this wide variety of hardcore bands. Each had their own distinct vibe and energy — it wasn’t just in your face, I’m gonna scream at you band after band. While there was some screaming, it was nuanced and distinct.
Highlights include:
Philly metalcore Kaonashi brought a lighthearted side to the heaviness. We’re so glad the Uggs worked out for vocalist Peter Rono.
Crystal Lake, the 2002-formed Tokyo metalcore band’s (newish) vocalist, New Yorker John Robert Centorrino, gets the award for the most f-bombs dropped in a 40-minute set that we may have ever heard. While the members all thrashed about with amazing hair flips, Centorrino raged on stage, demanding full attention from the crowd. He also managed to drop in a few “I love you’s” to, perhaps, even out the harshness.
Also from Tokyo was Hanabie. Let’s just say, don’t judge a book by its cover. The all-female Hanabie. brought out the bright, brilliant, explosive lights, great outfits, and rockin’ metal with lead vocalist, Yukina, going deep on the guttural growls for their hour-long stunning set. Add in some hardcore punk, nu metal, with a dash of hip hop and electronica, Hanabie. is the go-to band that will bring in entirely new listeners.
Kim Dracula took the final spot for the night. The now L.A.-based singer snaked their way to the stage from the back of the floor and began their hour-long set with the hard-driving, intense (with a little bossa nova tossed in) “Land of the Sun.” Dressed as an admiral (or captain?), Dracula did not disappoint, bringing the theatrics and their six-octave range and mishmash of genres to the enthusiastic crowd.
So very many more photos from this spectacular night at The Pageant are here: https://bit.ly/KimDrac25cz
In my work life, I help nonprofits and small businesses with media and public relations. In my what I love to do life, you can typically find me photographing either wild horses or concerts.
