Hanabie + Kim Dracula @ MTelus▪

Wednesday evening at MTELUS was a night I’m not quite sure how to describe. On paper, it was the opening show for the 2025 co-headlining tour featuring Kim Dracula and Hanabie, but in reality, it slowly turned into an unforgettable experience and a core memory.

Opening metalcore bands Kaonashi (Philadelphia, PA) and Crystal Lake (Tokyo) did a great job at warming up an unsuspecting crowd. There was contagious headbanging throughout the floor, with fans too caught up to bother capturing the moment on camera. The result was a rare and refreshing sight: a crowd of people, not phones.

During Crystal Lake’s set, John Centorrino’s (vocals) call to form a circle pit was eagerly answered, and the crowd listened and excelled. I was impressed to see a few parents in the crowd, either accompanying or being accompanied by their young kids; either way, what a cool example of a family outing.

But the very first moment that made me wonder what I signed up for came when YD Miyamoto (lead guitar) came off stage and jumped into the crowd for some casual crowd surfing, guitar still in hand and delivering the final notes of their very last song.

Following a brief break, it was time for Kim Dracula (Australia) to take the stage as a recorded message came through the speakers urging the crowd to split down the middle. As the audience complied, Kim Dracula dramatically entered through the back of the venue and walked through the packed and frenzied MTELUS; a thunderous start to an incredible set.

The band’s chosen macabre attire – think Sunday best and skull-inspired makeup – and Kim (vocals) military combat uniform added to the evening’s setup. As they started to play their first song, I both understood the appeal and was immediately glad I did not skip this show. Their wonderfully weird performance was a revelatory experience, one that will be etched in my memory as an ‘I was there’ moment.

Dracula’s grand theatrics and on-stage presence felt like being transported back to 2007 and seeing My Chemical Romance on their The Black Parade tour. With each successive song, Kim raised the stakes, delivered incredible vocals, and was backed by an amazing band through the evening. A special nod to the saxophonist, who added an unexpected yet inspired dimension; who knew metal needed more sax?

As a self-confessed enthusiast of cover songs, I was delighted to feed my guilty pleasure with Kim Dracula’s two renditions. First, a cover of Pearl Jam’s Even Flow, followed by a cover of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi, the song that launched them into viral stardom back in 2020.

On my peripherals, I kept seeing people scrambling to free up memory on their phones; every moment was worth recording, every megabyte was precious in the pursuit of preserving the memory. With a glass of red wine in hand, Kim Dracula says au revoir to Montreal, disappearing into the night to their next show in Toronto.

I’ll confess, I was not fully prepared for what unfolded tonight on stage. Prior to the show, I’d done my due diligence and listened to a few of their songs on Spotify. But there’s no recording that does justice to the live show that Kim Dracula delivered. If you’re in the path of their tour, do not miss the opportunity to experience it for yourself.

And at last, Hanabie (Tokyo) stepped onto the stage, surprising MTELUS by waving the Quebec flag before starting their set. One by one, the band members welcomed the audience into their first show of the tour and their high-energy world.

Dressed in full Harajuku-core outfits, the all-girl metalcore band did not waste a single second and kicked off their set with Bucchigiri Tokyo, swiftly followed by the equally exciting Today’s Good Day & So Epic and NEET GAME. Yukina’s powerhouse vocals were the catalyst that kept the energy up throughout the night, connecting with the crowd, making them jump and shout non-stop alongside her.

As the night wore on and the evening drew to a close, the band saved the best for last: Drastic Nadeshiko and Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu, and left an excited crowd as they exited the stage to applause.

With a staggering 14-song setlist of pulsating rhythms and energetic vocals, Hanabie showcased the growing presence and lasting impact of women in the metal music scene. The evening was a testament to the diversity of modern metal and left a lasting impression on all who were lucky to witness it.