Crystal Lake wasted no time setting the tone at the sold-out House of Blues show in Anaheim. Exploding onto the stage with a blistering set that blurred the line between opener and headliner. With lead singer John Robert Centorrino leading the charge, the Japanese metalcore giants delivered a ferocious performance packed with razor-sharp riffs and an unrelenting energy that had the pit erupting within minutes. I’ve never seen the pit move as much as it did during their set! Tracks like “Apollo” and “Omega” hit with renewed force, while newer material showcased the band’s evolution without losing their signature intensity. The crowd, initially there for Kim Dracula and HANABIE, quickly found themselves swept into Crystal Lake’s controlled chaos, responding with screams, circle pits, and nonstop movement. By the end of their set, it was clear—Crystal Lake didn’t just open the night, they detonated it. I will for sure be catching their next show in Southern California! (hopefully a headlining one)
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Kim Dracula and Hanabie in Anaheim
This past Saturday night Kim Dracula and HANABIE soaked in distortion, glitter, and guttural screams, brought their co-headlining tour to the House of Blues in Anaheim. Kim Dracula and HANABIE stormed the stage to a sold-out crowd. What started as a typical Saturday night quickly turned into a genre-defying experience, where trap-metal chaos met kawaii-core energy. With fans packed shoulder to shoulder, decked out in everything from corpse paint to pastel streetwear, it was clear from the jump: this wasn’t just a show—it was an experience.
Crystal Lake
Hanabie
Time for our first co-headliners of the night, HANABIE. This was my first time seeing them live but with the audience’s energy, I could tell that this was going to be a great set. All of the girls came out dressed in the Harajuku fashion style. Meaning they wore different styles of Japanese street fashion all at once, creating a sweet girly pop aesthetic. HANABIE really impressed me with their stage presence, utilizing every inch of the stage including the lead singer Yukina getting off the stage and running up and down the barricade to say hi to fans and even jumped onto one of the steps to get closer to the crowd. Not only were the fans extremely happy and over the moon that she did that but you could see how happy it made Yukina to see them as well, which while speaking about Yukina, this girl has such a deep and powerful scream that she does so effortlessly; one of my favorite female screamers! HANABIE performed some of their fan favorite hits like “Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu”, “TOUSOU”, “GAMBLER”, and more! They had a very well rounded setlist that made sure to cover their hits while also showcasing their newer music. HANABIE is a fully female group that is making a huge name for themselves, showcasing why they are one of the best in the industry!
Kim Dracula
Closing out the night was Kim Dracula, a trap-metal artist that is redefining and pushing the bounds of the genre! Kim had an iconic intro, lights dimmed and a voice started talking saying to “split the crowd down the middle and make way for Kim Dracula”, which the crowd got extremely hyped for and us photographers immediately got onto the step of the barricade to capture and then the next thing you know, Kim make their way sneakily out onto the stage while everyone was waiting for them to come through the crowd. A fun little joke and started the set out on a funny note. I had the opportunity to photograph and see Kim live once before when they were opening for Avenged Sevenfold and from that moment, I was hooked to their aura and music. They have such a unique style, Kim comes out dressed in a Military Sergeant outfit with an American Flag in covering the back wall and even a microphone stand that looked like a piece of military equipment which I thought was a really cool touch to make their set even more engaging. They made it known that this was now their house and we were all going to pay attention and listen. Throughout the night, we got to hear a stacked setlist of all of their hits like “Paparazzi”, “Killdozer”, “Make Me Famous”, “Drown”, and more! Personally, “Make Me Famous” is my favorite.
As the final notes of “Killdozer” rang out and the stage lights dimmed, the crowd was left buzzing, drenched in sweat and adrenaline but clearly wanting more. Kim Dracula didn’t just deliver a performance—they orchestrated a full-blown theatrical purge of chaos, catharsis, and creativity. Blurring the boundaries between metal, trap, glam, and madness, they proved that spectacle and substance can coexist as well as thrive. With this sold-out House of Blues show now engraved into the memories of everyone lucky enough to witness it, one thing is certain: Kim Dracula isn’t just riding a wave—they are the storm. I can’t wait to see what Kim continues to do and puts out next. One thing for sure is Anaheim will be counting down the days til HANABIE and Kim Dracula return!
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