Since Babymetal burst onto the scene in 2010, the door has been open for artists to blend sugary kawaii aesthetics with heavy metal. The most exciting development in this space right now? Hanabie. Hailing from Tokyo, this all-woman quartet fuses cutesy anime style with the blazing intensity of metalcore to create what they call Harajukucore. Their latest EP, Hot Topic, is a brilliant entry point into their unique and addictive sound.
The EP opens with the bouncy scream-along chorus of ‘Iconic’, a track that lives up to its name. There’s something remarkable happening here: a language barrier exists between the large English-speaking audience and these Japanese musicians, yet these songs remain utterly infectious and catchy. That’s the power of music transcending words.
‘Spicy Queen’ doubles down on the heavy metalcore energy, delivering a vicious experience that will translate brilliantly to a live setting. If you want proof of how well this band commands a crowd, check out our coverage of Hanabie‘s Manchester show last year.
‘GIRL’S TALK’ is arguably the most direct metal track on the whole EP. Despite sitting in the middle of the tracklist, it works as a decent gateway into Hanabie‘s world for newcomers. ‘トキメキAbout you’ arrives at the halfway mark, leaning further towards pop while retaining that iconic nu metal snarl with its rubbery guitar work and trap-influenced beats.
The EP closes with ‘はなびえんちゃん。のテーマ’, a track I have no idea how to pronounce, but it might be my favourite moment of the whole affair. It’s a super catchy melody that sounds like it was performed on a Fisher Price keyboard. Running just a minute long, this cute and memorable closer stands out as a sweet moment amongst so much tooth-rotting sourness.
If you need your fill of kawaii and heavy metal simultaneously and Babymetal feels a bit too polished for your liking, Hanabie might be exactly what you’re looking for. Their output has been steady and their fanbase has only grown stronger since their memorable set at Download Festival in 2024. Get on board the Hanabie hype train before it fills up. You won’t be disappointed.
Hot Topic is released January 28th via Sony Music/Music For Nations.