Japanese metal powerhouses Crystal Lake, HANABIE., and BABYMETAL, are set to perform at next year’s Download Festival.
Download Festival, the epicentre of rock and metal in the UK, has unveiled 80+ bands that’ll be taking to the stages at Derby’s Donington Park in 2024. Along with heavy hitting headliners Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, and Avenged Sevenfold, the festival will once again showcase its fair share of international talent.
Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake, the metalcore behemoths formed in Tokyo in 2002, boast a lineup featuring vocalist John Robert Centorrino, guitarists Yudai Miyamoto, Hisatsugu Taji, bassist Mitsuru, and drummer Gaku Taura. Despite several lineup changes, including shifts in vocalists and the departure of founding guitarist Shinya Hori, the band has managed to maintain their momentum with a brutal sound that spans metalcore, progressive metal, nu-metal, and deathcore. Backed by a rich history of international tours and acclaimed releases, Crystal Lake remain a formidable presence in the global metal scene.
Crystal Lake
DYSTOPIA
Release Date: 12/10/2023
Label: SharpTone Records
Listen on: Spotify
HANABIE.
HANABIE., formed in 2015, has been on the rise in recent years, taking their coined “Harajuku-core” style worldwide. The band, consisting of vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri, bassist Hettsu, and drummer Chika, seamlessly blends metalcore, hardcore punk, nu metal, hip hop, electronica, and J-pop elements. Achieving international recognition, they signed with Epic Records Japan in 2023, embarking on successful tours across Europe and the USA. They’ve also supported industry heavy-hitters like Limp Bizkit and While She Sleeps for shows in Japan and Australia. Their genre-defying compositions and high-energy live performances are causing a stir internationally, and we’re here for it.
HANABIE.
Reborn Superstar!
Release Date: 26/07/2023
Label: Sony Music Japan
Listen on: Spotify
BABYMETAL
Formed in 2010, BABYMETAL have traversed a remarkable trajectory in the world of Japanese metal. Achieving global fame with the 2014 hit ‘Gimme Chocolate!!’, they pioneered the “kawaii metal” genre. Following Yuimetal’s departure in 2018, a new era unfolded with the release of ‘Metal Galaxy’ in 2019. The announcement of their fourth album, ‘The Other One’, in 2022 preceded a transformative period, marked by Momometal joining in 2023. Their US ‘BABYKLOK tour’ alongside Dethklok, European tour with Sabaton, and the band’s very own world tour, showcased their international dominance. With massive collaborations and sold-out headline performances across multiple continents, the revitalized trio of Su-metal, Moametal, and Momometal continues to extend BABYMETAL’s global reign.
BABYMETAL
METALI!! (feat. Tom Morello)
Release Date: 17/08/2023
Label: BABYMETAL RECORDS
Listen on: Spotify
Fri 14th – Sun 16th Jun – UK, Donington Park Circuit, Download Festival XXI