REDLINE ALL THE FINAL Festival, held on December 7th and 8th across Halls 9–11 of Makuhari Messe in Chiba, highlights the end of the REDLINE tour series that began in 2010. Tickets sold out in no time, thanks not only to the insane lineup of 57 bands but also the highly anticipated comeback of post-hardcore legends, FACT.
RELATED: FACT live at REDLINE ALL THE FINAL: A monumental reunion
For those up to the challenge, two days of non-stop music awaited, loud and electrifying. The massive lineup was spread across five stages. The two main stages, REDLINE and BEGINNING STAGE, were set up in Hall 9. Hall 10 acted as a chill zone of sorts, serving as a walkway and home to some apparel and drink booths. Meanwhile, Hall 11 hosted three more stages—BODY, SOUL, and RIOT STAGE. The RIOT STAGE, the smallest of the lot, sat smack in the middle of the hall, creating a wild 360-degree setup where bands were surrounded by fans on all sides.
REDLINE ALL THE FINAL Festival Day 1 Highlights: 07/12/2024
Age Factory
Age Factory kicked off the festival on Saturday at 10:30 AM with the heavy bassline of ‘Party night in summer dream’ blasting through the BEGINNING STAGE. Despite the early start, the crowd erupted in cheers, throwing their hands into the air. Live drone footage captured the scene, showing an already wild crowd eager to dive into a day packed with loud rock music.
With their second track, ‘See you in my dream’—arguably their most well-known song—the band crushed any lingering doubts and turned the entire venue into a sea of fists pumping to the beat. By the time they played ‘Blood in blue’ and its iconic main line, “Hashiri dasu ore no chi” (My blood starts to run), the crowd was fully engaged, clapping and singing along.
WurtS
WurtS didn’t hit the stage alone; he brought along a full band and a DJ dressed as a rabbit, who stormed the stage first. They launched straight into ‘Blueberry Honey’, and the audience waved their hands in the air to the rhythm. Known for concealing his identity, WurtS appeared wearing a white cap pulled low over his face, with slits to see through. He paired this with wide black pants and a cropped black jacket. Meanwhile, the pink rabbit hyped the crowd by dancing nonstop and even had a short solo moment!
The energy hit a new peak during ‘SWAM’, a true party anthem that had the whole hall jumping, with the floor practically vibrating under the crowd’s force. After a brief MC, WurtS reappeared in a white shirt and tie, setting the tone for ‘SPACESHIP’. Atmospheric lighting turned the stage into a starry dreamscape, evolving into a club-like atmosphere by the song’s end. The rabbit cheered the crowd on, urging them to clap along.
WurtS closed his set with ‘Wakattenai yo’ (‘You Don’t Understand’), strumming his guitar as the crowd sang in unison. A perfect finish that left everyone wanting more.
FOMARE
After a brief pause, the 2019-formed trio began their soundcheck, and the fans were already singing along passionately. Once the actual set started, the vocalist took a moment to thank the audience for their support and expressed how special it was to perform on a main stage. They kicked off with the breezy rock track ‘Lani’, which the crowd joyfully sang along to.
A standout moment was ‘Aisuru Hito’ (‘Beloved One’), where the crowd roared the chorus so loudly that it filled the entire venue. The fan participation carried through the set, solidifying FOMARE’s place on the main stage.
THE FOREVER YOUNG
Punk rock at its finest! THE FOREVER YOUNG had the honor of performing on the RIOT STAGE, surrounded by their passionate fans. Fists flew into the air, crowd surfers dove into the sea of people, and the energy peaked during ‘GO STRAIGHT’ with its electrifying “Ganbare!” (Go for it!) chorus. Guitarist Junsuke jumped into the crowd himself, surfing briefly before returning to the stage.
ASP
Yes, an idol group made the lineup! ASP opened their set with ‘Black Nails’, a hard-hitting mix of speedy riffs and techno beats. Their solid fan base brought the energy, cheering and dancing wildly. Unexpectedly, some light sticks lit up the crowd—a rare sight at a festival like this.
‘TOXiC iNVASiON’ got everyone moving, while ‘TOTSUGEKI!!!!!’ kicked off with an intense club-like intro, turning the stage into a frenzy of lights and dancing. ASP wrapped things up with ‘Haikei Rockstarsama’ (‘Dear Rockstar’), a headbanging closer from their debut album ‘ANAL SEX PENiS’. Their perfectly synchronized vocals and dance moves deserve more recognition, and it’s only a matter of time before they hit the big time.
Yuuri
The stage dimmed entirely, leaving a single spotlight on Yuuri as he performed the haunting ‘Kagome’, accompanied by piano under glittering red lights. The atmosphere brightened with the playful opening of ‘Peter Pan’, and the crowd immediately raised their hands, filling the packed venue.
The energy soared with ‘Curtain Call’, followed by a punk-rock twist on ‘Dried Flowers’, which had everyone screaming the lyrics. For ‘Kokuhaku chokuzen sanketsu jōtai’ (‘Choked up to ask you out’), fans twirled towels in the air, creating a literal windstorm in the venue.
During ‘Hikousen’ (‘Airship’), the backdrop turned into a vivid sky, simulating a high-speed journey through clouds as Yuuri’s voice carried the crowd to new heights.
MONGOL800
With a laid-back reggae intro, the members of MONGOL800 casually took the stage one by one. Kicking off with ‘Anata ni’ (‘To You’), they hit the audience straight in the feels as everyone sang along. When they performed ‘DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY’, dancer Tsubu-san joined the fun in a red muscle shirt and black hot pants, lifting the guitarist while spreading joy across the crowd.
Their classic ‘Chiisana Koi no Uta’ (‘A Small Love Song’) had the entire venue jumping, with fans cheering each other on. They closed with ‘SHOUNEN JIDAI’ (‘Boyhood’), giving the saxophone and trumpet players a well-deserved spotlight with their powerful solos.
ACIDMAN
The stage glowed in soft blue light as a slow guitar intro built up, setting the crowd up for ACIDMAN’s entrance. When the band finally took the stage, the lights shifted to a striking red and white for their opener, ‘Zouka ga Warau’ (‘Artificial Flowers Laugh’).
With ‘Yoru no Tameni’ (‘For the Night’), the band called on fans to sing along, and they happily complied as the stage transformed into a blue-and-white dreamscape. During the atmospheric ‘FREE STAR’, purple and blue lasers illuminated the venue, with fans reaching their hands up as if to grab the beams of light.
Awich
Awich entered her set with a dramatic intro, bathed in spotlights flashing from all directions. She immediately commanded attention with a fiery performance of ‘Queendom’ delivering her powerful lyrics with unmistakable force that rippled through the entire venue.
After shouting “REDLINE!!” to the roaring crowd, six dancers and a DJ joined her on stage. Dressed head-to-toe in black with a corset, hotpants, and thigh-high boots, Awich paired her commanding presence with aggressive choreography, especially during ‘Bad Bitch Bigaku’ (‘Bad Bitch Aesthetic’).
For ‘Are You Serious?’—a track tied to the drama The Queen of Villains—a montage from the show played on the backdrop, adding even more drama to her electric performance. Then came a massive surprise: Awich invited DAIDAI from Paledusk to the stage for two specially rearranged tracks, sending the crowd into an uproar. Laser shows hyped DAIDAI’s guitar solos, and Awich even took a moment to stage dive into the thrilled audience.
She capped her set with an unreleased track produced by a Wu-Tang Clan legend, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s next for this powerhouse performer.
RIZE
Vocalist JESSE kicked things off with a scream, bouncing across the stage as RIZE unleashed pure chaos on the REDLINE STAGE. Their explosive opener ‘HAVOC’ lived up to its name, igniting multiple mosh pits in the crowd. The blend of rap and rock tied perfectly into the festival’s diverse genres, with everyone throwing hands up and moshing along.
During ‘TKC’ JESSE gave the crowd a quick tutorial on how to shout the chorus—and they nailed it, with the entire venue jumping in sync. By the third track, JESSE was shirtless, showcasing his tattoos as he sprinted from one side of the stage to the other. When ‘PARTY HOUSE’ lit up the stage with colorful lights, it became a full-on festival rave.
In a heartwarming twist, JESSE invited a fan onto the stage to sing. While the performance wasn’t pitch-perfect, the fan earned hugs from every band member, smiles spreading on the faces of the audience, loudly applauding.
MY FIRST STORY
A brief electronic intro set the mood before MY FIRST STORY stormed the stage, with frontman Hiro hyping the crowd to clap along. They wasted no time launching into ‘BLACK MEMORY’, their cover of THE ORAL CIGARETTES‘ hit, and the energy in the hall went through the roof. By the time they hit ‘I’m a Mess’, the entire crowd was bouncing in unison.
‘Merry-Go-Round’ took things up another notch, as circle pits erupted, and towels flew wildly in the air. ‘Tokyo Midnight’ brought a shift in vibes, with the hall awash in pink and blue lights and a wave of arms swaying to the beat.
During ‘MUGEN’ (‘Illusion’)—their collaboration with HYDE—Hiro surprised everyone by running offstage and down an open pathway to the mixing desk. Fans crowded around as he led the entire Hall 9 in a massive singalong to the song’s finale.
As their grand finish, they brought the house down with THE ORAL CIGARETTES classic ‘Kyouran Hey Kids!!’. The entire hall was jumping, and the floor felt like it might give way under the collective weight of the crowd’s energy.
REDLINE ALL THE FINAL Festival Day 2 Highlights: 08/12/2024
By the second day, Hall 9 was already packed to the brim with fans eager to catch openers WORSTRASH and coldrain. Sunday’s lineup featured significantly heavier acts compared to Saturday, with many of the bands sharing overlapping fan bases.
coldrain
coldrain took the BEGINNING STAGE at 10:30 a.m., kicking things off with ‘NEW DAWN’ and instantly sparking the day’s first mosh pit. Originally, the festival website had declared moshing and other such risky activities prohibited. However, after their opening track, an official-sounding Japanese voice announced mid-MC that moshing was, in fact, allowed—though fans were reminded to stay safe.
By their second track, ‘CUT ME’, pits had broken out across the Makuhari Messe floor. Waves of crowdsurfers were carried to the stage, with a drone flying above capturing the sheer size of the ocean of fans going wild.
During their 2015 hit ‘VENA’, vocalist Masato urged the audience to jump while bassist RxYxO led call-and-response chants with the crowd.
The two guitarists, Y.K.C and Sugi, got their shining moments as they stepped forward for short solos, firing up the crowd during ‘The Revelation’. And when ‘THE SIDE EFFECTS’ began with its slower intro, fans first clapped along in rhythm before exploding into singing the lyrics.
coldrain’s set was a powerhouse performance, sending waves through the entire hall. Anyone who skipped it due to the early time slot was likely kicking themselves after, as such raw energy and fan fervor are rare to witness.
Crystal Lake
There was no time to catch your breath, as Crystal Lake were up just five minutes after coldrain wrapped up, prompting a stampede of fans from Hall 9 to Hall 11.
Frontman John and the band kicked off their set with ‘BlüdGod’, followed by the ferocious ‘Six Feet Under’, thrilling long-time fans. Despite the lack of overhead screens in Hall 11, the band’s immense stage energy was enough to pull fans into furious moshing. After ‘Mephisto’ they introduced a brand-new, unreleased song, getting the crowd clapping along. By then, Hall 11 was filling up fast.
The hammering ‘Watch Me Burn’ saw the first crowdsurfers of the set—yes, all of this was still happening before noon. Classics like ‘Lost In Forever’ and ‘Apollo’ followed, with band members darting across the stage and prompting fist-pumping and furious headbanging from the audience.
They wrapped up with ‘CHASE THE SKY’, a track released especially for REDLINE Festival, leaving everyone in Hall 11 with their hands in the air and spirits soaring.
Dragon Ash
Dragon Ash began their set with ‘Entertain’, which felt like a warm-up before launching into ‘Rocket Dive’, a cover of the classic hide track.
With ‘For divers area’, the crowdsurfers surged like waves crashing against the barricades, and the atmosphere reached a boiling point. Bassists and vocalists leaped about the stage, with the crowd mirroring their energy.
For ‘Yuri no Saku Basho de’ (‘Where Lilies Bloom’), vocalist Kj took a seat on the stage, creating an intimate, storytelling-like ambiance. Yet true to form, the calm didn’t last long as more crowdsurfing and ecstatic cheers erupted before the song’s climax.
The hall became a madhouse as everyone screamed along to ‘Fantasista’. Things peaked when JESSE joined them on stage for their collaborative track ‘Straight Up’, delivering an exciting surprise for fans.
Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas
Just when you thought Hall 9 couldn’t possibly get fuller, fans continued pouring in until the venue seemed ready to burst.
The electronic intro to ‘Chase the Light!’ announced the band’s arrival, transforming Makuhari Messe into a storm of clapping hands. Bassist Tetsuya bounded on stage first, quickly followed by the rest of the members, as the tempo surged into full throttle.
Kicking off with ‘Return to Zero’, vocalists So and Minami delivered a synchronized routine, their choreography enhancing the track’s explosive energy. By ‘Virtue and Vice’, fans were imitating the hand-over-head triangle movements the vocalists encouraged, while the stage pulsed with constant motion.
Chaos reached a peak as multiple mosh pits opened, and fans climbed on each other’s shoulders to get closer to the stage. Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas proved once again why their shows feel more like high-energy parties than regular concerts.
BLUE ENCOUNT
BLUE ENCOUNT brought some brief respite with their opener, ‘Motto hikari wo’ (‘More Light’), a light-hearted rock tune perfect for singing and waving along. Despite its relaxed vibes, a mosh pit soon broke out—a telltale sign of this crowd’s undying energy.
With ‘KICKASS’, the pace quickened as circle pits formed, and fans banged their heads in sync with the band. For the 2014 track ‘PLACE’, a pop-rock vibe brought smiles all around as both the band and the crowd swayed to the cheerful beat.
The BONEZ
The band kicked off their set by gathering at the center of the stage, launching into the performance with a rallying war cry and their track ‘Place of Fire’. The energy was infectious, with the entire hall jumping in sync—a fitting response for a punk rock band. The vibe intensified during ‘New Original’, as spotlights turned toward the audience and JESSE took the lead, rapping while the crowd swayed their arms in unison. He then split the crowd for a wall of death, which extended all the way to the back of the hall.
‘Thread & Needle’ bathed the stage in silver and golden light as the crowd screamed along with the echoes, and fans lifted one another to get closer to the band. The BONEZ also performed ‘Straight Up’, joined by Dragon Ash’s vocalist Kj for the collaboration.
For the track ‘Suntown’, the stage glowed in hues of orange and yellow, amplifying the euphoric energy. The band jumped across the stage while multiple circle pits formed in the audience. Fans locked shoulders and ran together in a spinning ring, turning the space into a swirling storm of motion and energy.
CVLTE
CVLTE faced tough competition as their set clashed with FACT’s highly anticipated comeback on the main stage. Unsurprisingly, most festivalgoers flocked to see FACT, but CVLTE handled the challenge like pros and delivered an energetic, high-impact performance.
Drummer Hal, known for his viral drum videos, headbanged with the intensity of a windmill. During the atmospheric ‘greedY.’ the crowd swayed with their hands in the air, enveloped in a melancholic yet captivating vibe.
Frontman Aviel brought high energy to ‘eepY.EXE’ dancing across the stage with powerful vocals, while the emotional ‘Falling Apart’ drew the audience into a dreamlike state. The set ended on a heartfelt note as Aviel embraced bassist Fuji, showcasing the camaraderie among the band members.
MAN WITH A MISSION
MAN WITH A MISSION started their performance with fans raising claw-shaped hands into the air, fully embracing the wolf persona of the band. The opening track ‘Emotions’ filled the venue with fans singing along to the soaring chorus, while visuals of space were projected in the background.
With ‘Raise your flag’, the tempo picked up as red and orange lights flooded the stage, and the crowd bounced and sang in unison. Their ever-popular banger ‘FLY AGAIN’ was a technicolor spectacle of flashing lights, accompanied by synchronized arm movements from the audience.
The energy skyrocketed further with ‘Kizuna no Kiseki’ (‘Bond of Miracles’). Though originally featuring milet., the wolves held the stage on their own and sent fans into overdrive. Fans moshed, crowdsurfed, and continued their uninhibited participation as the band capped off another stellar set.
Paledusk
Known for their chaotic energy, Paledusk lit up the SOUL STAGE, located away from the main action. Despite being a secondary stage, Hall 11 was three-quarters full even before their performance began, as fans eagerly waited amidst flashing spotlights and an adrenaline-pumping intro sampling Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’.
Surprising everyone, Kenta Koie from Crossfaith joined the band for ‘Q2’, just minutes before performing his own set. This was followed by hard-hitters ‘AREA PD’ and ‘9 SMILES’, which whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
Aviel from CVLTE also reappeared, guesting on ‘SUPER PALE HORSE’, while Paledusk’s guitarist, DAIDAI, leaped and spun across the stage. Their set concluded with the brutal ‘BLACK ICE’, leaving the hall ringing with cheers and moshing fans drenched in sweat.
Crossfaith
By the end of the second day, the festival schedule grew increasingly tight. Performances from various artists in similar genres overlapped, forcing fans to make tough choices. Crossfaith’s vocalist, Kenta Koie, handled the challenge with ease: after a guest appearance with Paledusk in Hall 11, he dashed over to the main stage in Hall 9 to deliver a show that could only be described as explosive.
Known for their expertise in blending electronic sounds with metalcore, the band brought a laser show for ‘God Speed’, leaving the crowd in awe.
Kenta and guitarist Daiki stood at the front of the stage, encouraging fans to unleash their inner party animals. During ‘Jägerbomb’, the biggest mosh pits of the day erupted, one even surpassing the size of some entire live venues in Tokyo.
Crossfaith divided the audience for a giant wall of death during ‘MIRROR’, and the resulting energy was palpable. Returning the earlier favor, Paledusk’s vocalist Kaito joined Crossfaith for a blistering performance of their 2013 track ‘Countdown to Hell’.
Maximum The Hormone
If you’re familiar with Maximum The Hormone, you know their sets are a wild mix of pure chaos, humour, and relentless energy. True to form, they had fans moshing from the very first beat, shaking the floors of the venue.
The crowd engaged in a reverent sway during ‘SHIMI’ (recently re-recorded with ATARASHII GAKKO!), before devolving into complete anarchy with ‘Benjo Sandal Dance’ (‘Toilet Sandal Dance’) where circle pits and laser shows took over the hall. Their iconic ‘Bikini Sports Ponchin’ saw fans jumping, waving, and dancing like there was no tomorrow.
They closed with ‘Koi no Sperma’ (‘Love Sperm’) its soaring, swaying chorus creating a visual spectacle of arms waving like a field of wheat in the wind. The band and fans ended by crossing their arms in the shape of the band’s logo, a perfect conclusion to their unforgettable set.
NOISEMAKER
Back on the SOUL STAGE, NOISEMAKER closed the day with intensity. Hall 11 was already packed as they began their soundcheck, their track ‘SADVENTURES’ getting fans hyped before the performance even officially started.
Kicking off with the electronic beats of ‘LAST FOREVER’, the crowd erupted in cheers, raising their hands in unison. Songs like ‘Something New’ invited loud sing-alongs, and fans hoisted each other into the air, closing the distance to the band.
Also, notable guest appearances dominated their set. JESSE joined them for ‘Wings’, Masato from coldrain dropped by for ‘Supernatural’, and Kj of Dragon Ash joined for their new collaborative track ‘Koe’ (‘Voice’). Each guest brought renewed energy to an already roaring audience.
For the finale, NOISEMAKER treated fans to ‘NAME’, their iconic anthem, which had everyone cheering and dancing, bringing the festival spirit to an exhilarating close.
REDLINE ALL THE FINAL proved to be a logistical marvel, giving some of Japan’s biggest artists a stage while spotlighting rising stars. As the final chapter in a 15-year legacy, it delivered a charged atmosphere and unforgettable experience for both artists and fans alike.
Did we miss any of your favourite REDLINE ALL THE FINAL Festival highlights? Share them with us in the comments!
