HANABIE LAUNCHES HARAJUKUCORE IN MINNEAPOLIS

CONCERT REVIEW :: HANABIE, NEKROGOBLIKON
The Fillmore - Minneapolis, MN
April 1, 2026
Photos and Review by Brett Zisler

With the concert season starting to heat up, HANABIE made their way to Minneapolis on a cold Thursday night to entertain the masses for their first headlining show at Fillmore. This marked their third time playing Minnesota in the past three years on their biggest US tour to date.

After a blistering opening set by Spokane’s Enterprise Earth, the legendary and only goblin metal titans, NEKROGOBLIKON hit the stage. Like HANABIE, NEKROGOBLIKON’s momentum has been built by each tour that has made it’s way through Minneapolis. How can they not when the have pounding riffs, dueling guitars and vocals and feature the world’s only goblin frontman, author, actor, comedian, John Goblikon. Like Chili’s southwestern eggroll, it’s all the perfect ingredients for goblin metal domination. NEKRGOBLIKON weaved their way through their set with fan favorites, “Bones,” “Darkness” and “This is it” with the utmost crowd participation. Definitely one of the highlights of the set was hearing their new song “Secret Elephant.” A song that gives us a perfect glimpse into the future of the band on this next EP, and that future is bright………and green.

The time had finally arrived and it was now HANABIE’s stage. The Japanese metal-core band emerged to rabid fans with fans in hands screaming as they grabbed their guitars. Lead vocalist, Yukina, while small in stature commands the stage with massive presence. Having never seen them live before, I was unsure of what kind of show it would be, it’s safe to say we left completely impressed. HANABIE was so intense and over top with their brutal breakdowns that kept fists pumping in the air all night long.

Guitarist, Maturi and bassist, Hettsu fit Yukina’s live show all night long while their drummer, Chika, kept the perfect tempo song after song. This show was so polished and professional, we couldn’t believe it. The fan interaction and reaction was 10/10 all night long. These are the kinds of bands and tours that expand the metal genre and make concert going fun. Was everyone there to see NEKROGBLIKON? No. Was Everyone there to see HANABIE? No. But did everyone walk away from this show with excitement and a new level of fun? 100% absolutely.

Hanabie made their mark during their first headlining show in Minnesota, but after this last tour stop, it’s safe to say it won’t be their last .

SEE MORE of BRETT's PHOTOS from HANABIE and NEKROGOBLIKON HERE!