***Review and photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***
OPENING ACTS: Born of Osiris and Hanabie
Monday nights are always a weird choice for concerts anywhere in the world, but the fans in Toronto didn’t care at all and headed to The Danforth Music Hall, which was by the way designated as a property of historic interest under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1985, to witness the eclectic combo of BORN OF OSIRIS, HANABIE and JINJER during their North America 2024 Tour. If you have never been to The Danforth, let me tell you that it’s big enough for some wild mosh pit action, something that really benefits concerts by bands like the ones on the bill, in special Jinjer who are all about inspiring their fans to start moshing while they kick ass on stage.
The opening slot was reserved to American Progressive Metalcore band BORN OF OSIRIS, formed in 2003 in Palatine, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and those guys definitely know how to warm up a crowd with their endless energy and electricity. The band formed of Cameron Losch, Ronnie Canizaro, Lee McKinney and Nick Rossi sounded tight and in total sync with the audience at The Danforth, and their short but sweet setlist was exactly what their fans needed to rev up their engines for the rest of the night. Right after those talented American guys, it was time to switch gears to the wicked music by HANABIE, a Japanese Nu Metalcore entity formed in 2015 in Tokyo, consisting of vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri, bassist Hettsu and drummer Chika. It’s said that they combine heavy music with contrasting Harajuku aesthetics in a style self-described as “Harajuku-core”, but if all that doesn’t make any sense to you simply search for their music online, as those girls know how to rock. I think it was their second time in Toronto, and I bet we’ll see them around again as the reaction form the crowd was absolutely wild during their entire concert.
The main attraction of the night needs no introduction. If you’re a normal person, you know Ukrainian Metalcore institution JINJER, you know the importance of their breathtaking frontwoman Tatiana Shmayluk to the world of heavy music, and you know how crazy the circle pits can get when the band hits the stage. Songs like Sit Stay Roll Over, Call Me a Symbol and Dead Hands Feel No Pain always sound and feel great on stage, and all fans of the band definitely enjoyed every second of their performance at The Danforth. Let’s say Jinjer are becoming too big for small to medium sized venues, and at the speed they’re growing we’ll most probably see those Ukrainian ambassadors headlining their future concerts in the city at bigger venues like the Budweiser Stage. They have two amazing new singles out now, which means a new album is about to be released anytime soon, so I guess we’ll see Jinjer kicking ass live in Toronto again sooner than we can imagine.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 