If there’s one thing metal artist VANA isn’t lacking, it’s energy. Arriving all the way from New Zealand to join Honey Revenge on “The Loving and Losing” tour, VANA dove headfirst into the chaos and dragged the sold-out New York City crowd with her.

From kicking off mosh pits to leading the room in animal noises, she kept the room unhinged and locked in. At one point, she snatched a fan’s phone mid-set; by the end, she had people in the front row helping her play guitar. The rest of the VANA’s masked band members kept pace—guitarist and bassist thrashing and spinning on the crowded stage. Total madness and completely on brand for her unique metal genre: Bratcore. The lineup made for a wild collision of genres, which also included Nightlife and New York City’s punk-pop troublemakers Daisy Grenade.

The venue, Le Poisson Rouge (LPR), has that basement-show kind of vibe—low stage, no barricade, and a crowd packed tight to the front. It’s loud, a little grimy, and exactly where you want to be on a Tuesday night. VANA’s sound blends creepy, doll-like samples with jagged breakdowns, though some of those textures got lost in the mix. The energy was all there, even if the soundboard struggled to keep up with her growls and screams.

Let’s hope the distance doesn’t mean it’ll be a long wait before VANA hits U.S. stages again. Her set proved she’s not just a wild opener, but an act worth keeping on your radar.

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