Otakus, cosplayers, gamers, and creators had a thrilling time at the recent Comic Fiesta event, which was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The highly-anticipated two-day anime-cosplay convention was full of surprises, as always, and we, too, had a wonderful time there.
One of the highlights of the event was, of course, the concert held at Plenary Hall, featuring returning Japanese acts Suzuki Konomi and MYTH & ROID. The two stars perfectly closed Comic Fiesta with an outstanding show that is now immortalised in our hearts and online, leaving us wanting more. Here’s what went down during the concert:
MYTH & ROID
Starting the night was MYTH & ROID vocalist KIHOW. As soon as the lights dimmed, fans screamed at the top of their lungs the second the band’s logo appeared on screen. The dramatic beat drop for “Paradisus-Paradoxum” sent chills down our spines, and the lead singer had us in a trance when she walked onto the stage to perform the fast-tempo track. Light sticks were held up in the air, moving to the beat of the song, showcasing the power and influence the music had on the audience.
Speaking of influence, every word felt like gospel when KIHOW continued with the next songs, “theatre D” and “VORACITY”. Each cheer from the crowd felt like worship for the artist performing on stage, which left us enthralled by the whole experience. Known for having a “rainbow-coloured voice”, throughout her entire set, the vocalist showcased amazing vocal projection, breath control, stability, and technique, flawlessly transitioning from her head voice to chest voice, even during the up-tempo songs. Her singing ability made us wonder if she was classically trained, given the techniques she applied in her performance.
Her theatrical showmanship was also hypnotising, as she proved that she could perfectly embody the character she was playing for each song. KIHOW then took time to interact with the fans in both Japanese and English. She talked about her last experience in Malaysia and expressed her gratitude towards her fans for their overwhelming support over the years. The venue was vibrating as the MYTH & ROID vocalist invited fans to jump along with her for the next song, “ACHE in PULSE” and “RAISON D’ETRE”.
After performing many of the band’s hits like “shadowgraph”, “Endless Embrace” and “HYDRA”, fans were over the moon when KIHOW finally sang “NOX LUX”, the ending theme for the third season of “Re:ZERO − Starting Life in Another World”, accompanied by a video projection of the beloved anime. At one point during “STYX HELIX,” we noticed the MYTH & ROID member take in the moment as fans sang along to every word throughout her entire set before resuming her performance. She exited the stage after ending with “L.L.L.,” but not before saying, “I LOVE YOU MALAYSIA!” to the audience.
Suzuki Konomi
If you thought the audience would be exhausted after such an energetic performance by KIHOW of MYTH & ROID, you’d be mistaken. As soon as Suzuki Konomi walked onto the stage, fans immediately jumped to their feet, singing along to “Redo,” the first opening theme of “Re:ZERO − Starting Life in Another World”. The up-tempo performance made us feel as though we were part of the anime montage projected on the screen. Keeping the energy high, the young artist followed with “Ao no Kanata” and “Nice to Me Chu!!!,” during which she briefly ventured into the audience to ask a question mid-song.
Much like the previous performer, Suzuki Konomi recalled her last visit to Malaysia, expressing gratitude to Comic Fiesta for inviting her again and to the fans for their support over the years. The singer slowed things down with “THERE IS A REASON,” a song that allowed her to showcase her vocal skills – dynamics, crescendo and decrescendo notes, and powerful sustained notes. We were also amazed by her stamina for being able to sing these challenging songs while dancing and moving across the stage.
Suzuki Konomi performed many of her hits, including “If I Sing, You Will Be There” from “Lost Song”, an animated film in which she voiced one of the main characters, and “DAYS of DASH” from the “Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo” series. Fans were delighted when she paused her set to ask, “Sudah makan? Makan apa?” before sharing that she had roti tisu shortly after arriving in Malaysia. By this point, the audience was still on its feet, showing no sign of losing energy as Suzuki Konomi performed her latest hit, “Reweave,” also from the “Re:ZERO” series.
The artist thanked the audience for an amazing night after performing “Realize” before exiting the stage. Of course, a show is never truly over without an encore. Fans screamed Suzuki Konomi’s name, hoping she’d perform one last song. Luckily for us, she did, but what made the closing performance special was that she pulled out her phone to do an Instagram Live, showing fans worldwide the excitement of her Malaysian audience as she sang “Blow out” — a perfect way to end the show.
We’re incredibly sad that the concert and Comic Fiesta ended but that just means there’s much to look forward to in 2025! We’re hoping that both Suzuki Konomi and MYTH & ROID return to Malaysia for another show or even a music festival.
