Babymetal (2014)

by Joe Jamnitzky

I know this is a stretch for “Lost and Found”, but I am of the opinion that it needs to be done, and sooner rather than later. Having been together since 2012, and knowing of them since last year, with their debut album being released this February, there are still people who are unfamiliar with who they are, so I am using that flimsy logic to apply to the term “Found” in “Lost in Found”.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Babymetal, it’s a project that sounds so ridiculous, almost impossible to do, and on paper looks like a mess, but in practice is probably one of the most brilliant things. Just an aside here, also: only something like this would come from the brains of the Japanese. What we have here is music that combines the cutesy, teenage j-pop idol music, of the DDR variety, complete with three teenage female singer/dancers, and combines it with legitimate heavy/speed/extreme metal. Like I said, on paper, that looks impossible.

Thing is, against all possible odds, they have become not just a true phenomenon, but a highly successful one, and they’re starting to spread outside of Japan with that success. Here are the various chart placings for their debut album to serve as proof:

U.S. World Albums: 2
U.S. Hard Rock Albums: 12
U.S. Heatseekers Albums: 4
U.S. Billboard 200: 187
U.S. iTunes Metal Charts: 1
U.K. itunes Metal Charts: 1

I’ve left off the Japanese chart placings for a simple reason; obviously it charted well there. Placements like these, however, especially here and the UK, for a project of this nature, is quite an unusual feat, and one that just shouldn’t be ignored.

Let’s also take into account critical response. They have been written about in publications ranging from Metal Hammer to USA Today, almost all highly positive.

Now, they’re currently in the midst of their first ever world tour. While it’s mainly consisted of one or two shows per country, and usually at festivals, even that has given rise to an even greater profile. On July 5th, they had their debut UK appearance at the Sonisphere Festival, playing on the main Apollo stage with bands like Iron Maiden and Deftones. They’ll be performing at HEAVY MONTRÉAL 2014 in Canada on August 9th, alongside Metallica and Slayer, and at Summer Sonic 2014 in Japan on the Mountain Stage with Avenged Sevenfold and Megadeth.

As for the States, they’re debut appearance in the US was on July 27th, performing a sold-out headlining show at The Fonda Theater in Hollywood, and are now an opening act for five dates of Lady Gaga’s “ArtRave: The ArtPop Ball” 2014 tour.

Then there’s the music. As with most Japanese releases, this album actually compiles singles they’ve been releasing the past couple years, and in a way it shows. The earlier songs, such as “Do Ki Do Ki Morning”, have a bit of that childlike quality during the choruses, despite the thrashing music that opens and carries it. As they grew, though, things got heavier. “Catch Me If You Can” mixes metal with electronics at a furious pace, “Ijime, Dame, Zettai” is a six minute epic starting with piano before blasting in with quick guitar riffs and solos, while “Megitsune” balances the electronic and metal aspects evenly, with a really awesome breakdown in the middle.

When you take into account that the visual and vocal focus of this group is comprised of three girls aged 15-16, who are singing and dancing their asses off, but with a full on metal band behind them, it makes you realize that there is still hope for new music to come out and catch people’s attention. Their live shows (of which you can see a live performance of their song “Headbanger!” below), are some of the most energetic performances ever put together, almost out of necessity, as if each separate genre is pushing the other to greater lengths. In fact, it’s the strength of such performances, along with both the excellent playing of the band and Su-Metal’s truly wonderful vocals (especially being only 16), that have been key to winning over people.

First Japan. Then it went viral. Now a world tour. With all the facts I have just presented you, it’s best to pay attention now. Maybe you’re already a fan (I have converted quite a few people recently). Maybe you shrugged it off as too weird. Maybe you just flat out ignored it. If you’ve done any of that, stop. Remember, “Lost and Found” includes the word “Found”, and this is a group on the brink of being found by everybody. Get there first.

If you don’t believe me, just watch this and try not to be won over…