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Post by Admin on Apr 14, 2020 18:51:30 GMT
Passing through the narrow corridors, it’s clear there’s no such thing as a typical BABYMETAL fan.There are metalheads in studded jackets, old-school rockers in Harley-Davidson bandanas, unmistakable emo kids, and theatrically made-up goths. You’re just as likely to end up stood next to a lairy teenage couple in matching tie-dye outfits as you are a family with young children all wearing ear-protecting headphones. It shows the truly diverse following BABYMETAL have cultivated. “I was extremely happy to see so many children and lots of girls!” says MOAMETAL about the tour. “I saw girls dressed up like us and I feel so blessed to have such warm fans. I also spotted a lot of hardcore metalheads, and seeing them singing and dancing along to our music is always such a fun sight. It makes me so incredibly happy.” Just as BABYMETAL’s music appeals to a broad church, the range of styles and influences that the group have incorporated into their traditionally heavy metal sound has been growing exponentially. The diverse list of guests on last year’s METAL GALAXY only scratches the surface of how adventurous things got on that record, with Joakim Brodén of Swedish power metal band Sabaton, Thai rapper F. Hero and Alissa White-Gluz of Swedish death metallers Arch Enemy all making appearances. It means that the band’s set for this tour has become an extravagant pic’n’mix of daring flavours, visuals and performance styles.  “Each song has its own unique colour, so it’s entertaining watching the differences in our fans’ reactions when we perform,” says SU-METAL, comparing how this tour measures up to their previous UK performances. “I feel that this album has further widened the range of what BABYMETAL is all about.” As if preparing tonight’s audience for their journey across these different worlds, the first visuals shown on the giant screen behind the stage are of a diamond spacecraft cruising beyond distant planets, backed by the emotional surge of intro track FUTURE METAL. Then the lights dramatically cut out, only to reveal three dark figures stood like statues when they turn back on – SU-METAL, MOAMETAL and one member of the Avengers, the group of dancers that have been drafted in on rotation since the departure of YUIMETAL in 2018. |
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Post by Admin on Apr 15, 2020 8:18:52 GMT
 Things kick off properly with the pinballing DA DA DANCE, which is backed by graphics that make it look as if the crowd is being launched into a dying sun. It’s an opening that sees the energy in the room skyrocket to a level it never comes down from, as the band shift between their many different forms. No two songs are alike; the kaleidoscopic Shanti Shanti Shanti infuses traditional Indian musical elements into BABYMETAL’s heavy make-up, swiftly merging into the bleak digital blast of BxMxC, all matched by a dizzying choreography that has the girls stomping around like giants. The band’s stage production is dished out in expertly measured doses, to ramp up the tension and emotions. The conventionally syrupy Gimme Chocolate!! opens instead with an eerie horror movie intro, complete with pyro fireballs that carry heat all the way to the back of the room. Perhaps the most striking visuals accompany Distortion, where nightmare figures and a crumbling modern city shift against a blood-red backdrop, as SU-METAL’s rapid delivery makes her sound as if she’s warding off an evil spirit. It’s genuinely unsettling.  But alongside these PG-13 moments come plenty of light-hearted laughs. The wonderfully silly Oh! MAJINAI, for example, is accompanied by dozens of CGI Joakim Brodéns (the Sabaton singer’s vocals are piped in for the song) standing shoulder to shoulder and all performing a leg-kicking Russian Cossack dance, while BABYMETAL execute their own variation. It feels as bizarre as it does brilliant, and a reminder that there are very few rock bands that can flip between tension and comic relief as perfectly as BABYMETAL. In addition to the group’s exhausting dance choreography, we witness SU-METAL and MOAMETAL carrying huge military-style flags during the epic closer Road Of Resistance, which they hold proudly behind their heads as heroic riffs wail out behind them. And while the ongoing story of the Fox God largely goes unmentioned this evening, the girls march around during Megitsune, holding up their animal deity’s mask in front of their faces like they’re about to perform an ancient ritual. “We want to have an amazing time with you!” says SU-METAL in English, and the crowd duly roars back. The connection BABYMETAL share with their fans is undeniable, which is all the more impressive as their music transcends language barriers. At times, it’s simply organic. The expert players in the supporting KamiBand – whose identities remain hidden behind freakish masks as they line the back of the stage – help to provide the heavy ammunition for the frenzied pit, which, during songs like KARATE, swells like a beast. Then there are moments when more au fait fans know the cues to follow – like when half the crowd start spinning items of clothing above their heads during the explosive PA PA YA!!. It’s a room that seems to be permanently ignited for the duration of the band’s set. |
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Post by Admin on May 1, 2020 18:48:54 GMT
In the brand new issue of Metal Hammer, we run down the 50 Greatest Metal Bands Ever – as voted by you. We're not giving away too many spoilers, but we can reveal that Babymetal crashed into the Top 10. To celebrate we spoke to Su-Metal and Moametal about their incredible rise.  Su-Metal: “I honestly can’t believe it… especially ‘of all time!’ It’s truly an honour to hear that people regard Babymetal in that way and it gives me more strength to do what I love. Thank you so much for the love and support!” Why do you think the Babymetal fanbase is so passionate? Moametal: “I myself would like to know the reason why we have an amazing fanbase! Could you be so kind to survey each one of our fans? Ha ha ha! And if you do, please make sure to share the results with me. One of the biggest reasons why we’ve been able to continue Babymetal is because of the pouring love and support from our fans. All our fans, people who love Babymetal, and our staff make up what we call Team Babymetal. Words cannot express the appreciation we have to all of those who continue to support us. We will continue to do our best!” Do you feel like pioneers in terms of bringing Japanese metal music and culture to a bigger audience? Su-Metal: “I hope so! While we are performing, it’s so fun seeing small children and fans singing along to our Japanese lyrics. We are so lucky to have such a wide fanbase and have the opportunity to tour internationally. It’s also gratifying to hear from so many people that Babymetal helped widen the range of music they choose to listen to.” Ten years ago, did you envisage being in the position you are in today? Moametal: “I am currently 20 years old. It’s incredible to think that I have spent half of my life as part of Babymetal. When I first started, I would have never imagined that I would be spending half of my life as Moametal, and never would I have thought that I would have the opportunity to meet so many people worldwide and be supported by so many people. It’s just so mind-boggling to think of what we have accomplished so far over these past 10 years and I feel absolutely lucky to have had such an experience. I’m glad that I’ve continued to do my best because if I hadn’t, I couldn’t have met so many people, travelled to different countries, or had the opportunity to try such a wide variety of food from all over the world! If I were to have the chance to speak to myself 10 years ago, I would tell myself, ‘No matter how difficult it may seem right now, don’t give up and keep going for the next 10 years. Not only is it incredibly special that I am a part of this for 10 years, but also to think that our fans [would] continually support us for a decade is absolutely remarkable – so appreciate and enjoy this experience!’” You can read the full list of The Top 50 Greatest Metal Bands Ever in the brand new issue of Metal Hammer, featuring a world exclusive new interview with Lamb Of God on the cover. Get it in shops (while on your essential grocery shop, of course), or get it safely delivered to your house . |
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Post by Admin on Jun 17, 2020 23:06:55 GMT
BABYMETAL is set to release the live audio and visual recordings of the additional domestic shows from their METAL GALAXY World Tour on Sept. 9. http://instagram.com/p/CBcy6yoFhkx The two-day engagement titled LEGEND - METAL GALAXY took place at the Makuhari Messe arena in Chiba on Jan. 25 and 26 during the metal idols' hugely successful international trek. The duo traveled to 13 countries to perform 44 concerts, selling approximately 250,000 tickets worldwide. The CDs and DVD/Blu-rays of the concerts will contain all 24 songs from the LEGEND shows, respectively separated into two discs according to the contrasting motifs: "World of Light" (Jan. 25) and "World of Darkness" (Jan. 26). http://instagram.com/p/CAcpCOGFSf1 Su-metal and Moametal performed different songs on each day, centering on tracks off their latest studio album, METAL GALAXY, that explored the overall theme of "traveling the metal galaxy." Aside from the regular DVD and Blu-ray packages, a limited first edition will be available as a Blu-ray version encased in a 12-inch vinyl-sized jacket showcasing the huge LED screens from the concerts. The CD release will be the duo's first live album since 2016's LIVE AT WEMBLEY. |
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Post by Admin on Sept 4, 2020 20:03:22 GMT
Babymetal will bring you not one, but two live albums on September 9. The two albums, titled Legend – Metal Galaxy [Day 1] and Legend – Metal Galaxy [Day 2], were both recorded at Makuhari Messe in Japan on January 25 and January 26, 2020 during the Metal Galaxy tour.  Pre-orders for both albums are available here. The track lists for both albums are as follows: Legend – Metal Galaxy [Day 1] 1. Future Metal 2. Da Da Dance 3. Elevator Girl 4. Shanti Shanti Shanti 5. Oh! Majinai 6. Yava! 7. Brand New Day 8. Gimme Chocolate!! 9. Megitsune 1. Night Night Burn! 11. The One 12. Road Of Resistance Legend – Metal Galaxy [Day 2] 1. In The Name Of 2. Distortion 3. Pa Pa Ya!! 4. Karate 5. Kagerou 6. Bxmxc 7. Syncopation 8. Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! 9. Starlight 1. Shine 11. Arkadia 12. Ijime, Dame, Zettai Babymetal will play Knotfest Japan in 2021. The festival will take place on January 10 and 11, and will feature Slipknot, Anthrax, Marilyn Manson, and Maximum The Hormone. Get more information on Knotfest Japan 2021 here. http://instagram.com/p/B_OUSDfhkGM |
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