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Cool to see you discovering one of the most popular metal bands on the planet, they are the GOAT of Japanese metal

Su-metal was only 17 at the time of this performance, she's gone on to become one of the best lead singers/stage generals in the metal genre. They'll be touring the US starting at the end of this month 🦊🤘

Great first reaction and welcome to the BABYMETAL Foxhole.🦊This video was from January 2015 at the Saitama Super Arena.  Su-metal (lead vocalist) was 17, Yuimetal and Moametal only 15 and that was over 20,000 people completely under their control.

Supporting them in all live shows since March 2014 (and before that playing a couple of festivals and the encores in some shows from October 2012) are the Kami Band - always 2 guitarists, bass and drums.  Each one of them is a world class musician.
The Kami Band of the East are Japan's very best session musicians.  There were many who played, but a hard core of about 6 musicians played the vast majority of concerts through to their last appearance (to date) in January 2023.
In 2019 the Kami Band of the West was introduced to play the increasingly lengthy foreign tours which the Japanese musicians could not commit to as they had their own bands, projects and families.
The Kami Band of the West are American musicians (the current drummer is Hungarian) and while they played outside of Japan the Kami Band of the East continued to play the Japanese concerts.
This changed in April 2023 and the Kami band of the West has been ever present since then.

In this concert the Kami Band (East) were Leda Cygnus and Takayoshi Ohmura on guitars (Takayoshi has the glitter pink guitar) with BOH on his 6 string bass and Hideki Aoyama on drums.

This was also the end of a 90 minute concert - they had been keeping that same energy up without any drop in quality for the whole time.  It is what they do - they appreciate people have often paid a lot of money and travelled a long way to see them, they never give less than 100% for every song in every concert, whether that is one of their big arena concerts in Japan or at the many various sized venues as they tour the world.

About the song itself - 'Road of Resistance' is a very positive song, it isn't the usual "resist the machine or the system etc" that we might expect from the title.  It is about forging your own road even where a road doesn't already exist, not necessarily going the easy way or following the path already made by somebody else, so if the way you want to go has never been trodden you may have to get past the resistance of the undergrowth, obstacles, hurdles and things blocking your way etc to find your own way.

It could easily be used to describe BABYMETAL's own story - they could have followed the well trodden path of J-Pop and been very successful, but they chose to go with Metal ... but again they didn't just follow the same old format of every other metal band, they have done it their own way and it hasn't always been an easy route to follow.

BABYMETAL was that breath of fresh air Metal needed - same as you, I was bored with nothing new happening, every band doing and sounding virtually the same as every other, no imagination, no innovation - and they seemed to have forgotten about melody, nearly all the metal vocalists seemed to have taken to screaming and growling at me.
My interest was rekindled when I stumbled on BABYMETAL.  Finally something new , sounding and performing like nothing I had ever seen in all my decades of listening to music, going to concerts etc.

BABYMETAL are pretty much unique in that they invented their own genre fusing Metal with JPop aesthetics (they called it Kawaii Metal - kawaii means cute as in adorable) and their own way of doing things.  Now they mix all sorts of different styles and genres with the metal.  Do not try to categorise them as just one thing or to put them in any one box.  You will not be able to predict them, just expect the unexpected.  They don't copy anybody or follow the same format as nearly every other band (for a start they have brought choreographed dance to metal).

They started in 2010 aged 12, 11 and 11 as a sub-unit of a JPop group, separated from that group in 2013 to become an independent band in their own right and now, 16 years since they started, they are internationally the most successful Japanese band (domestically there are many much bigger artists, but their success has been limited or is even non-existent outside of Japan).

They are Su-metal (lead vocalist), Moametal and, since the start of April 2023, Momometal (backing vocals, harmonies but mainly in charge of dance, leading the audience, getting everybody involved and joining in).  
The third original member, Yuimetal, sadly left the band in October 2018 having been absent from the stage for the previous 12 months. She had ongoing (and undisclosed) health issues.

After Yui left Su and Moa continued as a duo through to their 10th anniversary and a bit beyond for the next 4-5 years, supported by 3 dancers (the Avengers Riho, Kano and Momoko) taking turns dancing in the third spot.  Momoko was the only remaining Avenger from about March 2020 and was finally revealed as the official new third member on 1st April 2023.

BABYMETAL have about 80 songs now, each one different to the last.  They have songs in virtually every metal genre but will also mix and blend so many other styles and genres with the metal.  Some songs are good hard metal, some lean towards their pop roots and they do everything in between.  
Their official videos are all very good and worth seeing, but BABYMETAL are best experienced live.  Even they say so themselves.

I will suggest 2 songs to get you started.  You saw the original trio in this one from 2015, so I'll suggest an older song from 2013, but a more recent performance and a newer song from 2023.  You can find both of these posted by Babymetal FOREVER or Hymnodic:
- 'Megitsune' live at PIA Arena (subtitled) PIA Arena, Black Night 1st April 2023
- 'Monochrome' live at PIA Arena, Clear Night, 2nd April 2023.

Hey there, 60 year old metalhead here,  Road of Resistance, huh....bold choice, but a good one to pick to be introduced to Babymetal.  I started my journey into headbanging back in 1975 (I was 9 years old at my first metal concert) with Black Sabbath, and listened to bands like Megadeth, Motorhead, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and saw them all and so many more in concert. I started listening to Babymetal in 2015- 2016 and was blown away by them. I would encourage you to continue your journey with Babymetal. They mesh different types of metal with different other genres of music like, j-pop, rap, latin music and so on. The even fuse different type of metal together. I have had the pleasure of seeing these young ladies in concert several times twice in Japan, and so far 7 times here in the states, and have been blown away each and every time, and I hope to see them several more times in the future. (I saw them twice in San Francisco in July and saw them again on July 24th in Los Angeles in 2025 and I saw them again on Nov.1st at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.) I am sure people have already let you know that it is best to watch a live video of them to get the best experience. The ladies that are Babymetal are: Su-Metal (Lead singer 28 years old), Moametal (scream and dance 27 years old, she just had her birthday on July 4th) and Momometal (Scream and dance 23 years old) They have been doing this since 2010. There was an earlier member Yuimetal, but she left the band due to health reasons and Momo replaced her. They do not play instruments, but they have a backing band called the Kami Band that plays for live concerts, and they do have choreographed dancing for every one of their songs.  For me metal music had gotten stale in the mid 90's, and I credit Babymetal for bringing back my love of metal. This is a sub genre of metal that Babymetal created called Kawaii Metal or Cute Metal, and Grington300 has explained everything so nicely in his wall of text😁


Here are a few songs you might want to introduce to your buddies...they just released their 5th album in August of last year.


BxMxC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4G5pa1sd2c  (Incorporates rap....Su's (lead singer) rapping is incredible)
Megitsune:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RorkQ79V-68  (Definitely one of the fandoms (referred to as The One) top favorites)
Monochrome:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJZhy7fWNyY&list=RDXJZhy7fWNyY&start_radio=1 (Very quickly became a fan favorite)
Ijame, Dame, Zettai: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro-_cbfdrYE&t=4s  (This Sonisphere appearance in 2014 is what launched Babymetal onto the world stage)
Monochrome piano version (First take): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-hPGRSjgms (This version really highlights Su's vocal talent and range)
Song 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEMVgy51kPE&list=RDKEMVgy51kPE&start_radio=1 (In collaboration  with Slaughter to Prevail, where Monometal does all the growling in the first 2 minutes of the song)
Night Night Burn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwLzK9nWyOw&list=RDpwLzK9nWyOw&start_radio=1 (This one is a personal favorite of mine..it is a mix of metal and latin music)
Headbanger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjjWZpf_jSs (This is live version from 2013.)
Rondo of Nightmare (mischiefs of Gods intro):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmMocP99QkQ&list=RDtmMocP99QkQ&start_radio=1 (This is a Su solo song with a Kami Band intro)
Headbanger (15th night version):   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R09cXutHYCM  (This is the latest version of Headbager...they have 6 different versions of the song...Headbanger, Yuibanger, Moabanger, Momobanger, Headbager Night of 15 mix, and this one.)
Syncopation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hSiQHPbsbE (Just a fantastic song a favorite among the Babymetal fandom)





Reply

You should check our their "Rondo of Nightmare" live with The Mischiefs of God intro. You get to see the musicians more and the amazing voice of SU-METAL.

I see you found our Beloved Baby Metal!!! Letz GO 500,000 MPH! Love this! 🤗🤗💓💓

Great reaction! I still can’t believe this video was from the Jan 2015 show, when lead Su-metal just turned 17.

This has been their staple show closer for the last 11 year. I’ll be experiencing this song again in VA and NC early Sep. I can’t wait!!

——————

Lead vocals: Su-metal
Backing vocals/dance: Yuimetal
Backing vocals/dance: Moametal

Kami Band (East) - Stage left to right:

Guitar: Leda Cygnus
Bass: Bohte “BOH” Daisuke
Drums: Hideki Aoyoma
Guitar: Takayoshi Ohmura

Yuimetal left in Oct 2018 due to health. Babymetal then had 3 rotating backup dancers in the 3rd spot. One of them (Momometal) became the official 3rd member in 2023.

Kami Band - Touring band ONLY, so you will not see them in any official releases (audio or video), unless it was live.

Kami Band was added in 2012, for encores only, then in full by 2014. Along with the above mentioned 4, Mikio Fujioka was another prominent guitarist. He rotated with Leda and Takayoshi often. Unfortunately, Mikio passed away in Jan 2018.

By 2019, Kami Band (West), 4 US musicians were also added, to assist with increased touring. They took over as the sole backing band starting early 2023. So in recent videos, you will see them instead.

Babymetal is known for their extreme style diversity and genre blending, mixing J-pop and Metal. So, most songs will feel very different, yet somehow, still very “Babymetal”. Their most recent, 5th album, Metal Forth that came out Aug last year hit #9 on US Billboard 200. Huge deal for Japanese artist, and metal at that!

Suggestions:

Road of Resistance (Pia Arena MM 2023): Will be interesting for you to react and compare this song live, with the grown up Babymetal almost a decade later, and the current Kami Band West.

Megitsune (Pia Arena MM 2023): If you don’t want to repeat songs per my suggestion above, do this one instead. A 2013 classic, Babymetal’s 5th song, but a 2023 performance. IMO, this song best embodies Babymetal as a whole.

Akatsuki (Budokan 2014): “Disney metal”, you say? THIS, but way more epic than Disney 😂. 16 year-old Su-metal’s solo.

Headbanger (15th Night Ver): The official Jan 2026 re-recorded version of this 2012 classic, to celebrate Babymetal’s 15 year anniversary. New 3rd member Momometal turns from princess peach into Momozilla 😂.

Enjoyed your reaction, look forward to more Babymetal!!

🤘🦊🤘🦊

Yes, they all sing. When they started, as the first Kawaii Metal band, the lead singer Su-metal (Suzuka Nakamoto) was 14, and both co-backing singers Moa-metal and Yui-metal were 12 (all three were already professional entertainers). Yui retired for health reasons in 2018, and her eventual permanent replacement was Momo-metal, who is 4 years younger.

Their backing band are the Kami Band (Kami being Shinto deities/spirits), who are session musicians with a shifting lineup.
Babymetal are billed as a Music and Dance act, and their choreography is integral. The three must be the fittest singers in metal!

Suzuka in particular is an extremely skilled singer. Look for the acoustic 'One Take' version of their song Monochrome, which really demonstrates this.

Welcome my friend to the wonderful world of Babymetal. A musical experience unlike any other. I haven't checked the other comments yet so I may have some duplication in mine. Sorry if that happens.

First off this concert was from 2015. From left to right: Yuimetal, 15, Su metal, 17 and Moametal 15. So three petite Japanese teenagers with an audience of 20,000 in the palms of their hands. The three young ladies are Babymetal. Now celebrating their 16th year they have essentially been backed by two groups of elite session musicians. Known as the Og or Kami Band East (seen here): Lyda Cygnus on guitar, BOH, god of the six string bass, Hideki Aoyama, drums and Takayoushi Ohmeru guitar. With occasional personnel changes the Eastern Kami's played with Babymetal from 2012 and the last time was in 2023.

Their current touring band features two guitars and bass from North America and recent new addition on drums (I believe from Ukraine). Babymetal tour...a lot and these guys are their touring band from 2019 through to the present. They are all-obviously-masters of their instruments.

I really, really enjoyed your enthusiastic reaction. Babymetal make some kick ass mv's but at their heart are a live band. You will never go wrong reacting to them live. When you invite the Babymetal fandom known collectively as The One to make some recommendations. Well you're going to get recommendions.

I'll give you two to consider and I'll include the links (which I'm hoping is still OK on YT). These are more recent performances and I think you'll agree that Babymetal (now all in their mid to late 20's) are still rocking hard. And they have bespoke choreography for every song. Which has always been a feature of their performances.

"Monochrome, PIA Arena, Clear Night 2023": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJZhy7fWNyY

"Metali, Legend MM, with Kami Band intro": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=529KPSbExRI

You've earned my sub with this fine reaction. And I look forward to your Babymetal journey. Best wishes.

Also want to mention a couple suggestions. Monochrome Live at the PIA Arena is arguably one of their best live performances, and Tales Of The Destinies Live from the Tokyo Dome is a musician's dream, and a nod of ultra-respect to Dream Theater. Oh, and one more: Mirror Mirror also live from The PIA Arena (same show as Monochrome) is another song that highlights the band's top-tier musicianship.

BABYMETAL is a very deep foxhole that you could descend into. Amazing group and they cover pretty much much every genre. Good luck and good fortune!!

Suzuka Nakamoto was discovered around the age of 10-11 during the final concert of a group called Karen Girls.   Babymetal's producer had this wild idea of pairing JPop vocals with metal music and he believed that Suzuka's strong vocals and stage presence wouldn't be sacrificed when paired along side metal music.   It started as an experiment but has been going strong for 16 years.

Very good reaction! Please continue to react to Babymetal! 🤘🦊🤘

Discovering BABYMETAL is an extraordinary opportunity. A long, surprising and exciting list awaits you.

In the metal world, that crash of people in the mosh is called the wall of death. And dragonforce helped with the music, you can tell their influence from how it sounds.

Welcome to the Metal Galaxy with Babymetal!!!

Babymetal is Japan's #1 Heavy Metal group and one of the Hottest Tickets on the World Heavy Metal Stage Today!!

I had the privilege of attending a Babymetal Concert back on Black Friday 2024 in OKC....Dude!  Bucket List Concert!!

More Babymetal Always!!


Put your kitsune UP!

Purely for musicianship appreciation, i would recommend their songs Tales of the Destinies, Arkadia and Rondo of Nightmare 🤘

Babymetal did paved the road for the Japanese all female bands around the world. They have a very big catalog with great songs. My personal favorites are the live versions of Headbanger, Megitsune and Papaya. They did also a great number of collaborations with other bands. A fun one is is the omv of Ratatata which they did with Electric Callboy. They are still on my bucketlist to see live. 🦊🦊🦊

Welcome to the amazing world of BABYMETAL. The community of BABYMETAL will supply all you need to know how they started in 2010 aged 11 and 12 with just a backing track and borrowed clothing from friends, playing food courts and small venues of family and friends, then 2014 a video breakthrough with the song Gimme Chocolate that set them on the world stage playing at the UK Sonisphere in front of 60,000 metalheads. Their backing band at different concerts will be Mikio Fujoka RIP, Leda Cygnus, BOH, Aoyama Hideki, Takayoshi Ohmura.  Headbanger, Karate, Rondo of Nightmare, Monochrome, Megistune are some of the 70+ songs, they have the backing and encouragement from Rob Zombie, Rob Halford, Guns & Roses, Corey Taylor, RHCP and Metallica. Have fun and remember "don't think, feel".