The Callous Blog

    Just a few days ago, my high school metal days returned to me when an old metalhead friend posted the above music video on Facebook. He had previously introduced me to the Japanese metal group Maximum the Hormone so I take his recommendations seriously. But... "Babymetal"?!

    Admittedly, I didn't know what to think of this group at first.  A trio of Japanese Idol girls fusing Bubblegum J-Pop with Heavy Metal?  How can... what the... why?!  It was all so weird and definitely not the metal I grew up with.



    However, after watching a few more videos, particularly the one above (Gimme Chocolate!) I was quickly getting sold on the idea.  The freaky visuals paired with teenage kids started to bother me less as I started to see the whole picture more and more.  You know what?  J-Pop and Heavy Metal fusion may actually make sense!  They both share some characteristics, especially the penchant for the grandoise, the dramatic, and the need to just have some unrestricted fun.

    I learned later on that Babymetal is a "manufactured band".  Meaning, the band members were recruited and trained to perform a proposed theme for a music group by a producer.  I believe, though I may be mistaken, that this is a norm for Japanese Idol groups and singers. But Babymetal is less a band thrown together than one meticulously assembled to form a well-oiled superhero team.  Whoever is responsible for this glorious monstrosity must be some freakin' genius or the proverbial bungling scientist who accidentally spilled Chemical-X on three little girls.

    Because whatever the recipe was, it was done near-flawlessly.  Someone got metal down to a science.

    So who is Babymetal?  The lead singer is Suzuka Nakamoto, known as "Su-Metal" in the band, a 16-year old girl whose vocal abilities are well beyond her years.  She apparently portrays the badass of the group as well, as she often stands and poses, arms crossed, with a stoic face.  Flanking her on either side are Moa Kikuchi ("Moametal") and Yui Mizuno ("Yuimetal"), the group's resident screamers, background singers, and dancers.  Yes, dancers.

    Part of the group's defining characteristics is their well-choreographed dance routines.  Nothing unusual in any pop group but quite a change for a metal-purist to take in.  Nevertheless, the dance is crafted well into the band's metal themes. Instead of hip-hop stop-and-pops they often exclamate their choreography with solid power stances.  Then comes the headbanging!

    Still, it can be jarring to hear a metal song talking about chocolate cravings or having to wake up in the morning for school.  Because another thing about Babymetal, as their name implies, is that it's "cute metal".  Indeed, within their gothic lolita outfits are teenage girls who sport charming smiles and throw up "fox signs" instead of the sign of the horns, a defining metal signature.

    It all sounds odd, sure.  But come on.  They're little girls freakin' singing METAL.  That's awesome in my book.  And what do you get when all the ingredients are put together?  A damn good live performance.

    Listen to this crowd soak up the group's concert intro: