A lot of people may not know who Babymetal is but if you've never heard of them until now, I get to be the cool guy to introduce you to them like my friend was for me. Babymetal is a Japanese band which is a fusion of Metal & J-Pop, now how those kinds of musics mesh in the first place is something that most people would consider nonsense because they are nothing alike. Yet, somehow Babymetal makes it work.
The group was just supposed to be a few hits on an album for their associated "parent idol group" Sakura Gakuin with their label wanting to try the metal genre out for J-Pop/Idol music. It worked. A few hits for that group on those albums and Babymetal took off well on their own starting what many consider to be a blasphemy on metal music.
That is where I have to put my two cents in, Babymetal's music is awesome and I'm not ashamed as a fan of metal or a fan of music in general to say that. I've heard a lot of the "it's not metal, it's shit" or "these girls are awful" or "it's Japanese and weird" or many, many other arguments for why Babymetal isn't any good but listening to their music I have to say it definitely is great. Sure it is Japanese but how is a clear Japanese voice any different from a guttural scream from a death metal band, if you speak English you can't understand either, and do not bullshit and say you can understand the guttural screams they are inaudible as hell. I really like that Babymetal puts a lot of effort into making every single song different. You have interesting mixes of music like in the song "Iine!" where it sounds like you mix DDR music, metal, & rap. Then there are songs like "Mitsune" where it's a more normal sounding metal track but with a mix of traditional Japanese sounds and themes in it. Songs like "Doki, Doki Morning", which was the bands first song, showcase a happy go lucky and carefree sound despite the metal music, it's the most J-Pop song they have to be sure. Then arena themes like "Road to Resistance" and "The One" a traditional arena rock song and if you don't think Babymetal sells to arenas they sell out arenas.
That difference in their songs and the effort they put into the delivery in their live shows has led them to their success and what I feel is a breath of fresh air to the metal scene. Let's be honest, it's not the same status-quo metal as it was years ago and everyone is always looking for fresh and unique things in music. Sorry, not everyone is looking for something new as evident in the stereotypical "it's not metal" comments but think of it this way if it wasn't for groups like this in the past metal would be kind of samey. The reason we have so many different styles of metal is because other bands were willing to be different and that difference started new sub-genres.
A great example of a band that is similar is Rammstein. Their heavy style of music and unique sound led to the creation or at least transitional change of the Industrial Metal sub-genre. Much like Babymetal, Rammstein is a band that speaks in their native German tongue yet as managed to reach audiences worldwide and that includes people in North America and haven't changed into an English speaking band to accommodate. They continue to reinvent themselves with each song and each album and Rammstein is the reason that Industrial Metal will always be such a huge genre. Babymetal is also creating its own sub-genre of J-Pop Metal and that's fantastic. You have a great band that is making great music and is helping future bands that might want to follow in the genre.
They have certainly made a splash in the metal community as well because it isn't often that 3 young Japanese girls are fronting a major metal band at festivals worldwide featuring metal bands that have been around for a decade or more, ones that people would consider "classic", "timeless", or just "hardcore". A good instance was when they performed with Rob Halford and the rest of Judas Priest. That isn't something everyone gets to do because Priest is a classic band and for them to work with you is an honor in metal music.
The group was just supposed to be a few hits on an album for their associated "parent idol group" Sakura Gakuin with their label wanting to try the metal genre out for J-Pop/Idol music. It worked. A few hits for that group on those albums and Babymetal took off well on their own starting what many consider to be a blasphemy on metal music.
That is where I have to put my two cents in, Babymetal's music is awesome and I'm not ashamed as a fan of metal or a fan of music in general to say that. I've heard a lot of the "it's not metal, it's shit" or "these girls are awful" or "it's Japanese and weird" or many, many other arguments for why Babymetal isn't any good but listening to their music I have to say it definitely is great. Sure it is Japanese but how is a clear Japanese voice any different from a guttural scream from a death metal band, if you speak English you can't understand either, and do not bullshit and say you can understand the guttural screams they are inaudible as hell. I really like that Babymetal puts a lot of effort into making every single song different. You have interesting mixes of music like in the song "Iine!" where it sounds like you mix DDR music, metal, & rap. Then there are songs like "Mitsune" where it's a more normal sounding metal track but with a mix of traditional Japanese sounds and themes in it. Songs like "Doki, Doki Morning", which was the bands first song, showcase a happy go lucky and carefree sound despite the metal music, it's the most J-Pop song they have to be sure. Then arena themes like "Road to Resistance" and "The One" a traditional arena rock song and if you don't think Babymetal sells to arenas they sell out arenas.
That difference in their songs and the effort they put into the delivery in their live shows has led them to their success and what I feel is a breath of fresh air to the metal scene. Let's be honest, it's not the same status-quo metal as it was years ago and everyone is always looking for fresh and unique things in music. Sorry, not everyone is looking for something new as evident in the stereotypical "it's not metal" comments but think of it this way if it wasn't for groups like this in the past metal would be kind of samey. The reason we have so many different styles of metal is because other bands were willing to be different and that difference started new sub-genres.
A great example of a band that is similar is Rammstein. Their heavy style of music and unique sound led to the creation or at least transitional change of the Industrial Metal sub-genre. Much like Babymetal, Rammstein is a band that speaks in their native German tongue yet as managed to reach audiences worldwide and that includes people in North America and haven't changed into an English speaking band to accommodate. They continue to reinvent themselves with each song and each album and Rammstein is the reason that Industrial Metal will always be such a huge genre. Babymetal is also creating its own sub-genre of J-Pop Metal and that's fantastic. You have a great band that is making great music and is helping future bands that might want to follow in the genre.
They have certainly made a splash in the metal community as well because it isn't often that 3 young Japanese girls are fronting a major metal band at festivals worldwide featuring metal bands that have been around for a decade or more, ones that people would consider "classic", "timeless", or just "hardcore". A good instance was when they performed with Rob Halford and the rest of Judas Priest. That isn't something everyone gets to do because Priest is a classic band and for them to work with you is an honor in metal music.
But a lot of groups on tour or at festivals with them also seem to be embracing the girls into the community.
To me that's a great thing to see all of these metal bands embracing these girls into the community when some fans are even dismissing them, now I'm not saying every band likes them and who knows if every band they are with above even likes them but the point is, unless you are willing to see new faces and embrace change you can't get that fresh air. Not saying the metal community needs a change in air but it provides a nice change. Sam Totman and Herman Li of Dragonforce having written and played with them for one of their most popular songs "Road to Resistance" where both quoted as saying that Babymetal is a group that is perfect for non-metal fans to be introduced to the genre.
To be honest that is a great truth, people who may prefer pop music may be introduced to metal through Babymetal and that's a great thing to see, that is the freshness I speak of.
I love the bands music and hope to see more from them going forward and if you want two of my favourite Babymetal songs here are the videos for them but I do suggest checking them out if you haven't heard them before and are willing to give them a shot. Oh and below those videos are what Rob Zombie had to say to one of his own fans when they said shit about Babymetal.
To be honest that is a great truth, people who may prefer pop music may be introduced to metal through Babymetal and that's a great thing to see, that is the freshness I speak of.
I love the bands music and hope to see more from them going forward and if you want two of my favourite Babymetal songs here are the videos for them but I do suggest checking them out if you haven't heard them before and are willing to give them a shot. Oh and below those videos are what Rob Zombie had to say to one of his own fans when they said shit about Babymetal.
Remember this kids, Rob Zombie says Babymetal rolls harder than we do, we can't question him to be sure.