BABYMETAL

Tokyo-based BABYMETAL surfaced in the early 2010s through an unexpected merger of J-pop and heavy metal that helped launch the kawaii metal movement, sometimes called kawaiicore or idol/cute metal. Producer Key Kobayashi, working under the Kobametal alias, oversaw the group's self-titled 2014 debut, which received gold certification and broke through internationally on the strength of the viral single "Gimme Chocolate!!".

Later releases Metal Resistance (2016), Metal Galaxy (2019), and The Other One (2023) kept blending pop hooks with metal force, yielding loud yet melodic tracks that connected with listeners in Japan and beyond.

The original trio consisted of SU-METAL (Suzuka Nakamoto), MOAMETAL (Moa Kikuchi), and YUIMETAL (Yui Mizuno). Formed as a side project inside the more conventional J-pop outfit Sakura Gakuin, whose members exited upon junior-high graduation, the band took its name from Kobametal's idea of birthing a new genre. They arrived in 2011 with "Doki Doki Morning," pairing bright vocals and melodies with crushing riffs and drums. Their first independent single, BabyMetal x Kiba of Akiba, entered Oricon's weekly indie chart at number three in early 2012; later that year the limited edition of Headbangeeerrr came packaged with a neck corset intended to ease headbanging. January 2013 brought their first major-label single, Ijime, Dame, Zettai, which debuted at number six on Oricon's Weekly Singles chart after selling 19,000 copies in its opening week. The Megitsune single and the concert video Live: Legend I, D, Z Apocalypse followed later that year, setting up the self-titled album and its lead track "Gimme Chocolate!!" in early 2014. Soon afterward the group reached the Top Ten on online rock charts and several digital lists in six other countries; that March they became the youngest act to perform at the Budokan.

The band drew praise from adventurous metal fans and pop listeners alike, touring globally, appearing at festivals, and opening U.S. dates for Lady Gaga while collecting awards such as Breakthrough Act at the 2015 Metal Hammer Golden Gods and the Spirit of Independence prize at the 2015 Relentless Kerrang! Awards. November 2015 saw the release of "Road of Resistance," featuring guitar work from DragonForce members Sam Totman and Herman Li; the track and a live version of "Gimme Chocolate!!" appeared on the mid-2015 U.S. edition of the debut album.

Metal Resistance, again helmed by Kobametal, emerged in 2016 with a heavier, somewhat darker tone. The following year the group toured extensively, played festivals and American late-night shows, and promoted kawaii metal worldwide; notable moments included headlining Wembley Arena in April 2016 (with Live at Wembley issued later that year), having their debut voted Best Metal Album of the 21st century by Metal Hammer readers, and sharing a stage with Judas Priest singer Rob Halford at the Alternative Press Music Awards. The year closed with a CD/DVD set from the Wembley concert and support slots on Red Hot Chili Peppers' U.K. tour.

In 2017 BABYMETAL continued opening for prominent metal acts including Metallica and Korn, staying on the road for most of the year. Festival dates followed in 2018 as they prepared their next album. "Distortion" appeared in May on their own BABYMETAL RECORDS label, followed by further singles such as "Pa Pa Ya!" featuring Thai rapper F. Hero. Metal Galaxy arrived in October 2019, marking the first release without YUIMETAL, who had departed the previous year. The 2021 compilation 10 Babymetal Years marked their tenth anniversary. "Divine Attack (Shingeki)" arrived in 2022 as the first single from the fourth album, a concept record set in a virtual realm called "The Metalverse" that was released as The Other One in 2023. After its release, backup dancer Momoko Okazaki, who had performed with the group since 2019, was officially added as a member under the name Momometal.