The Babymetal Phenomenon Takes Vienna

Location: Vienna / Gasometer / Austria
Date: 11. 2. 2020

When Babymetal burst onto the scene with their debut album in 2014, the band seemed like a flash in the pan. The whole concept was a massive deal in Japan. But over the following years, they conquered the American and European markets too. It seemed almost unbelievable that something like this could last beyond a single album.

The Babymetal story never started out as a metal band. It happened more or less by accident. All three original members come from the controversial “Johnny” stable — the agency responsible for most of Japan’s major J-pop acts over the past few decades. The group essentially came about as a reaction to the oversaturation of classic J-pop outfits, designed to bring something different — aimed primarily at young girls. That’s also the angle behind the first globally recognised track “Gimme chocolate!!” — the message being that girls who love chocolate and carry a few extra pounds don’t need to stress about every little thing. The other widely celebrated track “Karate” similarly touches on girls’ everyday struggles. Only recently has the band started putting out songs without that distinctly “girly” tone. Right now the most recognisable track is PA PA YA, whose title is a nod to papaya.

2018 was nearly the end. Guitarist Mikio Fujioka passed away tragically, then vocalist and dancer Yuimetal left the band. It looked like Babymetal were finished — but the group rose like a phoenix from the ashes. The album Metal Galaxy dropped in 2019, followed by an extensive tour that swung through Europe as well. February 11th marked Babymetal’s announced return to Austria, with the main hall of the Gasometer booked for the occasion.

Babymetal have been stirring up controversy among metal purists for a while now — it’s reminiscent of metalcore’s arrival at the turn of the millennium, when “you weren’t a real metalhead if you listened to that stuff.” But kawaii metal, the genre Babymetal have made their own, is opening doors and bridging the generational gap in today’s metal scene.

The band’s popularity speaks for itself. The Gasometer was sold out — packed to the last corner. And the crowd was every kind of person you could imagine: parents with kids, plenty of teenagers, and no shortage of older old-school metalheads either.

It might sound a bit odd, but over 30 girls showed up to the Vienna show — and because of the heavy mosh pit and circle pit action, most of them ended up watching from further back. Not that it made them enjoy it any less. The fact that the spirit of rock and metal can be passed on to younger fans through kawaii metal is genuinely something special, particularly for parents who can hand that spirit down to their kids — and happily swap out the Disney Frozen sing-alongs in the process.

Before the show even started, an intro for »Future Metal« rolled across the screens — all sorts of futuristic, sci-fi imagery. Then the whole hall erupted as the concert kicked off with DA DA DANCE. It didn’t take Babymetal long at all to get the entire room on its feet. Next up was the hit »Gimme Chocolate!!«, and the teenage screaming just didn’t stop. With every track, things only intensified. Babymetal kept the energy at fever pitch between songs by drawing out the intros.

The setlist covered more or less all the tracks Babymetal are known for. A packed Gasometer got to hear hits like Shanti Shanti Shanti, Megitsune, KARATE, Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!, Distortion, and more. One of the undoubted highlights of the night was »PA PA YA!!«, which had the crowd swinging their shirts in time with the track. That kind of gesture is pretty well known in Japan, and these days it’s showing up all over Europe and the US too.

Babymetal closed with Road of Resistance, the crowd belting out and screaming the melodies at the top of their lungs. The hall rang with it: »oooh ooooh ooooh!« And honestly, it’s hard to imagine a more epic way to end a show.

Babymetal proved at their sold-out Gasometer show that they’re no one-hit wonder. Their popularity is growing fast. And with multiple generations turning up, it’s clear the next visit could draw an even bigger crowd.

Text and photos: Denis Paradiž
Edited by: Primož Novak

Intro:
FUTURE METAL

DA DA DANCE
Gimme Chocolate!!
Shanti Shanti Shanti
BxMxC
Kagerou (kami band intro)
Oh! MAJINAI
Megitsune
PA PA YA!!
Distortion
KARATE
Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!

Encore:
Road of Resistance

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