Japanese pop-metal group BABYMETAL performed a brand new song, “The One”, on November 8 at the Brixton O2 Academy in London, England.
Beginning with an epically narrated and animated, 5 minute, video introduction, which explains that,
“4.5 billion years ago, at the time of the birth of this planet, ‘The One’ came into existence.”
The video goes on to say that, ”The One evolved and became mankind.” Through the evolution of man, and the advances of technology, eventually man began to devolve. As man became more absorbed in their technologies, they began forgetting how to speak, losing their memories, forgetting to live, and losing their souls to their handheld devices, which is ironic because as the image is holding up what appears to be a cellphone, we are watching a video that was taken in the exact same manner. Just as the video asks the audience if they are living in a real world or a virtual world, tells them to put their phones away and witness the show with their own eyes and ears, the audience is told that they are in possession of a new song. The girls are then unveiled and walk down the stairs to the stage as a musical introduction plays, they wave their BABYMEATAL flags then fallout back to the stairs.
When the song finally begins at 6:23, the girls drop into a Gangnam Style-like dance in unison until they eventually begin singing Japanese pop lyrics over high paced speed metal, played by the band behind them, sporting Kabuki makeup. Dressed in red tutus, with black and metal tops, the goth schoolgirls never slow down, singing and dancing, until they stop to begin a call and response section with the crowd who has never heard the song, but still hit the melody as if it was their favorite song.
According to Blabbermouth, BABYMETAL, is an offshoot of the Japanese pop idol group SAKURA GAKUIN, who perform a distinctly Japanese mix of schoolgirl J-pop and heavy metal which they call “Kawaii Metal”.
BABYMETAL is made up of lead vocalist Suzuka Nakamoto (a.k.a. Su-Metal), Yui Mizuno (a.k.a. Yuimetal) and Moa Kikuchi (a.k.a. Moametal), who admit that they had never listened to metal before joining the group.
Being called “the definition of a gimmick”, “awful” and “metal for hipsters”, not all heavy metal fans have embraced BABYMETAL.
Formed in 2010, BABYMETAL gained worldwide acclaim in 2011 with the release of their first video, “Doki Doki Morning”. After dropping the singles “II Ne!” and “Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!”, the group released their first major-label single, “Ijime, Dame, Zettai” (“No more bullying”) in 2013.
Since then, BABYMETAL has released “Megitsune”, “Live -Legend I, D, Z Apocalypse” a three-concert Blu-ray, a live performance video for “Gimme Choco!” and their self-titled debut album, BABYMETAL, which made them the youngest Japenese artists to break into The Billboard 200 chart and reaching #4 on the Heatseekers chart.
Regardless of how heavy metal fans view BABYMETAL, in May of 2014, they announced their first world tour, including appearances in France, Germany, Canada with Metallica and Slayer, and Great Britain with Metallica and Iron Maiden. BABYMETAL have also performed with the likes of Avenged Sevenfold, Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies.
The new song, “The One”, was captured by a fan and can now be seen by the link Below.
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