35 isn’t old, but some days it feels it. And I’d definitely head-banged a little too hard for someone my age the night before at A Day to Remember. Returning to the Fortitude Music Hall for my second show in as many days (something I’m gradually finding I may also be too old for) the plan was to hang back, have a beer, and just observe. Unfortunately for me, this was a BABYMETAL show – and I was about to find out that that’s kind of impossible.
Taree’s Diamond Construct were up first as support, with lead singer Kynan Groundwater an absolute ball of energy in a rhinestone tracksuit. Their sound is eclectic, a blended form of different metal genres, bouncy beats, and maybe even a little dream pop, and the crowd absolutely ate it up. They’re dropping a deluxe version of latest album Angel Killer Zero later this month and we’re already eyeing up the vinyl for our collection.
My experience with headliners, and key Knotfest Australia act, BABYMETAL was, at this point, limited. Electric Callboy collab “RATATATA” had some serious playtime in our house last year, and I was always ready to fight any misogynist metalhead that wanted them gone from the scene. But somehow they’d stayed off my musical radar – until now.
The crowd was a wild mix – stock standard metal fans, a surprising number of families, and (in the nicest possible way) weebs. It’s a testament to the wide reaching nature of BABYMETAL’s kawaii metal sound that so many different types of people can come together on a Tuesday night for what can only be described as a party. The heavy metal music, Su-metal‘s clean vocals, those iconic choreographed dances – it’s a a joy to watch, backed by some exciting visuals on the big screen behind the band. These girls put on an absolute show, and even me – hovering at the back with a beer and a sore neck – had to get up and have a little dance.
The audience were a game bunch from the get-go, but a shift definitely occurred around that aforementioned Electric Callboy collaboration. The energy in the room rocketed, and didn’t let up for the whole second half of the show. It was, quite simply, a blast.
BABYMETAL’s place in the scene is always going to raise eyebrows for genre purists. After all, it’s women in metal – and those dance routines probably don’t help. But the show put me in mind of two other metal bands I adore, that also have (and I hate to use the word) “gimmick”; Ghost and Wind Rose. Ghost’s commitment to theatrics and lore is almost legendary at this point, and if you’ve never experienced Wind Rose’s dwarf metal, I’d urge you to do so – you’ll be yearning for the mines in no time. There’s a sense of storytelling and lore with these acts that I think can be attached to BABYMETAL too, and that’s part of what attracts listeners and what makes it so fun – and also what inevitably brings the haters.
Well haters be damned. This might be the most fun I’ve had at at a show all year.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
BABYMETAL will play a second Knotfest sideshow at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Friday March 6th (Future Static will take over support duties from Diamond Construct), with Knotfest Sydney taking place on Saturday March 8th. Tickets and more info HERE.
