The BABYMETAL juggernaut continues to roll forward with a celebration of their shows at the legendary Budokan.

Released: September 29th 2021

Label: Cooking Vinyl

Format: 2CD / Vinyl

Anyone that has frequented a major metal festival over the last ten years will have no doubt encountered the phenomenon that is BABYMETAL. Even Glastonbury got in on the act in it’s last pre-pandemic iteration. They have also supported the likes of Metallica, Guns’N’Roses and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

A six minute plus introduction builds a palpable sense of expectation. Crowd chants of ‘Ba-by-me-tal’ ring around before the first onslaught of drumming and vicious riffs breaks the ambience. ljime, Dame, Zettai flies in in furious fashion before a glorious twin lead guitar line pierces through. The vocals also make their first appearance with the baying crowd paying homage in their vocal response.

Gimme Chocolate!! is one of BABYMETAL’s biggest songs. To hear it aired so early in a set shows a confidence in the material available. The chorus is wildly catchy; a proper earworm that will have you grinning from ear-to-ear. Doki Doki ☆ Morning retains the catchy chorus element, but it’s the playful nature of the vocals between the band and the crowd that brings the joy here. As the onomatopoeic title suggests, it gets the heart beating.

GJ! has a grand opening before a spoken word introduction and more trade offs with the crowd. Guitars sound evil and the track as a whole has a more sinister feel; away from the previous brace of songs. No Rain, No Rainbow is more pensive with a piano opening; it builds to a huge power ballad style piece which showcases the vocal skills of the band further. It’s one of the highlights of a great set that is littered with highlights.

Another highlight comes in the form of Distortion, featuring Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz. It’s one of the only cuts containing English vocals. Throughout the song, the drumming is truly pummelling. Double blast beats smash the song to bits. The fact that BABYMETAL have people like White-Gluz guesting with them shows the respect that the band has amongst the metal community and beyond. Guests continue to come as Thai rapper F.HERO joins the band for PA PA YA!!

Megitsune, translated as Vixen, ramps up the synths in the introduction before more chunky, hulking riffs propel the song. Again, the crowd hang on every word that they can sing back and there is a well placed crowd participation segment here. Coupled with the spectacle of the show, the shows at the Budokan have been brought to life very well on this set.

KARATE contains one of the best riffs that BABYMETAL possess. Along with Gimme Chocolate!! and Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!, KARATE is one of the bands most recognisable songs and is always a treat when performed. THE ONE helps with pacing as it veers into more epic territory again. Road Of Resistance closes out the set in grand fashion. Stunt guitar and crescendo leading drums and cries of ‘We are BABYMETAL’ ensure that no one in attendance will forget these shows.

10 BABYMETAL BUDOKAN will serve as a brilliant memento for those that were there as well as showing others what they missed out on.

Check out ljime, Dame, Zettai from 10 BABYMETAL BUDOKAN to get a flavour of the show.

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