On one of the coldest nights so far this year, the line wrapped around the building and down across the parking lot with dedicated fans. Some skimpy dressed in Japanese Lolita dress and punk short shorts with crop tops, all waiting to get into the sold-out show at the Revel Entertainment Center to see the infamous goddesses of Japanese Kawaii Metal Band BabyMetal. 

The Japanese heavy metal band, BabyMetal, was coming to the end of their U.S. portion of their World Tour and before heading to California for the final performance, they stopped in Albuquerque, NM. The group has only been around since 2010, originally preforming in the Japanese Heavy Music Clubs. They have combined Heavy Metal and Japanese Idol genres to create a powerful high energy super group.   

As the crowd prepared for the BabyMetal to come on stage, every pre-show song had the crowd was singing along and dancing; the energy was high. When the opening screen popped up on the backdrop the crowd erupted in an ear-piercing screaming and shouting, people with their phones out and some jumping up and down. It never ended through the night.  

BabyMetal opened with their well-known song “BabyMetal Death,” with every letter of the band’s name announced, the crowd sang along. From that moment on, it was nonstop action on stage. The three singers, Su-Metal and her two backup singers Moametal and Momometal, make you want to jump and shout and mosh your night away with their singing and dancing. With a high intensity light show and video screen images, this band was out to have a good time. 

They performed, “Metali!!” with Kami band broadcast on the video screen behind them. This song is off their newest album release, BabyMetal World Tour 2023-2024 Legand-MM, followed by two big hits from their 2023 released album, The Other One, “Monochrome” and “Time Wave.” But the song that got the biggest response from the crowd was their cover of “RATATATA,” a song by Electric Callboy. They performed the song with Electric Callboy, who was on the display screens singing alongside them. The band went on and perform, “Gimme Chocolate!!” and two encore songs, “Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!” and “Road of Resistance” 

This was one of my favorite concerts to capture and I want to thank the security team in the pit for protecting my back from the crowd surfers. They were so great being aware of where I was when someone came out the barricades. Two things I recommend is if you have the chance to go to a BabyMetal show it is well worth any money paid and if you are in Albuquerque and there is a show at the Revel you must go. In the meantime, look up these links to the best Japanese Kawaii metal band, BabyMetal.  

https://babymetal.com/mob/index.php?site=TO&ima=1143

https://www.instagram.com/babymetal_official

https://www.youtube.com/@BABYMETAL