MetalForth Unleashed: BabyMetal Ignite London in Spectacular Tour Finale
- Alan Bryce
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
The O2 Arena London 30th May 2025
WORDS ALAN BRYCE
Currently on a World Tour in support of their upcoming album release next month, BabyMetal just wrapped up the 23-date European leg of their tour with a spectacular sold-out show at the O2 in London. The US leg of the tour kicks off in Houston on June 13th and runs through the summer, culminating in Phoenix on July 23rd.
BabyMetal has been an electrifying force in the music industry for the past 15 years. Formed in 2010, the band originally featured Su-Metal as the lead vocalist, with MoaMetal and YuiMetal as scream vocalists. Their powerful vocal performances are backed by a session band delivering heavy metal instrumentation. In 2018, YuiMetal stepped away from the band due to health reasons and, in 2023, was replaced by MomoMetal, who was previously a member of the backing dancer group.
The band has released four full-length albums, though their third album, ‘The Other One,’ is considered a concept album and is not included in the official album count. Despite this, the forthcoming album, ‘MetalForth,’ is billed as their fourth album. Their debut album, ‘BabyMetal,’ released in 2014, included six singles and charted successfully in Europe and the US, reaching Number 1 on the US World Album charts. The follow-up album, ‘Metal Resistance,’ released in 2016, featured the single ‘Road of Resistance’ with DragonForce guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman. 2019’s ‘Metal Galaxy’ was the first release without YuiMetal and reached Number 1 in both the UK and US. The album produced four singles, all of which enjoyed moderate success.
The upcoming album, ‘MetalForth,’ is highly anticipated and features 10 tracks with seven collaborative efforts, including contributions from Tom Morello, Electric Callboy, Slaughter to Prevail, and American artist Poppy. The album has already produced four singles, with the first, ‘Metali!’ featuring Tom Morello, released in 2023. The latest single, ‘Song 3,’ featuring Slaughter to Prevail, was released earlier this week.
The London show was the final night of the European leg of the tour, and the O2 arena was sold out. The evening kicked off with Irish singer/songwriter BambieThug, who has been making a name for themselves in the music world since their first single release in 2021. BambieThug’s set, performed with two masked dancers, was a high-energy mix of hard dance and rock, setting the perfect tone for the night.
Next up was American singer Poppy, who has evolved from a Japanese pop-influenced artist to a metalcore and arena rock powerhouse. Poppy’s seven-song set included tracks from her 2024 release and older favorites, with the audience’s energy reaching new heights during her performance.
Finally, BabyMetal took the stage, supported by their full, masked band. They opened with ‘Baby Metal Death,’ a high-energy number with minimal vocals, followed by ‘Megitsune’ from their debut album. The setlist included songs from their third album, a selection of tracks from the forthcoming album, and the first-ever performance of ‘Sunset Kiss’ featuring Polyphia. The audience’s excitement peaked with the latest single, ‘Song 3,’ and the band’s interaction with the crowd was exceptional throughout the show.
The encore featured a stunning collaboration with Poppy on the single ‘From Me to You,’ followed by three songs from their first and second albums, ending with the explosive ‘Road of Resistance.’ The production quality, including video walls, pyro effects, and coordinated dance routines, was top-notch.
In conclusion, the show was a fantastic blend of energy, excitement, and fun, with a diverse audience ranging from young children to older fans. The backing band was exceptional, and the choice of opening acts perfectly complemented BabyMetal’s performance. The new album promises to be their best work yet, and the US tour is sure to be just as spectacular. Overall, an exceptional show that left fans eagerly anticipating more.
SET LIST
1. Baby Metal Death
2. Megitsune
3. PA PA YA
4. BxMxC
5. Metali (preceded by band solos)
6. Kon! Kon!
7. Sunset Kiss
8. Song 3 (New Single??)
9. Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!
10. RATATATA
11. Gimme Chocolate
Encore
12. From Me to you
13. Karate
14. Ijime, Dame, Zettai.
15. Road of Resistance
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