generasia:Featured article for 2016 week 14
BABYMETAL
BABYMETAL is a sub unit of the idol group Sakura Gakuin. They are the second sub unit to debut from the group, following Twinklestars. Their concept is a fusion of idol pop and metal.
The group first appeared on Sakura Gakuin's debut album Sakura Gakuin 2010 Nendo ~message~ in April 2011, performing the track "Do・Ki・Do・Ki☆MORNING". In October 2011 they released a DVD containing the music video for the song.
On February 26, 2014, they released its first, self-titled album. The album was very well received by people, selling over 37,000 copies in Japan on its first week, and debuting at #4 on the Oricon charts and #2 on Billboard Japan. It also topped iTunes Metal charts abroad and even ranked on the US Billboard 200 chart, something that very few Japanese artists have achieved. With their first two concerts at Budokan, they became the youngest-ever female act to perform there. On top of all that, they performed on tours and concerts abroad, in places such as Canada, New York City, and Los Angeles, California, with several different foreign artists, such as Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica,Lady Gaga, and more.
Their second studio album, METAL RESISTANCE, was released on April 1, 2016.
