Diva Spotlight: Babymetal

I'll admit, the first time I heard a Babymetal song I thought it was either a joke or a parody band. The more my husband and I listened to them, though, the more into their music we became, and now I can definitely say I'm a fan. This is a really fun schtick they have going, and as far as melodic metal and hard rock goes I'd say it's pretty good.

We haven't had a group Diva Spotlight in about a year and a half, so let's take a look at this trio of ladies who have had made names for themselves in this very specific (and often male dominated) genre (all information current as of April 2026):

-Current members include 28-year-old Suzuka "Su-metal" Nakamoto, 26-year-old Moa "Moametal" Kikuchi, and 23-year-old Momoko "Momometal" Okazaki. Su-metal is a Sagittarius, Moametal is a Cancer, and Momometal is a Pisces.

-Su-metal was born in Hiroshima, Japan; Moametal in Nagoya, Japan; and Momometal in Fukuoka Province, Japan.

-All three ladies are singers and dancers.

-They are a Japanese kawaii metal/J-Pop/power metal/alternative metal trio formed in 2010. The original lineup included founding member Yui "Yuimetal" Mizuno (who left the group in 2018). Momometal joined the group in 2023.

-They have released 5 studio albums since 2014.

-They have won multiple awards across Japan, Europe, and the US.

In a time where most everyone can claim a favorite K-Pop or J-Pop song, Babymetal stands out in a league of their own. Checking out their discography was a blast, and I'm excited to share it with you. Disclaimer: I did my best to translate the lyrics, but it was a little difficult, so be patient with me. Let's go!

BABYMETAL (2014)

Babymetal's debut kawaii metal album was released February 26th, 2014 by BMD Fox/Toy's Factory/Amuse/earMUSIC/Cooking Vinyl when Su-metal was 16 and Moametal & Yuimetal were 14. With a run time of 54:55, it produced 6 singles: Doki Doki ☆ Morning (10/22/11), Babymetal / Kiba of Akiba (3/7/12), Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! (7/4/12), Ijime, Dame, Zettai (1/9/13), Megitsune (6/19/13), and Gimme Chocolate!! (5/31/15). The album peaked at #187 on the Billboard 200. Seeing how young these girls were when this album came out is absolutely wild. It gives a lot of context to the sound, but I will say I think this was my favorite of the albums. It's adorably chaotic, just what you'd expect from three teenagers making metal music, and here are my Top 3:

Track 2: Megitsune (written by M. Watanabe, N. Nakayama)

This is a really fun one and sounds like it could be in a video game or an anime intro. It's fun to listen to the speedy vocals and the guitar riffs alike.

Our Dressed-Up Little Fox/Chiki-chiki, Wasshoi, Chiki-chiki, Wasshoi/With twin-tails fluttering/Flap-flap, Wasshoi, Flap-flap, Wasshoi/Pop and vanish in a puff/Spin-spin, Wasshoi, Spin-spin, Wasshoi/Now go forth, master of transformations/Kon-kon-kon-ko, Kon-kon-ko-kon/Maidens of antiquity/Dancing within fleeting dreams/Transcending thousands of years/You live in the present day

Track 3: Gimme Chocolate!! (written by KITSUNE OF METAL GOD, KxBxMETAL, T. Ueda, M. Watanabe)

This was my first Babymetal song and it's still absolutely my favorite. What an absolute banger.

Atatata tatata tatata, Zukkyun/Watatata tatata, Dokkyun/Zukyun, Dokyun, Zukyun, Dokyun/No way, no way, no way, no way, never, never, never/Check it out, chocolate, chocolate, is it okay/But you know, I'm a little, wait, a little worried about my weight lately/Still, chocolate, chocolate, is it okay/But you know, a little, wait, just hold on

Track 7: Onedari Daisakusen (written by N. Nakayama, R. Yokoi, S.Fujita, K. Higashihara, S.Takahashi)

Something about the rhythm and beat of this one just grabs me. It's another really fun one, even if the lyrics are a huge trip.

Strategy One: Buttering him up, even more than usual/A shoulder rub, followed instantly by: "I love you, Daddy”/Strategy Two: "Thank you for your hard work, oh mighty God”/And naturally, my "type" is: "I love you, Daddy”/Even lies are fine, no need to hold back/Pile on the praise, butter me up, butter me up/I want that, too, give me a little more attention/And I want this, too/The whisper of a devil with an angel's face/If you're going to preach, give me money/The whisper of a devil with an angel's face/“I’m going to be Daddy's bride"

METAL RESISTANCE (2016)

Babymetal's sophomore kawaii metal/power metal album was released March 29th, 2016 by BMD Fox/Toy's Factory/Amuse/earMUSIC/Sony Music Entertainment/Cooking Vinyl when Su-metal was 18 and Moametal & Yuimetal were 16. With a run time of 54:09, it produced 2 singles: Road of Resistance (2/1/15) and KARATE (3/25/16). The album peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200. I enjoyed this album a lot as well. It's a similar sound to BABYMETAL, but a little more power metal in my opinion. I liked a lot of songs on this one, too, but here's my Top 3:

Track 2: KARATE (written by T. Mamiya)

This is another favorite of mine from them. I really like the melody line on the chorus and enjoy the guitars as well.

Seiya se se se seiya/Seiya se se se seiya/Soiya so so so soiya/Soiya so so so soiya/Ossu, Even if tears fall/Ossu, Let's stand together and go/Hitasura seiya soiya taakau-nda/More flesh, more heart/Touch everything together, woah-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh/Still seiya soiya taakau-nda/Even if you get sad and can't stand up, Ah, ossu, ossu

Track 4: YAVA! (written by M. Watanabe, K. Kobayashi, N. Nakayama, NAKAMETAL, YUPPEMETAL)

More chaos that would be at home on a video game soundtrack. Honestly, this would probably slay on DDR.

They’re all the same/That’s what everyone says, but/Doesn’t it feel just a little bit different/I guess it really is a little different/“It’s different, it’s different,” don’t tell me that/Even if you keep saying, “It’s different, it’s different”/“It’s different, it’s different, "I don’t wanna know/Huh, wait, does it feel a little different/Oh no/Now it’s stuck in my head, what do I do/Now it’s stuck in my head, what do I do/Which one is it, that one or this one/Parirara, Parirara, whoo/Oh no/Now it’s stuck in my head, what do I do/Now it’s stuck in my head, what do I do/Which one is it, that one or this one/Parirara, Parirara, Parirararira

Track 8: GJ! (written by T. Mamiya)

The drums are great on this one. That mixed with the guitar line and the rhythm in the lyrics make it an interesting listen.

The circle pit on the g-g-g-g-green train/At the signal of a death growl: Wall of Death/Right, Left, You lost little lambs/Die, die, die, die, die, die/That "stairway to adulthood" is way too tough for us/One step, two steps, lift 'em up/Surfing and swimming through the rough waves of the world/Dive, dive, dive, dive, let's go/More, more, come on, more, more, come on, more, more, come on/More, more, come on, more, more, come on/Lift 'em up

METAL GALAXY (2019)

Babymetal's third kawaii metal album was released October 8th, 2019 by Babymetal/BMD Fox/Toy's Factory/Amuse when Su-metal was 21 and Moametal was 20. With a run time of 58:44, it produced 5 singles: Distortion (5/8/18), Starlight (10/19/18), Elevator Girl (5/10/19), Pa Pa Ya!! (6/28/19) and BxMxC (10/9/20). The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200. It feels like there's a bit of a shift in this album from the first two, but it's not bad. I didn't grab as many songs off of this one, but it still has good moments to be sure. Here's this Top 3:

Track 3: Shanti Shanti Shanti (written by MUKTI-METAL, MEG)

This is a fun, high energy one. Definitely another one that would've done well on Dance Dance Revolution.

Shanti Shanti Prana of the Living Things/Shanti Shanti Chakra where the flower of life blooms/Shanti Shanti Samsara of the Living Things/Shanti Shanti Soar, Karma/The seasons come and go, sparkling and sparkling/I’m longing for love, laila la la la la la la la la la la/The spinning world flashes and flashes/Dreaming and dancing, endlessly free/Hugh Lurie/Hugh Lurie

Track 7: Night Night Burn! (written by NORIMETAL, Hola-METAL)

Another energetic one you can't help but move to. Some nice vocal moments from Su-metal here, too.

Hola, well, Mamma Mia, hola, well, Mamma Mia/Hey Mamma Mia, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute/Hola, well, Mamma Mia, hola, well, Mamma Mia/Oh my, Mamma Mia, sing, dance and battan queue/Ole, oh, ole, oh, oh, oh, oh, burn with passion/Ole, oh, ole, oh, oh, oh, oh, it's not over yet/Night, night, burn, dance, dance every night/Night, night, burn, turn around, turn around, party night/Night, night, burn, burn, burn, burning night/Still night, night, burn

Track 12: Starlight (written by METAL SKYWALKER, METAL SAINTS, MEG)

This is probably my favorite one from this album. I really enjoy the intro especially.

Beyond time and space, let loose far away/Keep running, far away run away/The wind blows, the wind blows/Fly higher in the sky/Fly higher in the night/Starlight, starlight/Shining light to the other side/Starlight, starlight/Search, seek, run through and get away

THE OTHER ONE (2023)

Babymetal's fourth kawaii metal/J-pop/metalcore album was released March 24th, 2023 by Babymetal/Amuse/Toy's Factory/Cooking Vinyl America/5B when Su-metal was 25 and Moametal was 23. With a run time of 41:11, it produced 5 singles: Divine Attack (Shingeki) (10/20/22), Monochrome (11/17/22), METAL KINGDOM (1/19/23), Light and Darkness (2/23/23) and Mirror Mirror (3/23/23). A concept album where Su-metal and Moametal are encountering parallel worlds, this was the first full album of Babymetal's I ever listened to. I personally like the vibe of this one, very grandiose and almost quest-like. Here's my Top 3:

Track 3: Mirror Mirror (written by RYU-METAL, THE OTHER METAL)

I LOVE the guitar on this one, parts of it remind me a lot of Polyphia. It's a darker, little bit grittier sound than some of their earlier stuff, but it works.

Mirror mirror, listen to my wish/Who's the fairest of them all/Mirror mirror, make my wish come true/Who are you in the mirror/Double, double, toil and trouble/Double, double, toil and trouble/Double, double, toil and trouble/Mirror/Fire, burn and cauldron bubble/Fire, burn and cauldron bubble/Fire, burn and cauldron bubble/Mirror

Track 8: Monochrome (written by MK-METAL, YUPPEMETAL)

Once again, big fan of the main guitar riff on this one. It feels like it should be a credit role song on a really great episode of TV or something.

Nanairo's dreams color the sky/I wanted to watch it like this forever/It was shining until yesterday/Even Kiraboshi /I don't know what to say, I don't know what to say/Because it's fading ah/That monochrome/If it's fireworks, we're oh, oh, oh, oh

Track 9: Light and Darkness (written by MK-METAL, tatsuoMETAL, TAKEMETAL)

This feels like it belongs in an epic fight scene somewhere. Definitely a headbanger on this album.

Even the reality buried in the snow of sadness/Even these hands are dyed red due to mistakes/Take me away to oblivion/Toward an ideal world filled with love /open that door/here we go/Ah/Ah/I’m being poisoned, I'm falling into a dream/A night where light and darkness seek and play together/Drowning in the sea of rhythm/Even my memories are being destroyed/This love is strong and strong, I'm sure it won't stop/This love is strong and strong and won't let go, forever

METAL FORTH (2025)

Babymetal's fifth kawaii metal album was released August 8th, 2025 by Universal/Amuse/BMW Fox/Capitol when Su-metal was 27, Moametal was 26, and Momometal was 22. With a run time of 35:31, it has produced 6 singles so far: METALI!! (8/18/23), RATATATA (5/23/24), from me to u (4/4/25), Song 3 (5/28/25), Kon! Kon! (7/11/25), and My Queen (8/8/25). Despite only 3 of the 10 songs not being collaborations with other metal artists, I thought this album was very good. They worked well with the other groups, creating some really cool sounds. Here's the Top 3 this time:

Track 2: RATATATA with Electric Callboy (written by NORIMETAL, K. Ratajczak, N. Sallach, P. Schillo, D. Haniß, MK-METAL)

I'm not the biggest fan of Electric Callboy on their own, but this song rocks. This song is a blast from start to end.

Every night when the sky turns red up above/I feel the beat in my veins, and I'm searching for love/You know that hips don't lie, I leave you hypnotized/Just give me one more try to make you feel that vibe/When it goes ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, my body is a weapon/Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, we're gonna hit the floor/Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, we're gonna make it happen/Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, now gimme some more/I will push it to the limit/And everybody's feeling the sound of the night/I don't wanna stop, we push it to the limit/Together, we will crash the morning light/ブ·チ·ア·ガ·レ, bun-bun-bun, moving/Bun-bun-bun-bun-bun, ooh, ooh/Bun-bun-bun, shaking/Bun-bun-bun-bun-bun, ooh, ooh/Bun-bun-bun, jumping/Bun-bun-bun-bun-bun, ooh, ooh/Bun-bun-bun, stomping/Bun-bun-bun-bun-bun

Track 7: My Queen with Spiritbox (written by Z. Cervini, D. Fulk, C. LaPlante, M. Stringer, TAKEMETAL, Q-METAL)

For me, this is THE song on the album. Courtney LaPlante is a force to be reckoned with, and these two bands really made something special here.

The creeping shadow melts into this night/My ex and your ex too/Even after it disappears, it reappears in disguise/Would you like to dance/Bewitching dazzling prosperity eternity/Lonely my queen/Free me from this pain

Track 7: METALI!! with Tom Morello (written by METAL-NIKI, RYU-METAL, NORIMETAL, MEG)

Throwing Tom Morello in the mix is always going to give you something unique. There's just some really cool stuff all throughout this song that sets it apart from not only their previous music, but a lot of the other songs on the album.

The Meta Village Festival: The Meta Ondo/It's a festival, it's a festival, come on over/Form a circle, form a circle/To the sound of the flutes, let's dance/All you Meta Village guys and gals/It's a festival, it's a festival, come on over/Form a circle, form a circle/Let's all sing together/Heave-ho, heave-ho, put your back into it, put your back into it/There are fools who dance, and fools who watch/If we're all fools anyway, then come on and dance/Heave-ho, heave-ho, put your back into it, put your back into it/If you won't dance, then come on and sing/If you won't sing, then come on and dance/If you don't dance here, dance, dance, dance, you can't go home

I hope you were able to find some fun, unique new music here today. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!