On October 8, the BABYMETAL trio — Suzuka Nakamoto, Moa Kikuchi, and Momoko Okazaki — finally arrived in the Philippines for their long-awaited debut at Araneta Coliseum. For over a decade, the Japanese kawaii metal pioneers built a reputation as one of the most imaginative acts in heavy music, merging idol pop precision with metal’s harshest edges. Formed in 2010 under Amuse Soft Entertainment, the group started as a sub-unit of Sakura Gakuin before quickly outgrowing their origins. What began as an experiment became a global phenomenon that gave the world a new word: kawaii metal.
Their Philippine debut came exactly a week after the 50th anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila,” Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s legendary 1975 boxing match at the same venue. History seemed to echo inside the dome, with BABYMETAL turning Araneta into a battleground of sound and spectacle, dishing out classics and songs from the new album METAL FORTH, released on August 8. The concourse swarmed with fans wearing black shirts, fox masks, and full-blown cosplay. Uncles in the smoking area traded comments about the expensive merch while parents and kids in matching tees hunted for food nearby. Metal, often seen as macho, suddenly became a family event in the middle of a workweek.
Kill ‘Em With Kindness
Backstage, the energy was disarmingly wholesome. About 30 minutes before doors opened, Rolling Stone Philippines spoke to the band about their evolution and the state of metal today. Nakamoto, gracious but composed, described how the group’s chemistry has strengthened over time. “The biggest change is that Momometal do death [metal-inspired] vocals,” Nakamoto tells Rolling Stone Philippines, referring to Okazaki’s stage name. “I hope you feel the future of BABYMETAL, the future of metal that we seek, and the [determination] of the new album.”
Kikuchi elaborated on their commitment to kawaii metal. “We’ve been delivering the fashion and spirit of metal to the world,” she said. “It makes us happy to see that both are loved here in the Philippines. We’ll keep expressing this music in our own way and bring a free-spirited world to you — just like our new album.”
When the lights dimmed and the first blast of distortion hit, the coliseum erupted. BABYMETAL opened with “Head Banger!!” followed by “PA PA YA!!” and “KxAxWxAxIxI.” Their performance was as tight as it was theatrical, driven by a live band whose technical skill rivaled any major metal act. Every double kick, every synchronized movement, every camera cue landed perfectly. Even fans who’d seen their performances online could feel how much precision and stamina went into every second.
Give Me Chocolate!
Throughout the night, BABYMETAL delivered a twelve-song set that moved between brutal riffage and candy-coated melodies. They played “KON! KON!” and “Sunset Kiss,” their latest single, before leading into fan favorite “Give Me Choco!!” The song sent the crowd into a frenzy with a couple “wall of death” mosh pits being initiated. The group’s choreography, which sits somewhere in between ritual and pop concert, gave the performance a strange magnetism that few acts could pull off without irony.
The show also featured video appearances from collaborators like Rage Against the Machine’s lead guitarist Tom Morello, American singer Poppy, Jayant Bhadula of Indian heavy metal band Bloodywood, and Russian deathcore band Slaughter to Prevail. Their cameos flashed across the massive LED screens, expanding BABYMETAL’s universe far beyond the stage. Each interlude connected to the next song, turning the concert into a cinematic narrative about power, unity, and playfulness.
As the night reached its climax, BABYMETAL waved their black flag high above the stage. A booming narrator’s voice declared that the “metalverse is about to begin,” closing the night with the same grandeur that has defined their entire career. Fifteen years in, BABYMETAL remains one of the few acts capable of redefining what heavy music can be, and their first Manila concert managed to break the walls around genre, gender, and generation.
