BABYMETAL

Babymetal is a Japanese group whose music blends J-pop melodies with heavy metal aggression. The band was formed in Tokyo in 2010, with singers Suzuka Nakamoto (known as Su-metal), Moa Kikuchi (Moametal) and Yui Mizuno (Yuimetal) comprising the initial lineup. Created by producer Key Kobayashi (known as "Kobametal") as a subset of the J-pop band Sakura Gakuin, the group debuted in 2014 with the self-titled album Babymetal, which topped Billboard's World Albums chart, went to Number 2 on Billboard's Japan albums chart, Number 4 on Japan's Oricon albums chart, and Number 12 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart. 2016's Metal Resistance topped the World Albums chart, as well, while also reaching Number 2 on Japan's Oricon albums chart, Billboard's Japan albums chart, and Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart. Yui Mizuno left the lineup in 2018. That same year, the group scored two consecutive Top 5 hits on the Billboard World charts, with "Distortion" reaching Number 2 and "Starlight" hitting Number 4. Both hits also appeared on Babymetal's third album, Metal Galaxy, which was released in 2019 and featured another Top 5 hit "Elevator Girl." Like the two albums before it, Metal Galaxy was certified gold in Japan. A fourth album, The Other One, followed in 2023, advanced by the singles "Metal Kingdom" and "Light and Darkness."