LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: BABYMETAL AT THE O2 ARENA, LONDON 30/05/25
Early on in their career, BABYMETAL broke records for being the youngest band to play all sorts of festivals and venues in Japan such as Summer Sonic and Budokan. Later on, they became notable further afield for being the first Japanese act to play a number of festivals and venues worldwide, including in the UK where they were the first Japanese act to headline Wembley and play on a main stage at Glastonbury festival. At the O2 Arena, the trio of kawaii metallers do it all over again and become the first Japanese act to headline the venue. Selling it out for good measure.
"My name is Bambie Thug and I'm here to warm you up." We began the night with the angriest and most witchy of vibes. Bambie Thug's style is self-described as 'ouija-pop' and they started with the first of three truly unique sets.
'Hex So Heavy', a stylish and sexy introduction for anyone unfamiliar with this particular act, led into 'Last Summer (I Know What You Did)' which showed off a more electronic and dance sound. New track, politically charged, 'Redrum Rave' goes down a storm and concludes with Thug's dancers holding up both the Trans and Palestinian flags.
For anyone in the room who were thinking - '‘Wait, haven't I seen them before?'‘ Eurovision 2024 Ireland song, 'Doomsday Blue' followed to clean that confusion up. Rounding off the set with 'Tsunami (11:11)' the tone of the evening was definitely set at a base level of shock and awe.
The enigmatic Poppy followed with cohesion within her unapologetic stylistic rock, but done in a completely different way to Bambie Thug. Poppy's whole vibe is measured, threatening and sinister, through not only her screams, but also during the butter-wouldn't-melt sweet and clean vocals. Bad Omen's collaboration 'V.A.N' is a hit in the room as is the truly chaotic and genre-blending 'Concrete'.
'new way out', from Poppy's latest record Negative Spaces provided a big, catchy track that heralds a new era of Poppy, clinging to the bizarre, unique and inscrutable sound we have come to expect but with the introduction of a more mainstream metal direction. It's large, it's aggressive and it's impossible to ignore.
Acclimatising to the spectacle that is a BABYMETAL show takes a moment. Between the heavy as hell opener of 'BABYMETAL DEATH', the pyrotechnics, the chanting, the expansive stage and the three girls at the centre of it all, it's hard to know what to try and take in first. Overall, the effect is out of this world.
'PA PA YA!!' saw the stage raising up as the trio waved scarves and the crowd followed suit with whatever piece of material they had to hand. 'BxMxC' really got the moshing going and the newly released 'Song 3' rattled along with utterly relentless power, Heat from the flames that accompany this track reached even the back of the room.
The increasing fervour around Electric Callboy in the rock community recently means 'RATATATA' was one of the standout moments of the night. The collaboration between BABYMETAL and the German electronicore band producing a unique and irresistible banger that got the whole room off the floor.
During a properly long encore that made you wonder ‘‘what's coming next?’’ cameras zoomed into individuals in the crowd, from the front row to the nosebleed seats, giving a taste of who a BABYMETAL fan is. The band have always attracted a diverse crowd, a fanbase affectionately known as 'The One'.
Returning to the stage for 'from me to u' with Poppy, who stalked in the background as BABYMETAL sang from the front of the catwalk, all four gave an energetic and harmonious performance. BABYMETAL always managed to exude badass energy even with straight faces and precisely choreographed dance moves and it all felt like a fever dream, in the best way.
BABYMETAL themselves are of course fantastic but the staging, the graphics, the whole show is almost unbelievable. One can only imagine the disappointment a young music fan would feel at any subsequent shows if this was their first ever experience of live music - nothing would ever compare, no show would ever measure up next to the spectacle that is BABYMETAL.
Words: Imogen Bird
Photos: Florelle Servageon
Full setlist below:
BABYMETAL DEATH
Megitsune
PA PA YA!!
BxMxC
METAL!!!
Kon! Kon!
Sunset Kiss
Song 3
Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!
RATATATA
Gimme Chocolate!!
from me to u
KARATE
Ijime, Dame, Zettai
Road of Resistance