BABYMETAL on METAL FORTH: A Bold New Chapter at Their 15th Anniversary
The trio discusses their collaborative fourth album, the Billboard 200 top-10 milestone and plans for arena shows in 2026.
Courtesy UMG
In a feature for Billboard Japan, BABYMETAL reflect on METAL FORTH, their fourth studio album, which opened at No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard 200 — a landmark moment as the first fully Japanese-member group to reach the chart’s top 10. The record, which marks the band’s 15th anniversary, gathers ten collaborations and showcases the group’s increasingly adventurous approach.
The album’s direction and collaborators
The collection begins with “from me to u (feat. Poppy),” written by Jordan Fish (formerly of Bring Me The Horizon), and unfolds as a sequence of partnerships formed during the band’s global journey. With a title that hints at expansion beyond conventional metal, METAL FORTH aims to present BABYMETAL from multiple perspectives — a palette of styles and voices that broaden their sonic identity.
How the members experience the record
SU-METAL on creative growth
SU-METAL says working with a diverse roster of artists allowed the group to experiment and stretch their range. She describes the record as offering surprising moments — tracks that demanded a more mature vocal approach and ultimately became some of the album’s defining highlights. Above all, she found the process invigorating.
MOAMETAL on milestones and momentum
MOAMETAL calls the Billboard 200 result a gratifying breakthrough after 15 years together. Reaching a new personal best reinforced the band’s belief that their audience still eagerly follows their evolution — a motivating affirmation for the trio.
MOMOMETAL on joining the creative process
MOMOMETAL reflects on this being her first album made as an official member. Participating in the record’s creation taught her about the craft of assembling an album; she says the experience made the final product feel especially rewarding and validated her hard work.
Chart history and reactions
The group noted how earlier albums also made U.S. chart appearances — METAL RESISTANCE reached No. 39 (2016) and METAL GALAXY peaked at No. 13 (2019) — and celebrated the new peak as a milestone worthy of shared hugs and excitement following a SUMMER SONIC set in Osaka.
Creative highlights and surprising elements
The members described standout moments from production: MOMOMETAL took on many of the death-growl parts, a task that became a meaningful technical and artistic challenge. SU-METAL observed MOMOMETAL’s rapid development in that style and praised her growing professionalism.
Continuity from THE OTHER ONE
Reflecting on the band’s previous concept album, THE OTHER ONE (2023), SU-METAL suggested that its exploration of alternative facets of BABYMETAL helped lay groundwork for METAL FORTH’s return to heavier gestures while still expanding the group’s palette. MOAMETAL added that the rigorous choreography and performance growth from the prior record carried over, enabling them to tackle new movement and staging demands — notably for the song “RATATATA,” where the band contributed much of the choreography themselves.
On genre labels and experimentation
BABYMETAL have long been associated with the “Kawaii Metal” tag, but SU-METAL says tracks like “KxAxWxAxIxI” resist tidy categorization — the song pairs aggressive sonics with an ironic take on the “I’m KAWAII” refrain, creating a deliberate mismatch between sound and sentiment. MOMOMETAL notes that the track’s interpretation of “kawaii” is subtler and more mature than listeners might expect, presenting a fresh, nuanced take on the band’s aesthetic.
Touring, ambitions and Saitama dates
Looking ahead, the band confirmed two performances at Saitama Super Arena scheduled for January 2026, which will serve as the final shows of a global tour that includes stops at Britain’s O2 Arena, the Intuit Dome in the U.S., and arenas in Hong Kong and Mexico. SU-METAL described those dates as the tour’s culmination and expressed a desire to show audiences how much the group has developed over the year. She also shared a longer-term ambition to headline a major international festival — a milestone that, in the metal community, reflects a certain standing and recognition.
SU-METAL added that while overseas audiences now include many younger fans, the band still hopes to broaden metal’s appeal at home in Japan, challenging stereotypes that the genre is reserved for a specific demographic.
This interview by Takuto Ueda originally appeared in Billboard Japan.
