Live Gallery & Review: BABYMETAL at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney 09.06.2023

In a world where music genres often remain distinct and separate, there exists a band that defies convention and captivates audiences with its unique fusion of metal and J-pop. BABYMETAL, the Japanese sensation, that has taken the metal world by storm are playing Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion tonight.

It’s clear, crisp, cloudless evening as an excited crowd gathers outside the sold out venue. There are metalheads decked out in Lamb Of God, Avenged Sevenfold T shirts and other typical metal regalia. There are girls in punky, tartan mini skirts and Docs. Three heavily bearded guys dressed in tulle tutus are near the front of the queue. A diminutive girl in long socks and micro mini excitedly poses as her dad takes photos of her on his phone. Two heavyset guys are waving cute, lollipop-shaped LED torches.

“BABYMETAL is what happens when you try to summon Satan but run out of salt to make your pentagram and substitute it with sugar”.
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The kawaii metal trio (Moametal, Su-Metal and Momometal) stride on stage with an air of confidence that is both captivating and endearing. Fronting a ferocious band that provides a thunderous backdrop, the three women posture and dance with seemingly boundless energy as they flawlessly merge disparate genres into a cohesive musical experience that is exhilarating. Their unique ability to balance the aggressive and the melodic, leaves the packed Hordern audience in awe. There is general mayhem and moshing throughout the venue as the audience responds to the trio’s unbridled enthusiasm.

During ‘Monochrome’ the crowd is asked to turn on their mobile phones and the Hordern lights up like a metal Christmas tree.

Hordern Crowd holding up their phones during ‘Monochrome’

BABYMETAL’s uncanny ability to seamlessly blend metal riffs, infectious melodies, and captivating choreography is what makes them unique. They blast through their setlist with crowd favourite ‘Gimme Chocolate!’ a standout because of the fervour that it ignites in the audience.

All hail BABYMETAL the chimeras of Metal!