Fans of all ages came together for an explosive show last Saturday night when BabyMetal brought their North American tour to Irving, TX. The tour had a stacked lineup to warm up the crowd with performances by Indian-metalcore band Bloodywood and Black Veil Brides.
Bloodywood kicked things off on a high note as they immediately captured the audience's attention with the ferocious “Gaddaar.” The energy the band brought to the stage was electric, and every time I looked behind me, the crowd was smiling from ear to ear. Not only is their music incredibly unique, being able to mix Indian folk music with metal seamlessly, but their live performance is incredibly memorable as well. Not only do the members all have their own unique style, they also play incredibly tight, and you can tell they are having the time of their lives onstage. Though the band only played 5 songs, their enthusiasm and showmanship left fans both new and old revved up and ready for more. By the time they closed with fan favorite “Nu Dehli,” it felt like the entire venue was vibrating with excitement.
Bloodywood
Next up was Black Veil Brides. Opening with a longtime fan favorite, “Knives and Pens,” the band burst out onto the stage to deliver one hell of a performance. Backed by powerful drumbeats and complex guitar solos, lead vocalist Andy Black sang his heart out over the course of the band's 8-song set. Mixing some older classics with newer songs such as “Bleeders” and the unreleased “Devil.” I’ve seen Black Veil Brides at least 4 times by now and, every time, I am always impressed by their musicianship. From Andy’s growling vocals to Jake Pitts’ technical guitar riffs, the whole performance is very intriguing to watch.
Black Veil Brides
Finally, for the main event, the house lights went down one last time, and BabyMetal took their places onstage. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect before the band stepped out on stage. All I knew about the band at that point was that their music fused elements of J-pop and metal, and that their shows were supposed to be highly entertaining. What I got was an absolute spectacle, full of synchronized choreography from the band, colorful onstage graphics, dazzling stage lighting, and fire! Lots and lots of fire! The feeling I experienced watching BabyMetal was similar to how I felt watching fireworks as a kid. Where I was so entranced by the display before me that I was scared to blink in case I missed something epic. Because that’s the best word to describe the show: epic.
The crowd screamed at the tops of their lungs as the band played through their catalog. The venue got especially loud when “RATATATA” began blasting through the speakers. One fan got so excited that he almost tipped over the front barricade; he was jumping so intensely. The band ended the night with style and more fire as they closed with “Road of Resistance,” sending fans into a frenzy.
BABYMETAL
The show as a whole was a thoroughly exhilarating experience from openers to headliners. If you’re looking for an event that not only is musically entertaining but also visually appealing, definitely check out this tour. At the time of writing this, the tour has just started and has many more stops throughout North America, and if it comes to your city, you should definitely make it a priority to witness the fantastic show.
