4 March 2025 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – words by Lucas Bell – pictures by Bec Harbour
After an insane response and performance at Knotfest over the weekend, Japanese kawaii metal act Babymetal had their headline shows at the Fortitude Music Hall on Tuesday, and we were extremely grateful to be invited to cover the show. Babymetal have been one of the most intriguing acts for me as a long time metal fan, and so I was so stoked to be able to catch them live, one more time.
Sydney metalcore crew Diamond Construct opened the show with what felt like a pretty subdued set. I’ve seen these guys live a few times before, and normally the energy is high. Not sure if there was something happening in the bands camp, or because Babymetal isn’t their normal crowd, that they decided to change things up, but this was a weird set compared to how I’ve seen them play in the past. They still ripped out the bangers. ‘Faded’ went crazy, and vocalist Kynan Groundwater had the crowd jumping for it. There was even a shout out to the OG fans of Diamond Construct with ‘Psychosis’, before clsoing out with ‘Hit It Back’.
Diamond Construct – Fortitude Music Hall – photos by Bec Harbour
As the crowd applauded themselves for singing along to ‘Chop Suey’, the lights dimmed, and the KAMI band took to the stage. The bands into package played, as Su-metal, Moametal, and Momometal walked onto stage and did their opening dance to ‘BABYMETAL DEATH’. It’s always an amazing way to start the show, and crowd was immediately hyped to the gills for the incoming 75 minutes. The crowd sang happy birthday loud at the end of ‘BABYMETAL DEATH’ to Momo, who’s birthday was Monday. Cool moment.
‘Distortion’ was up next, and the crowd energy was insane. Su shouted out for a big circle in the middle of the song, which the Fortitude crowd were happy to oblige the request. Shout out to the audience too, because it was high energy throughout the entire show. ‘DA DA DANCE’ wasn’t a song I was familiar with, but holy hell the instruments on this song is nuts. Guitars are sick, but the drums are next level heavy. Too good.
Babymetal – Fortitude Music Hall – photos by Bec Harbour
In what I can only call chaotic escalation, the opening notes of ‘BxMxC’ sent the crowd into a frenzy, unlike anything I’ve heard in this venue before. They played this song at Knotfest, and I thought the crowd was loud there. Inside the Fort, it was another level. ‘METALI’ was up next, and gave the KAMI band the showcase, as each member got a solo and spotlight, before the song kicked off properly. Su shouted out Brisbane to make some noise, raise their hands, and bounce them up and down to the beat, which again, Brisbane obliged. They also did the crouch. If you know, you know.
Babymetal – Fortitude Music Hall – photos by Bec Harbour
‘Megitsune’ sent the crowd wild again, and ‘Monochrome’ brought out the phone lights, lighting up The Fort so brightly, that it drowned out the lighting completely in the venue. ‘RATATATA’ was up next, and even though I saw it at Knotfest, it’s so cool to see this song from the other perspective, as when Electric Callboy were here for Good Things, we got the EC side of the track. Seeing the Babymetal side, makes me want to see both bands perform it live together so badly. Another massive pop from the crowd for ‘PA PA YA!!’, before ‘Gimme Chocolate’ closed out the main set. ‘Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!’ and ‘Road of Resistance’ closed out the show for the encore, which brough the 75 minute set to a close, with everyone begging for more. Babymetal put on such a great live show, and if you weren’t there, you missed out.
