Jpop: Band-Maid - The non-fiction days

From the coming album "Brand New MAID" comes Band-Maid's single "The non-fiction days". Again I must say I can't find a better niche than being an all-female, japanese, maid-cosplaying, metal band. Seriously. #nerdheaven

• Band-Maid - The non-fiction days

Jpop/metal: Babymetal - The One

Last year's success story in the metal world, Babymetal, returned this week with their new single "Karate" which ticked all the expected boxes with a nice fantasy setting and their usual energy. With the next video "The One" they instead goes for live footage and a more emotional ballad, and this time lead singer Suzuka sings quite much in english. This feels like a perfect fan video and I'm quite sorry I can't be at the concert this saturday in London.

• Babymetal - The One

Iranian metal: Aliaj

The Iranian metal band Aliaj is a good example that music transcends borders and stereotypes, their melodic metal would be right at home at some metal heads home in the Swedish countryside.

• Aliaj - Cry
• Aliaj - Scar
• Aliaj - Dead Eye
• Aliaj - Paper Moon
• Aliaj - Fear
• Aliaj - Wings

Jpop: Osaka Syunkasyuto (大阪☆春夏秋冬)

This funny group with singer Maina in the front has done some rather enjoyable covers of artists like Justin Bieber, Spice Girls, Queens and Jackson Five, but my favorite is Kill the King (by Rainbow). Therefore I am very happy that they decided to do a parody version (as if it wasn't fun enough before) which is called "Furo (Bathe) the King" and which ofc takes place at one of the very popular public baths in Japan.

• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Furo the King (風呂・ザ・キング)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Furo the King (original cover)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Wannabe (Spice Girls)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - Baby (Justin Bieber)
• Osaka Syunkasyuto - We will rock you (Queen)

Jpop/metal: Babymetal

If you want the expected, polished and well produced pop music, kpop and korea is your place to go. If you want something that tests your palate and challenges your eye and mind, Japanese culture is in general a better place to be. Nine times out of ten, I go with kpop, but the tenth time jpop and its aberrations is just what I need to wake up and feel interest again. At those times nothing beats japanese culture.

The three girl group Baby Metal (a subgroup of Sakura Gakuin) is one of those things. A crossover of kawaii jpop with heavy metal whcih actually works quite well. You could say its somewhat of a asian version of the recent ten year surge of western heavy metal bands having female singers, but it takes the concept another step. Enjoy!

• Babymetal - Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!  (ヘドバンギャー!!)
• Babymetal - No More Bullying (イジメ、ダメ、ゼッタイ)
• Babymetal - Megitsune (メギツネ)
• Babymetal - The One
• Babymetal - Doki Doki☆Morning (ド・キ・ド・キ☆モーニング)
• Babymetal - How nice (いいね, live)