Babymetal and Dethklok
Masonic Auditorium
April 24, 2024
Photos by Raymond Ahner
On the surface, the pairing of Japanese pop-metal band Babymetal and the fictional/real band Dethklok might seem crazy, but in reality, it was pure brilliance.
Last year’s Babyklok tour was a smashing success, with both bands playing to massive crowds, though the trek did not stop in the Bay Area at all, until two recent evenings. Fans were treated to two sold-out nights at the Masonic in San Francisco as a scheduling quirk allowed Babymetal to join Dethklok on these two dates as the live-action band was in the midst of a full-on US tour.
Dethklok is the soundtrack to the Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse, with creator/singer/guitarist Brendon Small leading the live version of the band in a ripping 19-song set covering all of the band’s four very real albums.
Opening with the “Deththeme,” the band, consisting of Small, drummer extraordinaire Gene Hoglan, guitarist Nili Brosh, and bassist Pete Griffin were clearly firing on all cylinders from the get-go.
With a giant LED screen behind them playing the animated music videos to each song, the band members were able to focus on playing as precise as possible, nailing all the intricate song arrangements on songs like “Birthday Dethday” and “Mutilation on a Saturday Night.”
Brosh and Small traded leads just like the fictional guitarists’ Tori Wartooth and Skwisgaar Skwigelf do on the show, effortlessly winding through crushing syncopated death metal grooves and wild sweep-picked passages.
For fans of the show, one of the big highlights came in the form of “The Duel,” a jaw-dropping instrumental duet between Small and Brosh, with both guitarists getting plenty of chances to shine.
Towards the end of the set, Small did his impressions of all the show’s main characters for a bit of banter with the crowd, encouraging the audience to get louder and louder if they wanted Dethklok to keep playing. After playing the aptly titled “Fanning,” the band closed out the night with the one-two punch of “SOS” and “Go Into the Water,” before walking off stage.
Babymetal brought plenty of cute Japanese flavor to the stage, with a dazzling light show and plenty of choreographed dance moves. For the uninformed, Babymetal is the brainchild of producer Key Kobayashi (Kobametal), who created the band, fusing crushing metal with J-pop.
Su-metal (lead vocals), Moametal (backing vocals), and Momometal (backing vocals) are the three official members of the group, with the mysterious Kami Band backing them for live performances. Opening with the pummeling instrumental “Babymetal Death,” the three members then strode onto the stage to roll through the soaring “Distortion.”
On paper, pairing a Japanese girl group with a metal band should not work, but in reality, it works a little too well. It helps when the backing band is so precise and otherworldly with their playing that they almost sound like a computerized backing track.
Su-metal’s crystal-clear vocals were right up front in the mix, with the Kami band providing plenty of firepower on songs like “PA PA YA” and “MAYA.” With each song featuring its own choreographed dance, it was hard not to get a wave of sheer euphoria and joy, something totally unusual at a metal show.
However, it’s those extreme combinations that make Babymetal such a thrilling band, with songs changing tempo and feel at a moment’s notice, and yet it all flows so seamlessly.
Extreme power metal legends DragonForce opened Wednesday night’s show, ripping through a quick set of old and new material. It’s easy to hear the influence the band had on the likes of Dethklok and Babymetal, with songs like “Fury of the Storm” containing plenty of guitar heroics from Herman Li and Sam Totman.
As one would expect, the biggest highlight during DragonForce’s set was the showstopping hit “Through the Fire and Flames.” The song became an early YouTube sensation back in 2006, catapulting the band to worldwide fame and it’s easy to hear why: It’s as close to perfect as a metal song can get. Between the incredible dueling lead guitar solos from Li and Totman along with Gee Anzalone’s furious double-bass drumming and singer Marc Hudson’s soaring melodies, the song still leaves a mark all these years later.
Setlists:
Dethklok: Deththeme | Briefcase Full of Guts | Birthday Dethday | Mutilation on a Saturday Night | Bloodlines | Awaken | The Gears | Castratikron | Hatredcopter | Dethsupport | Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle | Aortic Desecration | I Ejaculate Fire | The Duel | Murmaider | Thunderhorse | Fansong | SOS | Go Into the Water
Babymetal : BABYMETAL DEATH | Distortion | PA PA YA!! | MAYA | BxMxC | Monochrome | METALI!! (preceded by KAMI Band solos) | Megitsune | Gimme Chocolate!! | Headbangeeerrr! | Road of Resistance
Dragonforce: Fury of the Storm | Cry Thunder | Power of the Triforce | Doomsday Party | Through the Fire and Flames
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