Babymetal: Metallica made metal less “scary”

Babymetal’s Su-metal says seeing Metallica play live made heavy metal seem less “scary and alien” to her.

Both bands played at Japan’s Summer Sonic festival in Osaka in 2013 – and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich watched their set on the small Flower Stage.

Later, Su-metal, Yuimetal and Moametal watched Metallica headline the event – and it was a moment which made a lasting impression.

Su-metal exclusively tells the new edition of Metal Hammer: “I was so surprised! I was like, ‘What in the world is this?’ I found it interesting that instead of hearing their music through my ears, I felt everything with my heart.

“Until then, I thought metal was something so alien and scary, but that concert made me enjoy metal and want to know more about the genre.”

Babymetal supported Metallica at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome in South Korea last month. And for Su-metal, it was an experience that left her feeling spaced-out.

She continues: “I was going onstage still feeling spacey. As it was our first show here, we and the audience were kind of awkward figuring out how to pump up the show.

“But I was glad when I saw people jumping with the song Karate all the way to the back! I wanted to do what we usually do – be ourselves and show our style to the audience.”

The full interview with Babymetal can be found in the new edition of Metal Hammer which is out now. Ozzy Osbourne and Avenged Sevenfold frontman M Shadows are the cover stars, while artists including Metallica, Trivium, Slipknot and Stone Sour’s Corey Taylor, Judas Priest and Steel Panther also feature.

The new issue also has a 15-track CD featuring up-and-coming bands, plus 12 free posters.

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Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.