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| METAL FORTH Hits Number 9 on Billboard 200—BABYMETAL’s Highest US Charting Yet |
Japanese metal trailblazers BABYMETAL have just smashed a huge milestone in their career—becoming the first Japanese group to enter the top 10 of the US Billboard 200. Their brand-new album, METAL FORTH, debuted at an impressive number 9, marking the band’s biggest US chart achievement to date.
The album isn’t just making waves in America. It also stormed the German charts, landing in the top 10, climbed into the UK top 20, and set new personal records in France and the Netherlands. Clearly, BABYMETAL’s global appeal is stronger than ever.
For context, very few Japanese artists have come close to this level of Billboard success. Kyu Sakamoto’s Sukiyaki and Other Japanese Hits reached 14th in 1963, while Utada Hikaru’s This Is The One peaked at 69 in 2009.
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BABYMETAL themselves have steadily climbed the ranks: 39th with METAL RESISTANCE (2016) and 13th with METAL GALAXY (2019). With METAL FORTH, they’ve leapt to an all-time high.
Back home, the album debuted at number 3 on the Oricon Weekly Combined Albums Chart, topping the Rock Album and Digital Album rankings.
On streaming platforms, it claimed the 10th spot on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut U.S. Chart and soared to number 2 on the US iTunes download chart—proving that BABYMETAL’s reach isn’t just national, but genuinely global.
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Alongside the release, BABYMETAL kicked off their world tour, including a show at London’s THE O2 Arena in May.
Japanese fans will get to see them live during the SUMMER TOUR IN JAPAN, with stops on 20 August in Aichi (COMTEC PORTBASE) and 21 August in Osaka (Zepp Osaka Bayside). Special performances titled “Seikima II vs BABYMETAL – The Devils Are Here to Metal” are also scheduled for 30–31 August at K Arena Yokohama.
Looking ahead, the SPECIAL ARENA SHOW in Saitama Super Arena on 10–11 January 2026 promises another unforgettable experience, with tickets available via album pre-orders.
In a statement, BABYMETAL expressed their gratitude:
"Thanks to everyone, we keep moving 'beyond metal' together, and our careers are continuously evolving. We’ll keep travelling to your countries, your cities—so let’s meet at a BABYMETAL show!"
It seems BABYMETAL’s journey is far from over. With METAL FORTH, record-breaking chart success, and a world tour in full swing, the band continues to prove that metal can truly go global—and do it in kawaii style.