Babymetal, Roundhouse: these Japanese heavy metal chicks prove more than mere gimmickry

On paper, Babymetal sound absurd: a Japanese trio who fuse their national culture of cute – “kawaii” – with the chainsaw chug of heavy metal. But in the studio and on stage, their “kawaii metal” proves a remarkably well-soldered concept, one that has appeared to outlive any accusations of gimmickry.