BABYMETAL reach 50-year high on U.S. Billboard chart
TOKYO
Metal Resistance, an album by BABYMETAL, a Japanese teenage girl trio, reached 39th spot on its debut on the U.S. Billboard top 200 albums list, becoming the first album by Japanese artists to break into the charts top 40 in more than 50 years.
The group, formed in 2010 as a fusion of heavy metal and Japanese idols, has the highest-ranked album by a Japanese artist on the chart since Sukiyaki and Other Japanese Hits by the late singer Kyu Sakamoto, which reached 14th in 1963.
Following the release of the Billboard 200 chart dated April 23, SU-METAL, 18, the bands oldest member, said in a statement, We will use this achievement to boost our confidence so we can continue trying many things only we can try.
In Britain, Metal Resistance hit 15th on the April 8 chart compiled and released by Official UK Charts Co., showing the trios expanding popularity overseas. The group has been touring in North America and Europe since 2014.
On Billboards jazz albums chart, Spark by Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara topped the chart dated April 23.
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