Take 3 cutesy Japanese schoolgirls aged 12-14, a bouncy J-Pop tune, dress up in short loli-goth outfits, and apply a coat of the heaviest metal sound…

It’s called “BABYMETAL”, it’s the latest oddity from Japan, and yes it’s as wrong as it sounds…

... but also strangely compelling at the same time.

The 3 girls are Nakamoto Suzuka (中元すず香), Kikuchi Moa (菊地最愛), and Mizuno Yui (水野由結) and are the pseudo-rebellious offshoot of otherwise clean-cut idol group Sakura Gakuin (さくら学院) (“Cherry Blossom Academy” in English).

Welcome to the mosh pit of Chaos...

According to their record label’s website, their rendition of “Ijime Zettai Dame” (いじめ絶対ダメ) (“Absolutely Useless Bullying” in English) at the Tokyo Idol Festival in August this year “became a buzz because of the sound of melodic speed metal, its sensational lyric of theme about “Ijime” [bullying] and their performance incorporating the Wall of Death.  BABYMETAL’s heavy sound and performance drove a lot of audience to make mosh at the floor of live house, and get mad.  The floor became chaos finally in spite of the show was an IDOL EVENT.”

To fully appreciate the comedic effect, please note that Mizuno Yui – who’s 12 but looks about 9 or 10 at most – lists “collecting stickers” as her favorite hobby…

As if to redeem themselves, the producers are quick to point out that the two devil-horn raised fingers are actually not a sign of devil worship but “the sign of the fox”… hilarious!

See for yourself - here’s the teaser for the upcoming “～ My First HEAVY METAL in TOKYO 2012 ～” followed by the first single “Doki Doki☆Morning” (ド・キ・ド・キ☆モーニング) :