Ladybeard’s group BABYBEARD follow up their recent release MACHO! with their darkest release yet, SEMI-FINAL. The symphonic-metal adjacent new track explores themes of resilience amidst adversity and perseverance in the face of hardship, expressed through the symbolism of Japan’s most hated insect.
The cicada, or “semi” in Japanese, is an insect that comes to life for only 1 week per year. 51 weeks of preparation leads to but 7 days of life, and a mission to fulfill. Chirping, squealing, and terrorizing Japan’s inhabitants, the semi have only 1 week to complete their 1 objective in life. And, despite all the odds stacked against them, they somehow never fail….
Composed by Japan-based Swede Endigo who also animated the track’s lyric video, SEMI-FINAL is BABYBEARD’s heaviest track to date. Ladybeard takes his screams to previously unaccessed dark territories, juxtaposed as always by the delightful vocals of SUZU and MIZUKI. With SEMI-FINAL, BABYBEARD hits a new depth of artistic expression as they prepare for their first European tour in January 2026.
