Japanese kawaii metal band BABYMETAL release their fifth album METAL FORTH and show why they still rule after fifteen years together.
The album is heavy on collaborations with seven out of the ten tracks featuring collaborations from artists across the metalsphere.
Opener ‘from me to you’ (featuring Poppy), is an in-yer-face metal banger, pop-tastic melodies on top of driving double-kick drums and squealing guitars, with Poppy lending her inimitable rage-filled growl to the song.
‘RATATATA’ continues the vibe with a head-banging collaboration with electro-metallers Germany’s Electric Callboy. J-Pop sensibilities seem to easily mingle with synth-metal, in a crossover that shouldn’t work on paper but evidently does. You may just hear yourself humming along to the chorus when you least expect it.
Another collaboration to headbang to is ‘Kon! Kon!’, with Indian metal-fusionists, Bloodywood. An intoxicating blend of folk, Bollywood, nu-metal and pop that play off each other beautifully.
Latest single ‘My Queen’ with Spiritbox, sees Su-Metal’s powerful rock vocals, reminiscent of Evanescense‘s Amy Lee, and Courtney LaPlante‘s impassioned growls and screams, meld sonically together to give us an aural treat. Musically, influences ranging from Nine Inch Nails and Korn lend to the sonic texture. Check out the eerie video that accompanies the song.
A special mention goes out to the solo songs ‘KxAxWxAxIxI’, ‘Algorism’ and album closer ‘White Flame ー白炎ー’. ‘KxAxWxAxIxI’, veers into hip-hop territory, with its dynamic beats, along distorted stabs. ‘Algorism’ and ‘White Flame ー白炎ー’ are melodically on-the-money, with ‘White Flame ー白炎ー’ particularly triumphant in its blend of sing-a-long pop and serious metal guitar solos, which BABYMETAL have made their own.
All in all, METAL FORTH sees BABYMETAL branching across the metal genres, yet still maintaining their hard-earned unique blend of J-Pop and metal. As recent headline shows across the world have shown, their quest for world domination marches on unabated.
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