BABYMETAL // METAL FORTH // ALBUM REVIEW

BABYMETAL are back! And with an absolutely killer album, packed with some of their best work to date, personally, the fact that this album is a collaboration with several of their favourite artists takes it to another level.

For anyone who has delved into the world of BABYMETAL thus far, it can be like Marmite for some, intrinsically Japanese in every way, Japanese Pop/Rock/Metal culture is extreme to say the least, and you are either in, or out! The album’s opening track perfectly sums up what lies ahead. ‘from me to u (feat. Poppy’) is a frantic, frenetically paced track that grips you by the balls and just doesn’t let go! The beauty of the collab aspect to the album is that while BABYMETAL are at 10 all the way through, the additional artists add that little bit of ‘je ne sais quoi’ that tones down the crazy and keeps it for me anyway, more grounded. The album’s opener is a complete face shredder and sets up what is to come beautifully.

Speaking of crazy, ‘RATATATA (BABYMETAL x Electric Callboy)’ is one collab that everyone wanted. These kids have been tearing it up over recent years, so seeing their name up in lights with BABYMETAL is no surprise, and that track itself was one of the hottest singles to be released to date, an absolute banger! ‘Song 3 (BABYMETAL x Slaughter to Prevail)’ was one of my favourite singles released; the heft of this track is everything you would want from these extreme metal monsters.

Kon! Kon! (feat. Bloodywood) has that Bloodywood flavour throughout and are another band that has captured the hearts and minds of international fans over recent years, We caught them at Bloodstock a few years back and they have been back to the UK a few times since building up on their newly found popularity, this is another tasty fusion between two musical styles that hits the mark. ‘Sunset Kiss (feat. Polyphia)’ has their signature sound right from the off, those edge-of-breakup guitar tones, and then it kicks in with a wall of distortion that reminds you BABYMETAL are on board. I am sure this was like a dream come true for the Polyphia lads, hugely engrossed in all things Japanese culture and loving live with their glorious visuals in the vein of BABYMETAL themselves.

When you are calling on the biggest and best, there are no bigger right now than the mighty Spiritbox, so having them on an album such as this is a given. What you get as a result of a collab is gnarly; the sizemic heft, pick scrapes, and thunderous riffage are just sublime. Spiritbox are flying the flag for all things modern metal and challenging us all as to what we perceive as the norm anymore. A killer track from start to finish. The last collab on the album is METALI!! (feat. Tom Morello) and sees Tom flaunting himself alongside the three ladies, as I guess I’d never see Tom. It goes to show you the reach and influence of an artist such as Tom Morello as his bands from RATM and Audioslave as well as his solo work has left an indelible DNA on rock history over the last few decades, his guitar sound is undeniable when it kicks in and adds its own flavour to the overall vibe of the track.

BABYMETAL

Upcoming New Album ‘METAL FORTH’ Out August 8

Via Capitol Records

Album Features Guest Spots from Electric Callboy, Poppy, Spiritbox, Tom Morello, Bloodywood, Polyphia and Slaughter to Prevail

New CD, LP Variants, Autographs and Album Bundles Now Available

Listen to the singles “RATATATA” with Electric Callboy,

“from me to u” (feat. Poppy) and “Song 3” with Slaughter To Prevail