ALBUM REVIEW: METAL FORTH BY BABYMETAL

Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

Would you like a side of Metal with your pop? BABYMETAL bring out the heavy hitters of heavy metal in Tom Morello, Slaughter To Prevail, Spiritbox, Poppy, Polyphia, Electric Call Boy and Bloodywood. It’s a kaleidoscope of confection of hyperactive and hectic J-Pop meets every genre of metal on their fifth album ‘METAL FORTH’.

In March in Brisbane, BABYMETAL was everywhere: Knotfest and the Fortitude Valley Music Hall. The band brought their shiny pop-gloss Japanese kawaiicore to the heavy metal world. The young heavy metal fans just loved it. BABYMETAL’s mash-up of escapist heavy nu-metal meets pop performance was taken up by the young fans who loved their Japanese view of the world. And, many were expecting ‘METAL FORTH’ to arrive quickly as the songs were mostly all played at the live gigs.

But the album has arrived and ‘METAL FORTH’ is a manic ride of chaotic energy as BABYMETAL and their guest’s genre-hop through heavy rock and metal at a high-octane pace through 10 songs in just under 30 minutes. It’s tight. The album opens with a “Let’s Go” from Suzuka Nakamoto ‘Su-metal’, Moa Kikuchi ‘Moametal’, and Momoko Okazaki ‘Momometal’ and the drive of the songs doesn’t stop.

The album starts with ‘From Me To U’ with Poppy. Her cybernetic vocals waste no time blending her robotic sounds with nu-metal. It’s an explosive nu-metal and hyper-pop start. The second song ‘RATATATA’ features German electronic-nu-metalcore band Electric Callboy. The synth-metal crossover is a fan live favourite. And, then ‘Song 3’ pairs heavy with cute, as Slaughter To Prevail bring the dark sonic soundscape.

The key to BABYMETAL is their pure Japanese passion for infectious pop sensibilities. This can be heard on ‘Kon! Kon!’ featuring Indian New Delhi-based metal fusionists Bloodywood. It’s a nod to the huge Asian market, and it’s an unhinged sonic blast, but amusing. Then, the downbeat of rap inspired ‘K-A-W-A-I-I’ hits with BABYMETAL hitting the traditional Japanese instruments blended with electronic sounds. They deliver this song with any guests. The next song is the lite-hearted ‘Sunset Kiss’ with Polyphia bringing in the breezy summer vibe. The song is a swirling concoction of acoustic guitar pop, controlled rhythmic drums and bassline, electric guitar solos and singalong choruses.

Then, the tremendous Spiritbox join in the fun with ‘My Queen’ as they bring the heavy sounds before the light touch pop starts into a huge singalong chorus. It is followed by electro punk-pop of ‘Algorism’ where BABYMETAL are on their own again. Then, the just splendidly named song ‘METALI!!’ where the guitar god Tom Morello joins the party, adding his idiosyncratic guitar riffing and distinctive solos into the mix. The album closes with the power metal of ‘White Flame’ and it’s the highlight of an album stacked with highlights.

If you have board tastes and just love music, and your sense of humour is intact, then this album ‘METAL FORTH’ is for you. It is fun!