Album Review: BABYMETAL, Metal Forth

By Christian Cole, OOTB Publications

In the early 2010s, a group of young Japanese teenagers arrived on the music scene, dividing it into a clear two-sided split: What “was metal” and what “wasn’t metal.” And that band is BABYMETAL.

It seemed like the arrival of the young J-pop (Japanese Pop) infused metal outfit fifteen years ago caused somewhat of an uproar with gatekeepers explaining that the band was “not real metal music;” something absurd for a genre allowing metalcore bands to have synchronized guitar whips, Backstreet Boy-esque vocal deliveries and pop overtones, which are all a staple of today’s metal scene.

Then, there were the diehard fans, the ones that mattered a tad more. And the middle line, as well—the folks who saw it as a gateway for young kids to access metal music in a way they hadn’t been able to prior, leading them further down the roads of heavy metal.

I, myself, was admittedly leaning towards the “who cares” line of thought when approaching BABYMETAL. But, with the upcoming release of Metal Forth (Capitol Records), the band’s fifth studio release, I finally found it proper to dive-in and form my own opinion.

What I took from Metal Forth is that this group of young Japanese musicians are adding something fun into a genre that seems to have grown stale in terms of new directions otherwise. With layers of J-pop, techno and several angles of the metal genre itself, it’s hard to hate.

While Metal Forth may not be something I would put on and play front-to-back on any given day, it is still certainly innovative, energetic and admittedly fun.

Not to mention, the album is CHOCK FULL of surprising features from all walks of the current state of metal; providing a solid backing for the all-too discredited group of youngbucks.

Metal Forth is intriguing, refreshing and all around just a good time. You can’t accept new releases from bands like BMTH and Ghost as being “metal,” while entirely discrediting this group of young girls just because their aesthetic doesn’t match the majority of the scene they tie to.

BABYMETAL is a fun and unique, in-your-face twist that metal music somewhat lacks outside of the local level. Most metal/metalcore is so commercialized anymore that it seems quite unfair to lend no credit to these ladies.

So, if you’re into the future of metal, a mix of eclectic and energetic genres, and a long and surprising list of metal band features, then you should get out and grab a copy of Metal Forth, or at least lend an ear upon release. You may find yourself surprised and far from underwhelmed.

Rating

3.1/5

Favorite Tracks

“METAL!!”

“White Flame”

Get Album

https://shop.metalforth.com/

Tracklist