BABYMETAL: Metal Forth (HEAVY METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Babymetal has everything it takes to be a big name. With fifteen years under its belt, the famous band considered to be the source of kawaii metal (a musical genre combining elements of heavy metal and J-pop) is releasing its fifth studio album. The band, centered around its three female performers, has often been considered a soulless marketing ploy that overuses auto-tune, but that hasn't stopped them from performing at Hellfest or opening for prestigious bands such as Metallica, Guns N' Roses, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The album title suggests it all: metal above all else! The fanfare opening on ‘From Me To U’ drops a metal bomb mixed with industrial sounds, combined with bewitching vocals, growls from Poppy (Moriah Rose Pereira, American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress, and videographer) and a few discreet contributions from Pong (responsible for several Japanese hip hop/rap albums). It's a successful attempt, showcasing Babymetal doing what the Japanese do best. With their high-quality arrangements, “Sunset Kiss” and “Algorism” strike a fine balance between pop and heavy metal (with a hell of a guitar solo). The vocals are as hyperactive and dizzying as ever, venturing into new territory (the mysterious ‘KxAxWxAxIxI’ with short rap sequences). The final track is a classic heavy metal prototype that could reconcile the band with fans of the genre.

As usual, Babymetal has surrounded itself with guests. The opening is generally a good sign, as proven by the crazy and heavy “Metal” featuring Tom Morello, but these outside contributions tend to radically distance the band from its message, causing it to lose some of its uniqueness: the vocal contributions of Electric Callboy (German metalcore) would be more at home with Justin Timberlake, the growling on “Song 3” drags on and strays a little from the subject, and “My Queen,” as successful as it is, sounds a little too much like its guests (Spiritbox, a Canadian heavy metal band).

The 35-minute running time means that the album doesn't stray unnecessarily, as was the case on previous albums. The formula should probably be revisited and the focus refocused on the three singers and the Kami Band, because by opening up too many possibilities, you end up closing doors. And Babymetal has nothing left to prove. Let's not deny ourselves the pleasure of listening to this album, which is recommended for anyone who is open-minded and doesn't pigeonhole metal into rigid categories. - Official website

BABYMETAL

METAL FORTH

CAPITOL

HEAVY METAL