Metal Forth
The explosive origin of BABYMETAL
I confess that when I think about the journey of BABYMETAL, what comes to mind is an unyielding flame: a trio born in Japan that, since 2010, has blended the idol universe with the frenzy of metal in a way that’s as theatrical as it is visceral. Emerging from a school subunit and becoming an independent act, they cracked open the genre with an audacity no one expected and kept on defying labels, lighting up global stages, and earning the respect of those who seemed ready to just laugh.
The collaborative visceral energy of Metal Forth
Listening to Metal Forth, what jumps out the most, both to the eyes and the ears, is the range of collaborations flooding the album. This is not a solo work, it’s a dynamic panel of alliances with bands like Slaughter to Prevail, Spiritbox, Polyphia, Poppy, among many others. The result doesn’t sound like a mere mashup: there’s a surprising cohesion, almost as if the identity of BABYMETAL expands with each guest but remains intact at the core of the trio’s energy.
Balance between chaos and refinement
It may feel like a bus speeding downhill, maximum intensity, thunderous grooves, galloping rhythms but the album is not messy. On the contrary: there’s remarkable sonic craftsmanship. The production is polished, allowing each chord, each vocal, each rhythmic shift to breathe with clarity. It’s the sensation of being in a luxurious metal circus, where you’re engulfed without ever losing your breath.
Evolution while keeping the essence
Some may be surprised by the sheer number of guest appearances, but that doesn’t signal weakness. Quite the opposite: Metal Forth shows a band that evolves, that wants to grow, that dares to step into uncharted territory and does so with the confidence of veterans. It doesn’t feel like an experiment. It feels like new ground being conquered, keeping the ironic and playful attitude of BABYMETAL but with the weight of modern metal and maturity.
Final reflection
What I felt in Metal Forth is an explosion of possibilities wrapped in sonic precision. It’s like witnessing the meeting of metal’s many universes from aggressive to pop, from tribal to technical stitched together with a firm hand and no fear of the spotlight. BABYMETAL seems to say that they are still that childlike and fierce flame, and now, with allies who amplify their voice. If you want an experience that is pop, that is metal, that is unpredictable, this album is an open invitation to dive in and come out shaken.
