ALBUM REVIEW: BABYMETAL - METAL FORTH (08/08/25)

At their 15-year milestone, BABYMETAL delivers a statement of intent with METAL FORTH, meaning "beyond metal" - a sonic affirmation that their kawaii-metal identity can thrive well beyond the usual boundaries of genre classification. Released via Capitol Records on 8 August 2025, the album stakes their claim as metal globalists, stretching their sound into daring territories with bold collaborations, including Poppy, Spiritbox, Slaughter to Prevail, Electric Callboy, Bloodywood, Polyphia, Tom Morello, and more.

Right from the start, METAL FORTH throws you into the deep end with ‘from me to u’, an explosion of kawaii pop and metalcore featuring alt-metal singer Poppy - where sugary vocals meet grit. Produced by Jordan Fish (ex Bring Me the Horizon) for a refined, evolved BABYMETAL sound, Poppy’s vocal presence elevates the youthful melody into something edgy and mature - a strong opener that sets the tone for the rest of the album.

Then comes ‘RATATATA’ with Electric Callboy, and it’s pure chaos in the best way. Imagine club-ready EDM smashed together with chunky riffs and shout-along vocals. It's catchy, heavy, and completely wild - an infectious track that already feels built for live shows and one of the album's most earworm-ready tracks.

‘Song 3’ (feat. Slaughter to Prevail) is a raw collision of supercharged deathcore and ethereal melody. The track ditches pop energy for sheer brutality - Su‑metal’s voice floats over heavy guitar riffs and Alex Terrible’s guttural vocals, delivering a contrast that hits hard and throws the listener off balance. It’s a massive shift from the poppier earlier tracks, but that contrast is what makes the album so compelling.

Things get playfully heavy with ‘Kon! Kon!’, a fourth single featuring Bloodywood. This one’s special - it mixes BABYMETAL’s signature charm with Bloodywood’s tribal percussion and djenty guitar work. It's quirky, powerful, and feels like a true cross-cultural celebration.

Then follows ‘KxAxWxAxIxI’, a bold beat-driven experimental track produced by DAIDAI of Paledusk. Here rap-metal rhythms dominate, pushing into unknown territory for BABYMETAL - a planned, deliberate chaos that’s risky, but it shows BABYMETAL taking real creative risks.

The next track ‘Sunset Kiss (feat. Polyphia)’ is soft, shimmering and delicate, in true Polyphia fashion. This collaboration with the Texan instrumental masters almost feels like an anime closing theme - dreamy, intricate, and beautifully produced, for a moment of softness that still holds its own.

Throughout the album, the diversity is the story. From deathcore to EDM, metal to speed metal, every track introduces something new, and yet it all feels cohesive. The sequencing is tight, nothing feels out of place.

‘My Queen (feat. Spiritbox)’ is a highlight - Courtney LaPlante and Su-metal blend aggression and elegance in a duet that feels both fierce and graceful. It’s one of those rare collaborations where neither side overshadows the other - they elevate each other.

‘Algorism’ brings back the BABYMETAL energy that fans are so familiar with - massive riffs, electronic layers, and theatrical flair. It feels cinematic, almost like the soundtrack to a final boss battle.

The next song ‘METALI!! (feat. Tom Morello)’ showcases Tom Morello’s signature licks with some oriental orchestration, turning it into a stadium anthem. It’s compelling, commanding, and undeniably epic.

The album closes with ‘White Flame – 白炎’, a speed metal finale with nostalgic overtones reminiscent of power metal bands such as Dragonforce. Fast-paced guitars and soaring percussion bring METAL FORTH to a stunningly melodic close, encapsulating the band's evolution.

METAL FORTH undeniably pushes boundaries. This is BABYMETAL at their most adventurous - from cute pop-metal to full-throttle aggression, the bold collaborations inject energy and variety across the album. BABYMETAL’s identity is still intact, but they’re not playing it safe. The collaborations are inspired, the production is sharp, and the energy is relentless. Whether you’re a kawaii-metal devotee or a boundary-pushing metalist, there is something for everyone here.