BABYMETAL’s METAL FORTH: A Collab-Infused Triumph That Destroys Genres and Takes No Prisoners

Review By Ian Walker

If BABYMETAL’s METAL GALAXY (2019) established them as the emperors of tongue-in-cheek genre-chaos, and THE OTHER ONE (2023) operated as a neon-drenched concept album exploring alternate universes, then METAL FORTH, arriving globally on 8 August 2025, is the apex: a monumental team-up of collaborators, a statement of intent, and a full‑throttle global relaunch now under Capitol Records. While Metal Forth stakes its claim on BABYMETAL lore — the name literally means “beyond metal” — it’s also a record that cements their place as boundary-shattering architects of a new future.

BABYMETAL marked its 15th anniversary in grand fashion. On their ritualistic Fox Day (April 1), they dropped their “LEGEND MAP,” a prophetic unveiling of 2025 plans — the new album, their biggest ever world tour, and a historic feat: headlining The O2 Arena in London on May 30, making them the first Japanese act to do so, followed by a huge North American stadium tour. Support slots for Poppy & Bambie Thug or Bloodywood on select dates hint at things to come: this isn’t the kawaii-metal of the past — it’s the global metal powerhouse of today.

Tracklist Journey: Collaborations That Elevate,

Songs That Explode

1. from me to u (feat. Poppy) – 3:25

Opening the album is the title track’s first single, featuring Poppy. With nearly 4 million YouTube views in weeks, this track sets tone and mood: sexy retro vocals, a catchy pop-metal swirl, and industrial shimmer. The synergy between Su-metal and Poppy’s surface-cool vocal contrast is addictive. The arrangement’s starch is softened by warm synths, but the guitars crackle with energy — reminiscent of 80s new wave and modern metal combined. from me to u kicks in and you instantly feel: they’ve grown up, but kept the fun intact.

2. RATATATA (BABYMETAL x Electric Callboy) – 3:37

Yes, that viral EDM-core juggernaut is here — and it still slaps. With millions of streams worldwide, RATATATA feels theatrical, campy, and absolutely shameless. It’s BABYMETAL’s Party Pastiche in overdrive, full of shoutalong quotables, cartoon guitar squeals, and disco breakdowns. It’s not metal — it’s everything but — and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

3. Song 3 (feat. Slaughter to Prevail) – 3:34

Enter Yana with juggernaut growls alongside Su-metal’s dynamic shifts. This track is the heaviest yet: Slaughter to Prevail injects a nuclear blast of extreme vocals, while BABYMETAL layers harmonies above the sludge. The result is borderline cinematic brutality — pummeling breakdowns paired with artful melody. If you questioned whether they could go metal and stay melodic — Song 3 answers loud and clear: yes.

4. Kon! Kon! (feat. Bloodywood) – 3:55

A root-to-root fusion of Japanese and Indian metal, Kon! Kon! is riotous, rhythmic, and downright feral. Bloodywood’s traditional percussion and vocal textures combine with BABYMETAL’s theatrical fury in a multi-lingual, global ritual of riffing. It’s brash, cheeky, and larger than life — a full-on celebration of cultural cross-pollination powered by distortion.

5. KxAxWxAxIxI – 2:36

With an acronym that teeters on obscene, this instrumental interlude packs immense compressed energy into just under three minutes. Think blast beat jazz, electronic glitch, and frenetic guitar. It’s chaotic brilliance — a highlight that reminds you this is a palette, not a painting.

6. Sunset Kiss (feat. Polyphia) – 3:33

Instrumental mastery meets pastel sunrise vibes. Polyphia bring their virtuosic playing and serene grooves, while Su-metal sings a hauntingly restrained melody atop shimmering chords. The tension between technicality and emotional understatement here is breathtaking. It feels like watching paint slowly dry on a laser light show.

7. My Queen (feat. Spiritbox) – 3:21

A moody alt-metal duet with Spiritbox’s ethereal Cisko. Soft byte-lights and rippling synth arpeggios propell the track into a damning lyric about power dynamics in relationships. The blend of Su-metal’s clarity and Cisko’s otherworldly resonance in the chorus is haunting. It’s tender, tough, and terrifyingly good.

8. Algorism – 3:37

True to its name—an algorithmic nightmare of syncopated patterns, shifting time signatures, and choppy riffs. No featured artist here, but the arrangement feels like the voice of a machine trying to scream itself awake. Unsettling, hypnotic, and utterly mechanical.

9. METALI!! (feat. Tom Morello) – 3:28

What happens when you pair BABYMETAL with the owner of the most iconic guitar tone in modern rock? You get METALI!!, a track fueled by Morello’s trademark screams, whip-crack rhythm hits, and anarchic solos. BOOM goes the boot — it’s protest rock turned anime-rave anthem.

10. White Flame —白炎— – 3:28

The album closes with White Flame, an epilogue in Japanese, blending elements of traditional instrumentation with a lantern-light atmosphere. It’s slow-burning, poetic, and quietly fierce — the perfect outro to an album filled with fireworks. The final notes leave you glowing in the dark.

Thematic Depth & Artistic Evolution

METAL FORTH isn’t just a showcase of collaborations—it’s a thematic evolution. The album navigates dimensions of identity (“My Queen”), memory (“Sunset Kiss”), internal decay (“Algorithm”), and cultural synthesis (“Kon! Kon!”), all rooted in metal’s power to communicate through extremes. The lyricism and sound design nod explicitly to big themes while the music remains uncompromising and explosive.

What stands out is BABYMETAL’s ability to adapt. They’ve maintained core motifs—catchy choruses, theatrical delivery, and pop sensibilities—while jumping from death metal to techno slugfest to math-metal blowout. The collaborations don’t feel tacked on; they integrate seamlessly, making like-minded alliances rather than guest spots.

Production & Execution

Co-produced by Pendulum bassist Gareth McGrillen in partnership with Capitol Records, METAL FORTH sounds both polished and potent. The mix by industry handlers places each collaborator in vivid three-dimensional space while keeping BABYMETAL centered. The mastering lets lows breathe and highs sear — it’s loud but not cluttered. The album has gravitas, crispness, and immersive layering that rewards repeat listens.

Final Verdict

BABYMETAL’s METAL FORTH is not just an album—it’s an event. It’s a statement of global purpose, a collage of influences, and a willing reinvention that still feels true to their essence. Fifteen years in, they’re proving with each stomp and chant that the metal world still has room for reinvention.

Whether METAL FORTH becomes a generational classic or an underground cult milestone depends on how you define “metal.” But one thing is undeniable: BABYMETAL has ripped open the gates between worlds—and invited you to dance on the edge.