Album Review: BABYMETAL – METAL FORTH (Capitol Records)

BABYMETAL returns with METAL FORTH. The renowned Japanese metal band has signed to Capitol Records, and the new album will be released on August 8th, 2025. Meaning ‘beyond metal’, METAL FORTH features collaborations with Poppy, Spiritbox, Tom Morello, Bloodywood, Polyphia and Slaughter to Prevail, artists that BABYMETAL has connected with over the years while touring the globe.

Chances are that you’ve already formed an opinion on this album before you’ve heard a single note. You’re either ready to defend it as the greatest thing ever, or ready to denounce it as the worst thing, well, since the last BABYMETAL album. It’s boring and tiresome, love ‘em or loathe ‘em, BABYMETAL are here to stay, and the metal world is all the better for it. Especially when we get an album like this, an album that I can confidently say is my favourite BABYMETAL album to date. Not just because it features collaborations with some of my favourite (and some of the biggest) bands/artists in the world, but because it’s the distillation of everything great about BABYMETAL, notably their ability to be absurdly anthemic while expertly combining the worlds of J-pop and metal.

I don’t think it’s ground-breaking stuff, but it is enjoyable stuff and liable to capture even more of the mainstream’s attention. Especially when the likes of Poppy, Electric Callboy, Slaughter to Prevail, and Bloodywood are some of the guests and collaborators that appear in the first half. Of each it’s probably Poppy and Electric Callboys’ songs, from me to u and RATATATA, that stands out the most. The former is a solid, energetic, and catchy tune that has some bite, thanks to Poppy’s harsher vocal moments and a brief, but punchy breakdown. Whereas the latter is a track that everyone can (and probably already has) dance and singalong to.

No shade on Song 3 or Kon! Kon!, as Slaughter to Prevail and BABYMETAL combine efforts for the album’s heaviest listen with the former, and Bloodywood do what they do best on the latter. I do get a kick out of the different styles and how both bands make it work so well.

One of three tracks that feature no guests, the elctro-beat and effects heavy KxAxWxAxIxI is proof that BABYMETAL are growing up and evolving their sound. Whereas Algorism feels more relevant to now, focusing on heightened pop drama, powerful vocals, heavy riffs, and a chorus that everyone can jump around to. It sounds like it could be an anime show intro. The last of the three, and also the finale of the album is White Flame ー白炎ー,and it’s a frenetic blast of epic sounding BABYMETAL heaviness and speed. A really lovable track that harks back to their past, while still sounding modern and fresh. The chorus is fire, but so is the guitar soloing.

Elsewhere, Polyphia feature on the fun Sunset Kiss, Spiritbox feature on the unusual My Queen, and Tom Morello features on a lively METALI!!

There’s some really cool stuff here, but these are some of the album’s weakest efforts if I’m honest. Though I still think BABYMETAL fans will eat them up as they showcase more variety and make good use of each guest.

It’s liable to be as polarising an album as ever, but I stand by what I said at the start, it’s my favourite BABYMETAL album to date and all because it has more bangers than ever.

BABYMETAL – METAL FORTH Track Listing:

1. from me to u (feat. Poppy)
2. RATATATA (BABYMETAL x Electric Callboy)
3. Song 3 (BABYMETAL x Slaughter to Prevail)
4. Kon! Kon! (feat. Bloodywood)
5. KxAxWxAxIxI
6. Sunset Kiss (feat. Polyphia)
7. My Queen (feat. Spiritbox)
8. Algorism
9. METALI!! (feat. Tom Morello)
10. White Flame ー白炎ー

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