Gimme Chocolate!
One bite and I was hooked my friends, I always liked a bit of Japanese metal namely Vow Wow and Blood Stain Child( I know they don’t sound too appetising), but here we have the babies of metal. A fun-filled, rollicking, run wild and run free frolic over hills and through dales and resounding through the very heart of our existence, warms the proverbial cockles folks. With several guests included on this runaway train ride, it is life-giving and life affirming music that blasts away any doubt and hurt into the ‘Metal Galaxy’.
Lace up your shoes and ‘Da Da Dance’ your cares away( Fraggle Rock, anyone?) to the lights and thunder extravaganza, featuring Tak Matsumoto as we venture through the portal into a fantastical and innovative realm. Travelling faster than the speed of light and kayaking over wild white-water rapids, it is exotic and strange in its lyrics yet wonderous and captivating in the delivery.
‘Shanti, Shanti, Shanti’ which means ‘peace’ in Hindi is full of Eastern promise with the Indian influences, which leads nicely to a friendly jig in ‘Oh! Majinai’ with guest artist Joakim Brodén of Sabaton, not surprising really when you can hear their sound in the work of Babymetal.
Tim Henson and Scott LePage appear on ‘Brand New Day’ and we ponder ‘How will the weather be tomorrow?’ Now that’s a question us Brits wrestle with on a daily basis!
There is a mighty tasty riff on ‘Distortion’ which is bolstered by the featured artist Alissa White-Gluz( Arch Enemy) adding weight and depth to the musicianship.
With sweet, dulcet vocals that soften the heavier riffing, in ‘Kagerou’ for example, you have no choice but to offer yourself to the Fox God, oh yes ladies and gents, it’s bonkers but brilliant! We get a little fruity next with ‘Pa Pa Ya!!’, with F. Hero and here is the call to arms to ‘bring it on’ and dance like crazy.
‘Starlight’ has an enlivening effervescence that will boost your lethargic and anaemic souls and prepare you for an intergalactic adventure. Babymetal are an excellent wind down, easy to listen to and have a lot of fun with. Enjoyment and entertainment are the order of the day, even though my Japanese is non-existent, the music and production here cements the positivity and integrity. Closing with ‘Arkadia’ we speak of ‘no more tears, no more pain’ this is the ultimate prize my friends, lessons still need to be learned and promises adhered to.
So, kneel at the altar of the Fox God and he will see you right. First though I’ll build my rocket ship for my impending trip to the ‘Metal Galaxy’.
Babymetal – Metal Galaxy out now via Ear Music