New Album: BabyMetal: Metal Resistance

「This is not a review, this is just my opinion, no score shall be given.」

     This album "Metal resistance" is the new Baby Metal album that released on the first of April (known as Fox Day in the bands' lore), and I think it is quite good. The sound for this release is quite well done, and while the first album was nowhere near being considered bad, I personally feel that they are more confident in who they are as a group, and that comes across in the music. Unlike their debut album, which had a larger amount of songs that seemed to fit outside the Metal that seems to be the main draw of this band. This release only has two songs which I would consider to be a bit on the more mainstream side of the spectrum, those songs being Track #2 Karate, and, track #10 No Rain, No Rainbow. the first track, Karate, being a nice energetic track that feels right up there with any other comparable J-pop band out there today, the second track, No Rain, No Rainbow, being something akin to a power ballad, with the sensual slow singing, and emotional lyrics of such.

While this is definitely more of a metal album than previous, the songs on average are also a bit heavier, on the musical side of things. While I do not think that is a bad thing personally, there are those who do mind, although I feel that the singing that accompanies the music somewhat calms it down overall, which is a dichotomy that I personally appreciate. The energy, and confidence in which these songs are delivered is commendable and the consistency, and power of the singing is amazing for only the second album. Speaking of the singing, it is amazing as usual, Su-Metal shows her vocal range throughout this album, I feel that the best proof of her skill is the last song on the album "The One" which is a tribute to the fans, and it is quite the powerful one at that. She also proves that she can sing quite well in English. Of course some will nitpick and say her pronunciation is off, but that is to be expected, and she can sing in this language better than some people I know can speak it, so that is some skill in and of itself.

     While this album is by far one of my favorites recently, I can see how it may be a bit of a stretch for people not already invested in BabyMetal, all I can say is, if you like Japanese Rock, and Pop, and are interested in hearing the two mixed together into something entirely its own, give their debut album a shot, for I think it is the more accessible of the two to start with. However, if you like the sound that they have created, and are interested in more, then Metal Resistance is something that is definitely worth checking out. (especially since you can get it at a normal price due to them having a western release of this album.) In closing, I greatly enjoyed the entirety of this album, and I hope that the sales of it in the west means that their albums will continue to be released outside of Japan, so more people can enjoy the music that they create.