Change is the only constant in life — Babymetal — The Other One — Album Review

Japanese metal sensation, Babymetal, released their fourth full-length studio album called The Other One, an album that focuses on a mainstream sound, while relegating the guitars and drums to the background in some songs. It is a departure from their usual sound; this is pop-oriented in a similar vein to what they did in Metal Galaxy. Yet it feels like more serious material that shakes things up once again.

Their fusion of metal, j-pop, and electronica is not the driving force behind the record. Still, it provides a wide variety of music to highlight the talents of Suzuka Nakamoto and Moa Kikuchi through top-notch vocals and exceptionally executed choreographies in their live performances.

However, you can still find great metal tracks and powerful riffs. Some examples of this are the strong opener that is “Metal Kingdom” with its triumphant anthem of powerful, pounding drums; the simplistic hard rock and heavy metal blend that delivers solid riffs in “Monochrome”; the massive chorus that builds upon its groove with rabid instrumentation in “Divine Attack”, and the progressive metal sounds developed in “Mirror Mirror”. Additionally, “Mirror Mirror” has choruses that evoke Spencer Sotelo’s style of melodic and distorted vocalizations in Periphery, and the guitar tones and textures are reminiscent of Steve Vai.

Furthermore, there is something for everyone in this unusual album. There is a power ballad with a great saxophone work that is “The Legend”, or the fusion between EDM and the Middle Eastern sound in “Metalizm” that gives a unique rave vibe or the beautiful piano piece present in “Light And Darkness”. I miss the wider palette of influences appearing in Metal Galaxy, but these changes are not a deal breaker by any means due to the variety, and versatility shown by the musicians and singers.

This album breaks the original formula that kept all the musical influences balanced in thirds throughout the last three studio albums, making the pop sound more prominent in an 80–20 proportion The Other One begins a new chapter in the history of the band. This new phase might alienate the purists and gatekeepers who think of them as a band that depends on gimmicks and not talent, however, the album shows that the girls are grown-ups in their twenties and are doing great in the metal scene. Where not many acts dare to go, Babymetal feels absolutely fine.