Wikipedia

Metal Forth

Metal Forth is the fifth[a] studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Babymetal. Originally scheduled for release on June 13, 2025, it was delayed several times and eventually released on August 8, 2025. It is the first Babymetal album to feature Momoko Okazaki as an official member and the first to be released following the band's signing to Capitol Records. Metal Forth peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, becoming the first Japanese act to chart in the top ten in the United States.

Metal Forth
Studio album by
Babymetal
ReleasedAugust 8, 2025 (2025-08-08)
GenreKawaii metal[1]
Length35:31
Label
ProducerKobametal
Babymetal chronology
Babymetal Returns: The Other One
(2023)		 Metal Forth
(2025)
Singles from Metal Forth
  1. "Metali!!"
    Released: August 18, 2023
  2. "Ratatata"
    Released: May 23, 2024
  3. "From Me to U"
    Released: April 4, 2025
  4. "Song 3"
    Released: May 28, 2025
  5. "Kon! Kon!"
    Released: July 11, 2025
  6. "My Queen"
    Released: August 8, 2025

Background

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Metal Forth was announced on April 1, 2025.[3] The title is a play on words, meaning "beyond metal"[4] and referencing the band's view of it as their fourth studio album.[a] It is the first Babymetal album to feature Momoko Okazaki as an official member since she joined the band in 2023 after the departure of Yui Mizuno in 2018, and the first to be released following the band's signing to Capitol Records in early 2025.[5]

The collaborative nature of the album marks a departure from the band's previous albums, with only three of its tracks lacking a guest artist.[6][7] It has been noted for the varied backgrounds of said artists as it features Tom Morello, Polyphia, and Poppy from the United States; Spiritbox from Canada; Electric Callboy from Germany; Bloodywood from India; and Slaughter to Prevail from Russia. The album was produced by the band's creator Kobametal, whilst the opening track was co-written and produced by Jordan Fish of English band Bring Me the Horizon, whose 2020 song "Kingslayer" featured Babymetal.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic76/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth8/10[9]
Clash7/10[10]
DIYStarStarStarStar[11]
DorkStarStarStarStar[12]
Kerrang!4/5[13]
Metal HammerStarStarStarStar[14]
Paste8.5/10[15]
NMEStarStarStar[16]
Sputnikmusic3.2/5[17]

Metal Forth received generally positive reviews from music critics, at Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on nine reviews.[8]

The album received a score of 7/10 from Clash reviewer Sam Walker-Smart, who described it as "unrelentingly maximalist as fans could hope for—an audacious whirlwind of global collaborations, high-gloss chaos, and boundless enthusiasm".[10] It was assigned a rating of 8/10 by Blabbermouth, which called it "an audacious delight" and "the snappiest Babymetal release to date".[9] Kerrang! gave it a verdict of 4/5 stars, noting that "there are moments of genius here [...] in forging new bonds and attempting to break new ground, Metal Forth's intentions are noble and the executions occasionally excellent".[13] It was rated 4/5 by Dork, which referred to it as "complex, polished and unshakeable",[12] and DIY described it as "harmonic and balanced".[11] NME gave it 3/5 stars and noted that "while some tracks on Metal Forth showcase the best aspects of each artist, others feel forced, and the end result dilutes the signature sound of the group".[16] Sputnikmusic assigned it a rating of 3.2/5 and said that the album "doesn't feel like a new release, and more importantly, it doesn't sound like a Babymetal album".[17]

Commercial performance

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Metal Forth debuted at number three on the Oricon Combined Weekly Albums chart for the week of August 18, 2025 with 24,374 equivalent album units,[18] debuting at the top of the Digital Albums chart with 2,264 first-week downloads,[19] debuting at number three on the Physical Albums chart with 21,723 sales,[20] while also topping the Rock Albums chart.[21] The album also managed to chart on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart at number 15 for the week of August 13, 2025.[22]

In the United States, Metal Forth debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 for the week of August 23, 2025, with 36,000 equivalent album units earned,[23] of which 2,500 units were acquired from streaming units equivalent to 3.28 million on-demand official streams, and 33,500 units were pure album sales, allowing the album to debut at number two on the Top Album Sales chart and giving the act their biggest sales week.[24] The former chart placement also marked the first time an all-Japanese act charted a top ten album in the history of the Billboard 200.[25]

Promotion

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Babymetal World Tour 2025–2026
World tour by Babymetal
Location
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Asia
  • South America
Associated albumMetal Forth
Start dateMay 10, 2025 (2025-05-10)
End dateDecember 12, 2026 (2026-12-12)
Legs10
No. of shows95
Supporting acts
Babymetal concert chronology
  • Babymetal World Tour 2023–2024
    (2023-2024)
  • Babymetal World Tour 2025–2026
    (2025–2026)

On the October 23, 2024 Babymetal announced a 2025 UK and European arena tour, beginning on May 10, 2025 in Belgium and ending on May 30, 2025 at the The O2 Arena in the UK, becoming the first Japanese musicians to headline and sell out a show at the latter venue. Tour dates for the North American leg of the tour were announced on March 15, 2025, with dates ranging from June 13 to July 23, 2025,[26] with a finale show later announced for the Intuit Dome in November 2025.[27]

Babymetal World Tour 2025–2026

Track listing

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All songs are produced by Kobametal. Additional producers are listed below.

Metal Forth track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Additional producer(s)Length
1."From Me to U" (featuring Poppy)
Fish3:25
2."Ratatata" (with Electric Callboy)
  • Haniß
  • Ratajczak
  • Sallach
  • Schillo
  • Manuel Runner[a]
3:37
3."Song 3" (with Slaughter to Prevail)
  • 333-metal
  • Aleksandr Igorevish
  • Jack Simmons
  • Nikita Korzhov
  • Shikolai
  • Takemetal
  • Tatsuometal
 3:34
4."Kon! Kon!" (featuring Bloodywood)
 3:55
5."KxAxWxAxIxI"
  • Daiai
  • Metal Cypher
 2:36
6."Sunset Kiss" (featuring Polyphia)
  • Megmetal
  • Mk-metal
 3:33
7."My Queen" (featuring Spiritbox)
3:21
8."Algorism"
  • Algo-metal
  • Norimetal
 3:37
9."Metali!!" (メタり！！ Metari!!) (featuring Tom Morello)
  • Metal-Niki
  • Norimetal
  • Ryu-metal
 3:28
10."White Flame -白炎-"
 4:25
Total length:35:31
U.S. DTC digital deluxe bonus tracks (Episode 1)
No.TitleLength
11."Exclusive Track By Track Episode 1" (tracks 1–3) 
12."Sunset Kiss" (live from the O2) 
U.S. DTC digital deluxe bonus tracks (Episode 2)
No.TitleLength
11."Exclusive Track By Track Episode 2" 
12."Sunset Kiss" (live from the O2) 
U.S. DTC digital deluxe bonus tracks (Episode 3)
No.TitleLength
11."Exclusive Track By Track Episode 3" 
12."Sunset Kiss" (live from the O2) 

Notes

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  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer.
  • ^[b]"Kitsune of Metal God" refers to a god figure frequently mentioned in band materials and interviews (often as "Kitsune-sama" or the "Fox God").[29] Official credits under this name are registered to Kobametal.[30]
  • "From Me to U" is stylized in lower case.
  • "Ratatata" and "Metali!!" are stylized in all caps.

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[31]

Babymetal

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Additional musicians

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Technical

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  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Zakk Cervini – mixing (1, 7), engineering (7)
  • Daniel Haniß – mixing (2)
  • Egor Krotov – mixing (3)
  • Karan Katiyar – mixing (4)
  • Tsubasa Ishibashi – mixing (5)
  • Megmetal – mixing (6, 8, 9)
  • Tue Madsen – mixing (10)
  • Watametal – engineering
  • Drew Fulk – engineering, additional mixing (7)
  • Julian Gargiulo – engineering, additional mixing (7)
  • Josh Gilbert – engineering (7)

Charts

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for Metal Forth
Region Date Label Format Edition(s) Ref.
Japan August 8, 2025
  • CD
  • LP
  • streaming
  • digital download
  • Standard
  • deluxe
  • "The One" limited
 [58]
Various
  • Amuse, Inc.
  • BMW Fox Records
  • Capitol Records
  • CD
  • streaming
  • digital download
 Standard [59]
United States
  • Digital download
 Deluxe [60]
August 29, 2025
  • Cassette
  • LP
 Standard [61]

Notes

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  1. 1 2 The band considers Metal Forth to be their fourth album, with The Other One (2023) viewed as a standalone "concept album".[2]
  2. ↑ This show was a part of the Milwaukee 2025 SummerFest festival
  3. ↑ This show was a part of the Busan International Rock Festival 2025
  4. ↑ This show was a part of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2025
  5. ↑ This show is a part of the Sweden Rock Festival 2026
  6. ↑ This show is a part of the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park Festival 2026
  7. ↑ This show is a part of the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park Festival 2026
  8. ↑ This show is a part of the Kufstein Music Festival 2026
  9. ↑ This show is a part of the Rock for people Festival 2026
  10. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Download Festival
  11. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Summer Punch Festival
  12. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Grospop Metal Meeting
  13. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Tons of Rock
  14. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Impericon Festival
  15. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Copenhell
  16. ↑ This show is a part of the LuckyFes'26
  17. 1 2 This show is a part of the 2026 Summer Sonic Festival
  18. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Louder Than Life Festival
  19. ↑ This show is a part of the 2026 Aftershock Festival

References

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  1. ↑ "from me to u (feat. Poppy)" is now available!! Music Video is also available on YouTube!!". Babymetal Official Website. April 4, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  2. ↑ "The fourth original album "Metal Forth" will be released worldwide on Friday, June 13th!". Babymetal (in Japanese). April 1, 2025.
  3. ↑ "BABYMETAL Push Boundaries with Explosive New Album METAL FORTH". Indie Sound. August 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Babymetal Announces New Album 'Metal Forth'". Blabbermouth. March 31, 2025. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  5. ↑ Jenke, Tyler (April 1, 2025). "Babymetal Recruit Spiritbox and Poppy for New Album, 'Metal Forth'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  6. ↑ Wilson-Taylor, James (March 31, 2025). "Babymetal Announce New Album 'Metal Forth'". Rock Sound. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Garner, Emily (May 28, 2025). "Babymetal drop new single, push back Metal Forth release date to August". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Reviews for METAL FORTH by BABYMETAL". Metacritic. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Lawson, Dom (August 5, 2025). "Metal Forth". Blabbermouth. Archived from the original on August 10, 2025. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Walker-Smart, Sam (August 7, 2025). "BABYMETAL – METAL FORTH". Clash. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Ambrosio, Isabella (August 6, 2025). "BABYMETAL – Metal Forth". DIY. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  12. 1 2 McClure, Kelsey (August 7, 2025). "BABYMETAL – METAL FORTH". Dork. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Hickie, James (August 6, 2025). "Album review: BABYMETAL – METAL FORTH". Kerrang!. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  14. ↑ Alderslade, Merlin (July 31, 2025). ""What heavy music could become if it let go of outmoded notions of authenticity and genre loyalty." Babymetal's new album Metal Forth reaffirms their status as one of metal's most unique and exciting bands". Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  15. ↑ Crump, Andy (August 12, 2025). "BABYMETAL Are the Intergalactic Mayors of Metal Music". Paste. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Dunworth, Liberty (August 5, 2025). "BABYMETAL – Metal Forth review: a solid, star-studded attempt to broaden their horizons". NME. Archived from the original on August 6, 2025. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Trey (August 4, 2025). "Review: BABYMETAL – Metal Forth". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  18. ↑ "2025年08月04日～2025年08月10日 オリコン週間 合算アルバムランキング". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  19. ↑ "オリコン週間 デジタルアルバムランキング 2025年08月04日～2025年08月10日". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 14, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2025年08月04日～2025年08月10日 オリコン週間 アルバムランキング". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  21. ↑ "BABYMETAL、全米Billboard 200で日本人グループ初のTOP10入り 最新作『METAL FORTH』が9位に初登場". Oricon News. Oricon. August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  23. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (August 20, 2025). "BABYMETAL's 'Metal Forth' Makes Top 10 Debut on Multiple Billboard Album Charts". Billboard. Billboard Media. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  24. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (August 17, 2025). "Morgan Wallen's 'I'm the Problem' Hits 11 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  25. ↑ Schaffner, Lauryn (August 19, 2025). "Babymetal Just Became the First-Ever Band to Reach This Specific Chart Achievement". Loudwire. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ Vega, Katherine (March 19, 2025). "BABYMETAL Announce 2025 North American Tour". BurningHotebents. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  27. ↑ Buddy, Iahn (June 1, 2025). "BabyMetal announces largest US headlining show". TheMusicUniverse. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  28. ↑ Vega, Katherine (March 19, 2025). "BABYMETAL Announce 2025 North American Tour". BurningHotebents. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  29. ↑ Babymetal (2013). LIVE～LEGEND I、D、Z APOCALYPSE～ [Live: Legend I, D, Z Apocalypse] (Blu-ray) (in Japanese). Vol. Legend "I" 2012/10/6 at Shibuya O-EAST. Japan: Toy's Factory, Amuse. Event occurs at 58 seconds. JAN 4988061781129. キツネ様は、SU-METAL，YUIMETAL　MOAMETALの三人を「新しいメタルの誕生」を意味する"BABYMETAL"と名付け [Translation: "The Fox God named 3 girls, Su-metal, Yuimetal, and Moametal, 'Babymetal' meaning 'the birth of a new metal'..."].
  30. ↑ ACE. "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Metal Forth / Babymetal / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  32. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 18, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Ö3 Austria Top40: Longplay-Charts". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Babymetal – Metal Forth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Babymetal – Metal Forth" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Babymetal – Metal Forth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Babymetal: Metal Forth" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Top Albums (Semaine du 15 Aout 2025)". SNEP. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums de la semaine 33, 2025" [Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums of Week 33, 2025] (in French). Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Babymetal – Metal Forth" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Official German Charts Top 20 Rock/Metal Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-08-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Weekly Combined Album Ranking" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 18, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  44. ↑ "Weekly Rock Album Ranking" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 18, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  45. ↑ "Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 13, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 15/8/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Top 100 Álbumes 33 2025". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 33". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Babymetal – Metal Forth". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  50. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 15/8/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart on 15/8/2025 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  52. ↑ "Babymetal Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  53. ↑ "Babymetal Chart History: Top Rock & Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Babymetal Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  55. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-08" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 10, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  56. ↑ "Oricon Top 30 Rock Albums: 2025-08" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 10, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  57. ↑ "Billboard Japan Download Albums – 2025 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  58. ↑ "METAL FORTH [通常盤][CD] - BABYMETAL - UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN". BABYMETAL (in Japanese). Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  59. ↑ "Home". Babymetal. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  60. ↑ "METAL FORTH (EPISODE 1) Deluxe Digital Album". Babymetal Official Store. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  61. ↑ "Metal Forth Force Edition Cassette". Babymetal Official Store. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
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