A new Fan Review is up on Newswire. After 2 days of the release of the first Single called "KARATE" of BABYMETAL's second studio album "Metal Resistance". Four BABYMETAL fans from North America, South America and Australia share their impressions about the new BABYMETAL song! We hope you like it.
Fans analyze the new BABYMETAL song "KARATE"
BABYMETAL released the first Single of their upcoming second studio album "Metal Resistance" to be released on April 1st, FOX DAY. Newswire did a compilation of fan reviews about "KARATE" coming from collaborators and followers of our community. We really hope you like the following reviews! If you want to share your thoughts, let us know your impressions in the comments section!
-----------
Maik Gianino, Newswire's Editor. From Montevideo, Uruguay.
"You know what is awesome of being fan of this awesome band? And what is the difference of writing a review about one of their songs compared with reviews by Metal Hammer, UpSet Magazine and others? That we actually know BABYMETAL. With that said, "KARATE" is to me a perfect choice to be a lead Single because has everything to make their fans happy and attract new listeners because is a radio friendly without any doubts. KARATE has a really heavy intro mixed with synthesizers at the best style of "Amaranthe" or "Sevendust" followed by a groove riff like "Pantera" while the heavy drums punch your face. After that slowly the song is diluted into an Alternative Rock rhythm like "Bring Me The Horizon" or "Linkin Park" in its first years. Sadly isn't a song that would highlight Kami Band in the live shows but at the same time since is not a very complex nor heavy as other BABYMETAL songs, somehow they will "rest" a little bit while they play this one
Regarding the girls, i liked Yuimetal and Moametal vocals are not edited like in the Debut Album, their voices sound more clean but at the same time their vocals are clearly forced to be childish, they are near 17 years old already not 12 (just listen the live performances). But obvioulsy the idea is pushing that "baby" thing is what their label wants to spread in the world yet. If you ask me, i don't like that. Now something different comes when you listen to Suzuka Nakamoto. We are not discovering America again when we say that she is probably one of the best female singers at the moment, she shows darkness and sadness at first but then hope and willpower (lyrics translated here). She can adapt her voice to each song but also spread the sentiment of each song, not all singers can do that.
The lyrics are very good but a bit short, but this is radio friendly song, keep that in mind, BABYMETAL lyrcs style at the best level. Lyrics have a high sentimental tone reaching the level of emotional (at least from my experience) when the song reaches the bridge, "Ijime, Dame, Zettai" style here even in the choreography. But did you stop to read the lyrics, listen and investigate at the same time? "Ossu" is synonymous of perseverance and power of will, "never give up under pressure" based on fundaments of Kyokushinkai. Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training. The lyrics have that "Ossu" sentiment, which makes this song even better. Just listen for example the "Ossu" backing vocals by Yui and Moa when Suzuka sings "Even if tears spill from our eyes (Ossu!)" Suzuka gives darkness sentiment while Yui and Moa give the power to lead on "let's confront it!" I must say that i love the lyrics, are probably the highlight of this song to me plus Su-Metal vocals. And actually you can bring the "Ossu" sentiment to BABYMETAL's career isn't it? They never gave up when the world criticized their concept and there you have them releasing their second studio album after almost 6 years of its inception, still they are considered "novelty act".
In overall, this song is perfect to lead "Metal Resistance" because the song is about resistance itself and power of will, with powerful music which also sounds friendly to casual listeners, Idol Fans and very good song for Fans and Hardcore fans. "
-----------
Daniel Fuentes, Newswire's collaborator and member of BABYMETAL Fans Mexico. From Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
"‘Karate’ is a song rather obviously designed to be a single: It is catchy, full of sing along and ‘jump up’ parts to involve the crowd during a live show and devoid of oddities that might alienate any new listeners (other than inherent oddity of it being a Babymetal song, of course).
The song itself is not as heavy as most of the band’s repertoire. It lacks the speed and shredding solos of ‘Gimme Chocolate’ or ‘Ijime Dame Zettai’ or the heavy “Meshuggah-ness” of ‘Akumu no Rondo’, instead taking more of a metalcore approach. However, what the song lacks in sonic power it definitely makes up in emotion and catchiness. I don’t think there really is a song that sounds quite like this in any of BM’s previous work, once again proving Babymetal has a lot of ways to expand their sound while still keeping their style. ‘Karate’ is distinctively a Babymetal song, and if mixed in a playlist with other of their songs it fits seamlessly. Such emerging homogeneity among such different intertwined styles is the single most remarkable signature of a Babymetal song and ‘Karate’ certainly delivers in this regard.
The lyrics are quite along the lines of their more recent songs like ‘Road of Resistance’, inspiring, energizing anthems to one’s struggle to grow and improve self against all odds. This direction in the lyrical content was quite predictable given the nature of the band; the girls are now too grown up to be singing about chocolate and waking up late for school, yet it’s not like they will be singing about death and violence anytime soon. This and the simple structure of the song characterizes it as the most metalcore-styled song of Babymetal so far. Now, I tend to discard metalcore (as we metalheads usually do) as a lame, weak-ass genre with both fans and band members being as tough as little girls. However, since Babymetal are, in fact, little kawaii girls, that kinda destroys my whole objection towards the sound from its very core, and all that remains after is an appreciation for the geniality of how the song actually works, again, against all odds, as Babymetal songs always do.
To recap, let me list what I see as the good and bad points about the song:
The good:
• Its catchiness, energy and overall Babymetal-ness is obvious.
• The sound of the song is more compact and well-rounded than that of other Babymetal songs.
• The lyrics are more mature and Su-metal’s voice is simply out of this world in their interpretation.
• One cannot avoid feeling moved when listening to it; I believe this will be THE song to hear live in Babymetal concerts for years to come.
The bad:
• It is purposefully designed to be more marketable (no more 6-minute long melodeath anthems like IDZ)
• Yui and Moa’s voices have been mixed to sound as childish as in the previous album. Anyone who has heard them live will agree they no longer sound like that and it seems awfully unnecessary to have them do that again.
• Given the structure of the song, the Kami-Band, Babymetal’s backing band, doesn’t really have a chance to shine in this song.
Overall, if I were to rate this song I would give a 9/10 if compared with most of the heavy metal stuff that is being produced today, but maybe a 8/10 when compared with other Babymetal material. However, as a first single of the album I certainly find it much more appealing that ‘Gimme Chocolate’ two years ago. This song might be the one that finally takes Babymetal to the mainstream, to play in huge arenas like they should be doing not only in Japan but all over the world, where they belong, as prophesized by The Fox God. Will it be so? Only The Fox God Knows.
-----------
Suzanne Nguyen, Newswire's follower from Brisbane, Australia.
"I must be honest on the first listen of “Karate” back when someone has uploaded a secret recording of the live audio last year at the Yokohama Arena shows, I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it for many obvious reasons. I mean, it was what many of us called a “bootleg audio” so the voices of the girls and the Kami Band’s riffs weren’t very clear etc. But now having listening to the studio version that was released on my Australian Spotify over and over again in the past 24 hours, I can now confidently say loud and clear: “Wow, BABYMETAL is going to be back bigger and better than ever!” Many say that this New Album will be the deciding factor to whether BABYMETAL will continue to be around for a while or not, but after hearing this? There’s no doubt they will be here for a long time and that has blown away any concerns of my wavering feelings about this coming Album!
This track was just purely incredible from start to finish, they’ve made the perfect choice to drop this song as a “taster” to grab our attentions. I can just picture it will be a massive sell out across the world. Like many of BABYMETAL’s previous songs, this one is no exception in giving me a nice sense of familiarity with a badass spin to it, or what I like to call “nostalgia on steroids” *laughs*. Everything just blends so well together from the vocals to the instrumentals… It just flows and works magically. The song kicks off with a built up drop of a killer heavy riff and then Yui and Moa comes rushing in unified with their energetic chants of “Seiya!” and “Soiya!” before meeting with Su’s powerful daunting vocals with an “Ossu!”. Su-Metal’s voice has obviously matured and developed, she clearly has a lot more control over her vocals since the First Album. Besides, if you’ve been keeping up to date with their live performances you would’ve noticed her vocal evolution after every show up until this point anyway. Meanwhile, YuiMetal and MoaMetal’s chant lines continue to light up concert after concert to keep the energizing spirit up, not a moment losing to Su! Although this song may not be one of their heaviest songs, in fact, I would say this one is quite relaxed especially at its catchy crafted chorus. Coming from a Jpop Fangirl background perspective myself, I’ve come to identify the chorus as the most “popish” part of the song and easily embraced it without a second thought before taking a Kami Band packed punch of the timely complex breakdown riff that lead into the second part of the song, which is absolutely fantastic *fangirl scream*! The melody and rhythm of this track is something that I never would’ve thought could work together, and BABYMETAL has once again made it possible working wondrously. As the song progressed towards the bridge, the guitars and drums have slowly died down, leaving the echoes of “Whoa oh” in the background. For me, at this point I imagine the entire venue/arena filled with a sea of people singing simultaneously harmonising together with the girls and tears started to form in my eyes >< *cries*! It’s seriously going to cause an epic influence on those audiences who are watching this song live without a doubt. Not long after the tension reaches its climax, the “Whoa oh” came to an immediate halt and the chorus dropped just like that with Su’s voice just absolutely powering it through! This part was a massive transition impact for me and I absolutely fell in love with it! Reaching the end, the melody comes to slow down with the piano and fades out once again leaving only the gentle echoes of “Woah oh” which in my opinion was a smooth way to end it nicely and memorably ^^ Looking at the lyrics side of the song, as usual in BABYMETAL style, there is a deep meaningful message behind it. This time BABYMETAL conveys the sprit to stand up and confront your problems head on, physically and emotionally, even if you do know it is tough. If this song doesn’t motivate you to push through the hardships in your life, I honestly don’t know what else does. Personally, I believe this song is a great follow up of Ijime, Dame, Zettai’s message of no bullying, to Karate’s message of not backing down and facing it strongly. I’m pumped, hyped, super excited and anything you can possibly think of, I absolutely cannot wait until the 1st of April, Fox Day, when the Full Album gets release and have it in my hands!"
-----------
Rene Colorado, Newswire's collaborator. From San Francisco, United States.
"Have you heard the song with the low tuned, heavily distorted palm muted intro with modern progressive technical Djent riffs and pinch harmonic techniques all tied together with polyrhythmic double bass drums? Complex heavy metal textures of rhythms inspired by talented musicians such as Zakk Wylde, who is known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Tosin Abasi and his progressive low tuned style with Animals as Leaders, Rings of Saturn or Born of Osiris’ Djent metal shredders and perhaps the initial contributors to low 8th string metal prog Meshuggah. The list can go on, but, oh wait a minute, these are some heavier metal groups with extreme prog riffs and the song we’re talking about is Babymetal’s latest track “Karate”? Have you heard it? Their simplicity ties all these heavier sounds into a fun and uplifting song we can sign along the catchy chorus. Oh? This is a Japanese band? But I don’t speak Japanese? That is the enjoyable part of Babymetal’s Karate, we can join the chorus sang by its members, YuiMetal and MoaMetal, as if interacting with the main vocals, Su-Metal. The welcoming interaction aspect is the success and cheerfulness of the song. It ties well with the original intent of Babymetal: a Japanese Idol pop group with a Heavy Metal background. Not metal enough? That is why they “fight on, even if we get sad and unable to stand up. Let’s fight on. With our spirits more, with making all sharper” as translated from their lyrics. There is a sense of rebellion and resistance against the norm in the words sung by Su-Metal, and this idea, early metal bands can relate to. That’s the metal resistance of “Karate”."
Write a comment