For nearly sixty years, bands have explored the ways in which distorted guitar riffs, fry screams, and double-kick drums express who they are are as artists. And, change is inevitable. Evolution is a part of human nature – so, it’s natural that the lines of metal have begun to blur. In some ways, those blurred lines have been a curse, but in others, they’ve been a blessing.
It’s allowed for a newfound exploration of how to express oneself as artists begin to bring their culture into their work. Whether it be musical, mythological, or historical, cultures that are oftentimes not associated with metal can be fused in a way that hasn’t been done before. The increase in globalisation has allowed for the interconnection of different societies and their interpretation of metal.
There were a handful of bands that rose above international barriers, their own culturally-infused metal rising to the top of people’s feeds, creating a mix of metal that was simply too hard to ignore.
Check out just a few of the metal-fusion bands that were on our radar this year.
Alien Weaponry
For fans of Gojira and Sepultura, Alien Weaponry is a Māori metal group that celebrates the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, their culture, their connection to nature, and their mythology. Writing about the great battles of their mythological heroes, their blend of thrash was centre stage with their newest record, Te Rā, released this past March.
BABYMETAL
BABYMETAL has been around for 15 years now, their signature J-pop infused metal easily distinguishable from anyone in the metal scene. For fans of BAND–MAID, and in a way – Bring Me The Horizon – the trio shred with a technicality that feels like a signature for J-rock. Their newest record, METAL FORTH, was released this past August.
Bloodywood
It’s hard to recommend Bloodywood to fans of certain bands because they sound like no one out there at the moment. Considering themselves ‘Indian folk metal,’ their use of traditional Indian instruments throughout their choruses and breakdowns alongside their dirty vocalist’s use of the Hindi language sets them so far away from anything else out there. Bloodywood released their newest record, Nu Delhi, in March of this year.
Calva Louise
Spanish classical-influenced electro-deathcore trio Calva Louise are as DIY as it gets. Venezuelan vocalist Jess Allanic does the VFX for the band’s music videos, French bassist Alizon Taho fulfills their own merch orders, and are joined by New Zealand drummer Ben Parker as they meet their fans at the merch tables still. Yet they’ve been on tours with Stray From The Path and Bloodywood, and had numerous festival slots at Download Festival, 2000trees, and Burn It Down Festival. They released their newest LP, Edge Of The Abyss, this past July.
Landmvrks
For fans of Currents, Novelists, and Polaris, French thrash nu-metalcore LANDMVRKS was everywhere this year with their tracks, “Creature” and “Sulfur” that bridge together France’s intense hip-hop and rap scene with the intensity of metal. Following a storyline that’s an accumulation of each member’s experiences and feelings, LANDMVRKS released their newest record, The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, in April, and it’s an emotionally intense journey worth taking over and over again.
Luna Kills
Finnish hyper-pop influenced metalcore group Luna Kills not only explores the line between hyper-pop and metal that Bring Me The Horizon have carved into the sad, but does so with jazz and soul undertones. Vocalist Lotta Rautiainen grew up with her vocal teacher showing her the more melodic side of music, which Rautiainen carries through each track on Luna Kills‘ newest release, DEATHMATCH, out this past April.
Native James
The genre of English rap is known as grime, and grime nu-metal artist Native James packs an absolute punch with his bouncing beats and driving guitars. Teetering on the line of – is it rap or is it metal? – in a way that would allow him to fit into either category, Native James‘ newest EP, Confessions Of A Sinner, explored the power of grime when backed by some heavy instrumentation.
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