Spiritbox
Japanese heavy outfit BABYMETAL are preparing to kick off their latest era, announcing the release of their fifth album today.
As is tradition, news of the group’s latest happenings was shared on Fox Day (April 1, Japanese time), a day typically used by the group to unveil big announcements. The big headline for 2025 is the forthcoming release of BABYMETAL’s fifth album, Metal Forth, which will be released on June 13.
The ten-track release is a heavily-collaborative effort, featuring appearances from the likes of Spiritbox, Polyphia, Bloodywood, and Slaughter to Prevail. The album will also include previous singles released by the band, including the 2023 Tom Morello-featuring “METALI!!”and their 2024 collaboration with Electric Callboy, “Ratatata.” News of the forthcoming record will also be bolstered by the impending arrival of new single “From Me to U,” which drops on Friday (April 4) with guest vocals from Poppy.
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BABYMETAL first formed in 2010, releasing their self-titled debut in 2014. While the record peaked at No. 187 on the Billboard 200, subsequent albums performed better, with 2016’s Metal Resistance hitting No. 39 and 2019’s Metal Galaxy reaching No. 13.
In 2023, the band released fourth album The Other One, which became their first not to chart on the Billboard 200, and their first to be released as a duo following the departure of Yuimetal in 2018. Now, following the inclusion of Momometal as an official member in 2023, the forthcoming record is said to represent a new era for the band, with its title meaning “beyond metal,” and a new signing to Capitol Records being detailed alongside its announcement.
In a statement issued on Monday (March 31), Capitol Records noted that the deal makes BABYMETAL “the first Japanese artist to sign a frontline deal with the label.”
“BABYMETAL’s groundbreaking sound and compelling artistic vision have not only cultivated a worldwide following, but have also demonstrably shifted global music culture,” said Capitol Records Chairman & CEO, Tom March. “We at Capitol Records are privileged to join them in this next chapter as we continue to amplify their international reach and influence with the upcoming release of Metal Forth.”
The arrival of Metal Forth on June 13 will also coincide with the launch of a 24-date North American tour for the band, with dates in Europe, the U.K., and Asia also set to complement their current schedule.
As Spiritbox prepare to release their second album, vocalist Courtney LaPlante has gone on record to decry the unapproved release of their latest single.
The news comes just days away from the arrival of Tsunami Sea, Spritbox’s new record which is currently scheduled to drop on Friday (March 7) via the band’s own Pale Chords label and Rise Records. The album has been previewed since September, with the release of first single, “Soft Spine.” In November, this was followed by “Perfect Soul,” and again in February with the release of “No Loss, No Love.”
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Eager fans of the band may, however, have noticed the release of a new single titled “Crystal Roses” appearing on streaming services on Monday (March 3). According to a post shared on social media by LaPlante, issuing a new single in the week of the album’s release was not part of their approved rollout plan.
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“I don’t normally like to air out behind the scenes things like this, but we did not approve putting out another single today,” LaPlante wrote. “None of us were aware this was happening. I am extremely disappointed and only found out about it late last night, by chance. Trying to take it down asap.”
“Crystal Roses” has since been removed from streaming services, with only the previously-released singles available for listening ahead of the album’s official release.
This isn’t the first mishap which has befallen Spiritbox in recent months, with the band having recently been thrust into the spotlight thanks to a case of mistaken identity.
Appearing at the Grammys on Feb. 2 where the band were nominated in the best metal performance category, LaPlante spoke to an interviewer who had mistaken her for Poppy (whose “Suffocate” collaboration with Knocked Loose was up for the same award). Offering a slightly confused look to the off-camera interviewer, LaPlante decided instead to roll with it and continued the conversation as her fellow nominee.
“I am Poppy, and I am really happy to be here, nominated with Knocked Loose,” LaPlante replied slyly. “I really hope we win.”
Noting she had just finished chatting to Judas Priest, the interviewer went on to mention it wasn’t Poppy’s first time being nominated, referencing her nod for “Bloodmoney” in 2021.
“Really happy to be here again, would love to take home the Grammy for Knocked Loose and myself because I would be the first woman to win this award,” LaPlante added. “I actually haven’t looked at [how many women have been nominated previously] but I just always know that it’s time for one of us to win. I hope it’s me, or Spiritbox and Courtney.”
Ultimately, the award was won by French band Gojira, whose performance of “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” (as heard at the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony) was a collaboration with Swiss soprano Marina Viotti and Victor Le Masne.
Spiritbox vocalist Courtney LaPlante has expertly rolled with a red carpet mix-up at the Grammys this year, adopting the guise of fellow nominee Poppy after an interviewer confused the two artists.
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The high-profile case of mistaken identity occurred on LaPlante’s way into the ceremony, where she was nominated for Best Metal Performance with the rest of Spiritbox for their track “Cellar Door”.
The category was ultimately won by French band Gojira, whose performance of “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” (as heard at the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony) was a collaboration with Swiss soprano Marina Viotti and Victor Le Masne. Elsewhere in the nominations was Metallica’s “Screaming Suicide”, Judas Priest’s “Crown of Horns”, and Knocked Loose’s collaboration with Poppy, “Suffocation”.
However, confusion reigned during LaPlante’s appearance on the red carpet where she took part in an interview, only to be introduced as Poppy. Offering a slightly confused look to the off-camera interviewer, LaPlante decided instead to roll with it and continued the conversation as her fellow nominee.
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“I am Poppy, and I am really happy to be here, nominated with Knocked Loose,” LaPlante replied slyly. “I really hope we win.”
Noting she had just finished chatting to Judas Priest, the interviewer goes on to mention it’s not Poppy’s first time being nominated, referencing her nod for “Bloodmoney” in 2021.
“Really happy to be here again, would love to take home the Grammy for Knocked Loose and myself because I would be the first woman to win this award,” LaPlante added. “I actually haven’t looked at [how many women have been nominated previously] but I just always know that it’s time for one of us to win. I hope it’s me, or Spiritbox and Courtney.”
LaPlante then answered further questions under Poppy’s guise, referring to Knocked Loose’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a “huge moment for our scene”, and reflected on the lack of female representation in the metal category at the Grammys before handing back the microphone without incident.
Spiritbox formed in Canada in 2017 and released their debut album, Eternal Blue, four years later, with the record peaking at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and topping the Top Rock Albums chart.
In 2023, they issued their fourth EP, The Fear of Fear, with opening track “Jaded” giving them their first Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance in 2024. Their recently-nominated track, “Cellar Door”, was also lifted from the same EP. The band are currently slated to release their second full-length album, Tsunami Sea, in March.
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