Writing this article has taught me two things, metal’s diversity is it’s greatest strength and isn’t going anywhere, it’s evolving into something bigger than it ever was in my ’80s heyday.

For the past few years, my 4^th of July has been a parade followed by a cookout and a dip in the pool. This year was different, after the drinks and fireworks, I settled down on my couch and prepared myself for the ultimate send off, Back To The Beginning, the final show of metal legend Ozzy Osbourne.

I was able to do this because my best friend, Roger Schultz, is a huge Ozzy fan. He’d watched the livestream the previous day and sent me the link. Honestly, I thought about reviewing the event but nowadays Black Sabbath is a bunch of old dudes who can still get up there and jam. If you were expecting something else, you’d be massively disappointed.

What watching this event which featured bands like Metallica, Lamb of God, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera and Mastodon, got me thinking. What’s the future of heavy metal? Nobody has released anything relevant in years and the members of these bands are nearly as old as Sabbath. Who’s going to carry the torch?

I used to think metal could regain the notoriety it once held in the ’80s with multiple genres dominating both the mainstream and underground but now, I’m not so sure. Today’s metal musicians have an uphill battle in gaining mainstream success. In my mind they can only succeed in one of two ways: Re-create the mystique the metal gods once held or collaborate with as many micro-genres as you can until you gain a type of ‘universal acceptance’.

Metal used to hold a mystique unheard of in other styles of music. It was more than stage makeup or a mask, these artists were a complete mystery. We saw their pictures in a magazine or on the back of an album cover but only knew them through magazine interviews or antics we saw on stage. It was a fascination crushed by social media outlets, but things appear to be coming full circle with new acts once again trying to capitalize on the unknown.

SLEEP TOKEN – Is from London, England. The group was established back in 2016 and has already released 4 full length albums, the most recent, Even in Arcadia, which was released in May of this year. Since their inception, members of Sleep Token have sought remain anonymous, wearing masks to hide their true identity from the public. They are said to be united in their devotion of an ancient deity identified as Sleep, who supposedly appeared to the band’s lead singer, Vessel, in a dream. As of this writing, band members have still not spoken onstage, and have only done a single, Vessel with Metal Hammer – 2017, interview. Additionally, the group uses social media platforms like Instagram and Tic Toc to hype their music, engaging fans with release information and unreleased tracks.

If there is a knock to Sleep Token it can be found in their music. Followers of this genre are reluctant to call this band metal. Defined as alternative or progressive metal with influences from various other genres such as metalcore, R&B and pop rock. The jury is still out, distorted guitars and occasional blast beats do not necessarily equal the extreme but as Sleep Token continues to share the bill with seasoned metal acts, the line of acceptance will surely be blurred.

GHOST – Is a band from Linköping, Sweden, established back in 2006. They are known for combining heavy metal with big arena rock.

Just like Sleep Token, Ghost’s members are all anonymous, known as ‘Nameless Ghouls’, they cover their faces with masks during live performances. Although they participate in interviews, their true identity is never revealed. The members of the band have changed throughout the years. Musical celebrities such as Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) have been rumored to have played the part of a ‘Namless Ghoul’. The lead vocalist, now known as Tobias Forge, has performed under numerous personas which change with each subsequent album and tours. Forge’s identity as Ghost’s vocalist would have remained a secret if not for a 2017 lawsuit over band royalties.

Ghost has released 6 albums to date with the most recent being Skeletá, which was released in April of this year. The album reached number one on the Billboard top 200. Ghost has evolved into a musical juggernaut, but I’d argue they are really Mercyful Fate at their roots, just listen to Opus Eponymous, and tell me I’m wrong. This ghost can’t be exorcised. The anti-pope and his ghouls are here to stay.

Babymetal – Is a kawaii metal band from Tokyo, Japan formed in 2010. Kawaii metal is a genre of music that blends elements of heavy metal and J-pop, creating a combination of Eastern and Western influences that appeals to both cultures. The members of Babymetal do not play instruments, their vocals are backed by a group of musicians known as the “Kami Band”. The group has released four studio albums so far with number five, Metal Forth, just unveiled last month. Back in May, Babymetal became the first Japanese artist to headline and sell out a show at the O2 Arena in London. The ninth-largest live-venue building in the world by volume, the stadium boasts a capacity of twenty thousand.

Babymetal differs greatly in their approach to success from the previous two bands, relying not on mystique but on the ultimate form of collaboration. Babymetal works with everyone, regardless of what metal musical genre they inhabit, example of past/present associations include: Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, Aleksandr “Alex Terrible” Shikolai and Slaughter To Prevail, Oli Sykes and Bring Me The Horizon as well as more rock-oriented groups such as Electric Callboy, Polyphia, Bloodywood and Spiritbox. This approach has led to enormous success. In America for example, Metal Resistance was the first album by a Japanese band to chart in the Billboard Top 40 in over 50 years.

Babymetal is a band on the rise and their desire for universal acceptance will grow if the band continues their musical partnerships and constantly promotes new material. The biggest question about this group has always been, is this band metal? I think any band who algins themselves with groups like Bring Me The Horizon or Slaughter To Prevail answers that question as a resounding, yes!

Writing this article has taught me two things, metal’s diversity is it’s greatest strength and isn’t going anywhere, it’s evolving into something bigger than it ever was in my ’80s heyday. I truly believe if Sleep Token and Babymetal become the high profile acts we expect, the underground bands will prosper simply because there will always be opposition to the mainstream. Just like the popularity of glam metal promoted thrash, the purists will fuel the fire against popularity, allowing metal to regain its foothold in the world.

Black Sabbath may have helped invent metal but it’s future rests in hands of groups who understand its history and place in the world. \m/