PassCode - VIRTUAL

This year in metal idols kicked off with some heavy-hitters, like BiSH's "FAKE METAL JACKET" and BABYMETAL's "METAL RESISTANCE". PassCode is a relatively new group to a genre which is already young to begin with. They've been marking their place in metal idol history for only a couple of years, but fans have been anxiously awaiting a follow-up to their debut album "ALL is VANITY". That follow-up is finally here, in the form of "VIRTUAL".

We reviewed the lead single "AXIS" recently, using words like "digital hardcore" and "cyberpunk".

 I'm happy to report that the album is ALL ABOUT those concepts. From the opener "MOON PHASE", the album is packed with glitchy synths and bass drops. It's idol pop, but not as we know it. These songs are like the love child of dubstep and digital hardcore, with a healthy heap of black metal screams thrown in for good measure.

Singles like "Never Sleep Again" and "NINJA BOMBER" take us down the BABYMETAL route of pure pop metal bliss, before taking a turn for the more hardcore side of the spectrum. On an album where "weird" is the default, straightforward pop songs like "Dream Maker" and "Selfish Girl" end up as true outliers. At the end of the album we get the duo of the somber acoustic ballad "Don't leave me alone" and the gentle piano piece "You made my day".

"VIRTUAL" is really a mixed bag of genres and styles of pop music, making wild changes at every turn. Just when you think you understand PassCode, they make yet another unexpected shift. That dynamic keeps the album fresh and interesting, even in a world where "metal idol" is becoming just another archetype. I can't say this is my favorite album, as a lot of the songs don't stick very well with me, but I do think it's a unique and even brave album. PassCode aren't afraid to throw structure out the window and go with the flow. There's actually something here for everybody! It's a commendable and comprehensive sophomore effort from a group who is only getting better with time. If BABYMETAL is just a little too much "baby" and not enough "metal" for you, I highly recommend giving PassCode a listen. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

-Justin

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PassCode

Takashima Kaede (高嶋楓)
Imada Yuna (今田夢菜)
Minami Nao (南菜生)
Ogami Hinako (大上陽奈子)

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