Album Review: Metalite - A Virtual World

As pop and metal have continued to fuse together in some places, we've had to come to terms with understandings of music we might not want to. Namely, when we have bands seamlessly integrating modern pop into modern metal, it shows us the two approaches to music are not that different, no matter how much either side might grouse. Modern metal is largely built on rhythms, and so too is modern pop, so it makes sense the two can be mixed together. We've heard Amaranthe master the art, and Metalite wants to make their claim, although they look not just to pop, but to trance. That could make things rather.... interesting.

The title track starts things off with hints of that promise. The synths and electronics filling the background do have the gloss and tone of trance music, but thankfully the song doesn't go further down that path. It doesn't get bogged down in repetition, there's still enough metal to keep things moving, and the hook tries hard to be a sticky bit of pop. "Cloud Connected" is even cheerier, with synths that try to overload us with sugary sounds. The band comes out of the gates with the tempos high, storming through the songs with the manic energy of a rave.

I actually think that works against them. They are moving so fast the songs don't have time to settle in and find their legs. It's straight from one bit to the next, always running at top speed. It might be in the name of keeping up the energy and excitement, but it's also tiring when I want the songs to have a bit more groove or swing to them. You can't exactly bang your head to songs when they're moving too fast, and unless I drink a pot of coffee before listening to this record, I think some of these songs would be better served just a few beats slower. That would also give Erica Ohlsson a bit more room for her vocals, because there are times when her voice can't resonate because the next line has to come out so quickly.

After a few songs, it can get tiring to try to keep pace with the music. By the time we get to "Peacekeepers", and it's inane chorus of "peacekeepers, keepers of peace", I'm ready for a break in the action, and we're only halfway through the album. Just like slow albums can test our patience, fast albums can do the same thing. It's hard to focus on everything that's happening when it comes and goes before we sometimes can even process what we just heard.

And for as much as the band is trying to blend pop and metal, I'm not sure how well they do it. The sound is tight, and the songs do sound like pop songs with heavy musical backdrops, but the hooks largely don't stay with me. The best pop songs are addictive, and Metalite's don't strike me that way. I said the same thing when their previous album came out. When I compare them to what Amaranthe is doing with a similar set-up, the difference is clear and obvious to my ears. Even when Amaranthe is ridiculous, every song has a huge and infectious chorus. Metalite is a step behind them.

That doesn't mean they're bad, because they're not, but it also means I'm not going to be wowed when I have recently heard the same thing done quite a bit better. Metalite is great for an adrenaline-pumping burst of pop metal, if that's what you're looking for. That doesn't quite fit my personality, so as much as I do love pop and metal coming together, Metalite isn't able to fully win me over.