The modern bands that are paving the future of hard rock, according to Tom Morello
Tom Morello knows hard rock inside and out.
The spitting, riotous, infectious charge Rage Against the Machine brought to the alt scene was properly unheard of. ‘Killing in the Name’ was their debut single, but its lyrics – slamming police brutality and systemic racism – still land just as hard today. That furious, bone-rattling refrain, “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” has been belted out by thousands every bloody minute since.
Morello hasn’t slowed down. He is currently touring the US following a successful Canadian tour. He’s recently released a new solo single, ‘Soldier in the Army of Love’. He’s directing a documentary on Judas Priest, for Christ’s sake.
It seems Morello has his finger right on the pulse of music and politics. Recently, the musician deemed Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap “The Rage Against The Machine of now”. Sure enough, Kneecap quickly became the face of one of the most important lawsuits in recent history for the industry, after the British government attempted to sue them on terror charges for actions related to their pro-Palestinian activism. Sharon Osbourne even begged for their US visas to be revoked.
With all this being said, when Morello talks, you listen. And, last year, Morello officially chose the two bands he believed were paving the future of the genre before our very eyes. Speaking at the Hellfest24 press conference, Morello shared: “I will say some of the hardest rocking bands of the festivals that I’ve been at have been Babymetal and Nova Twins.”
He added of the two female-fronted bands: “Unapologetic, fearless with their own musical and personal style, and really able to sort of challenge the conventions of what hard rock music is and was in a way that points towards a better future for the genre.”
My first foray into the world of Babymetal was via a Bring Me The Horizon track. Their 2020 collaboration, ‘Kingslayer’, is both a reference to the best-selling video game, Call of Duty, and an ode to pushing limits in the name of what’s right. Push past the cringe (I’m sorry) and you’ll find a fizzing electronic-fused heavy metal track, where Oli Sykes spit-speaks a sharp opening, asking, “Hi, are you looking for the other side?”
Babymetal are ready to usher us into the other side on their explosive, addictive chorus, where they sing “Kingslayer, destroying castlеs in the sky / Kingslayer, forevermore the apple of my eye!” They flick between English and Japanese on the track, true to their Tokyo roots. Their discography includes incredible kawaii metal, infusing the cute and kitsch with power rock.
The first time I heard Nova Twins, coincidentally, I was at a Bring Me The Horizon concert. The British alt-rock duo consists of vocalist and guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South. Their music defies genre, spanning punk, rock, metal, hip-hop, and usually investigating themes such as race, identity, and power. If this isn’t enough to sway you, they have two Brit Award nominations under their sleeve.
Listen to Tom Morello. Give these two unique, female-first bands a spin. In the words of Babymetal: Welcome to the other side.
