Coolđ
– Corey Taylor
If there’s one thing we need more of in the world right now, it’s laughter – and that’s exactly what Nanowar of Steel delivers with their latest album, “Dislike To False Metal”. With their blend of parody-infused heavy metal, the band takes listeners on a wild ride through a multitude of metal subgenres, showcasing their talents and endless imagination.
Even though they venture into other musical territories, I personally am glad to see that the guys have preserved a considerable amount of folk metal on this particular record. But it’s not all fun and games. Along with the comedy, the band also tackles serious topics like the keyboard warriors on tracks like ‘Metal Boomer Battalion’ (albeit with their trademark comedic twist).
And now, we dive into a little bit of that folk metal I was referring to. But First, I want to start off by saying, I personally love pirate metal, it’s one of my favorite subgenres of folk metal. There’s something about the over-the-top cheesy repetitiveness ridiculousness of it that just really appeals to me. It’s like I have the taste buds of someone who listens to mainstream American radio featuring nothing but bro country, but for pirate metal instead. Red renaissance gowns, big ships, and rum are my version of blue jeans, big trucks, and cold beer.
However, I do have to admit that the genre can at times wear out its welcome pretty quickly. While I’m not speaking about individual bands specifically, the genre as a whole seems to be stuck in the wacky world of Disney-fied Treasure Island, rather than the more actual metal Michael Bay Black Sails space. And yes, I just said Michael Bay and metal in the same sentence.
Look, Iâm not trying to become an honorary member of the Metal Boomer Battalion with this hot take, Iâm just saying it’s almost hard to take pirate metal seriously because of this. I think it’s in need of some sort of kick to bring it into a more serious direction. It needs a non landlubbing Amon Amarth.
That being said, I don’t think it was Nanowar of Steels’ intention to play 4D chess with “Sober,” but thatâs what we got. The track is a clever parody of a genre that’s already kind of a parody of itself. Itâs hard to write a great song, itâs extremely hard to write comedy, and itâs some next level inception type task to write a comedy song thatâs a parody about a style thatâs a parody within parodies. But they did it, and by Blackbeards black beard, they nailed it.
I appreciate the way the song takes on those familiar tropes of pirate metal, but replaces them with a more health-conscious twist. Instead of alcohol, we have water, and instead of cannonballs, we have kettlebells. It’s a cleverly done and well-crafted track that promotes a healthier lifestyle. Nicely done, and a great opener.
âWinterStorm in the Nightâ might sound like a great little symphonic track youâd find on a Kamleot album, but the soulful, contemplative, and poetic lyrics about dandruff can only be pulled off by these Italian wordsmiths. What makes it even better is having the amazingly talented Madeleine Liljenstam of Eleine joining in as a guest adding to that symphonic authenticity .Overall, I think “Winterstorm In The Night” is one of my favorite tracks on the album.
As for the third track, I must say that Nanowar Of Steel has done the impossible by reviving disco through a metal anthem, despite punk rock’s supposed killing blow over 45 years ago, and Ghostâs best attempts at trying to make it a thing again.
“Disco Metal” is a track that left me reaching for the lyrics sheet, not only to translate some of the Italian but also due to the overwhelming audio effects and pitch manipulation. It’s scary to think that those effects are almost indistinguishable from what you might hear on the Billboard top 10.I canât help but wonder if my grasp of over-the-top autotune will ever match my understanding of death growls.
Muscle Memories is a song that takes on the 80s glam metal hair ballad style and adds a humorous twist. It tells the story of a gym goer who becomes so obsessed with his physique that his narcissistic tendencies end up causing him to lose everything, except for his gains of course. The lyrics are cleverly written and the music captures the essence of the genre it parodies.
While the song is definitely funny, there’s also a deeper message that I think can be applied to life. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsessing over one’s appearance and neglecting other aspects of life. So in a way, itâs a reminder that balance is important and that there’s more to life that just living in the gym 24/7.
Clocking in at almost 10 minutes, “Chupacabra Cadabra” is the progressive parody which is a unique and ambitious track on the album. It’s impressive how Nanowar Of Steel is able to seamlessly fuse different genres and languages into one cohesive song. The use of traditional Mexican instruments such as the trumpet adds to the authenticity of the mariachi sound, giving it that folk metal Nanowar Of Steel twist.
The length of the song may be daunting for some, then again, isn’t most progressive metal? After all, that’s why we love it, and how else do we get that full exploration of the different musical elements and themes. Overall, “Chupacabra Cadabra” is a just yet another standout track on the album.
Pasadena 1994 is for sure going to be a fan favorite, and itâs also the last single off the album . It’s a power metal ode to an iconic moment in history, what went down at the 1994 World Cup. And who better to have on the track singing about history than Joakim BrodĂ©n, the powerhouse vocalist of Sabaton. The song is a storytelling masterpiece for those that follow football and are familiar with what happened that fateful day. It features Joakim and the Nanowar guys acting as commentators, reenacting each intense moment.
The track is full of infectious energy and power, with a driving beat and soaring guitars that are sure to get your heart racing before watching the game, which is on Youtube in full by the way. From the opening riff, it’s clear that this is a Sabaton-inspired power metal banger, with all the epicness and grandeur that entails. The lyrics are a perfect match for the music, recounting the dramatic events of the 1994 World Cup in vivid detail, and bringing to life the passion and excitement of that historic moment.
If youâre going to parody Sabaton, asking the man himself to join in the track makes perfect sense. Joakim’s powerful voice is perfectly suited to the grandeur and drama of their power metal, and he brings a level of intensity and passion to the track, while trading off vocals with the guys makes it just chef’s kiss levels of perfection.
But it’s not just the vocals that make Pasadena 1994 such a great track. The guitar work is equally impressive, with an incredible solo. Pasadena 1994 is a true work of art here from a parody standpoint. A war themed reenactment of World Cups is something we need more of.
If It wasn’t for the fact that I love all forms of metal (see my pirate metal rant earlier in this review) and the fact I’m a believer in building things up rather than tearing them down, I would almost feel personally attacked by Metal Boomer Battalion. Thankfully, youth is still on my side, sorta.
Metal Boomer Battalion is a hilarious take on the gatekeepers of metal music, those who claim that only certain types of metal are worthy and refuse to listen to anything new or different. It’s a common phenomenon in the metal community, and Nanowar Of Steel has brilliantly captured the essence of these individuals in this track.
The lyrics are filled with clever and funny lines, such as the reference to having more patches than Windows 98, and the idea of vocalizing their decisions to unfollow and unsubscribe. The mention of Corey Taylor’s opinion is also a nice touch. Which reminds me of our April fools park some years ago, when so much chaos ensued among our non rock readers and confusions among publicist of non heavy genres, when I wrote a script that changed the title of every article on the site to âWhat Corey Taylor thinks aboutâŠâ and then followed by the actual title. So I appreciate anytime we get a mention of Corey Taylor’s opinion on anything
But I digress, and with that said, Metal Boomer Battalion is hilarious. There is a lot of comedy with both obvious and obscure references on this album, but I think this might be the track that resonates the most with the metal community, as we all see the MBB out in full force every day.
As we come to the end of the album, we are greeted with a trio of songs that are just as unique and entertaining as the rest. “Dimmu Boogie” combines metal with a sock hop rhythm and style, resulting in a track that’s catchy. I have to say, Iâve heard metal fused with a lot of styles, but sock hop has got to be a first for me. Great blend of sounding retro and modern.
Protocols (of the Elders of Zion) of Love” takes things in a completely different direction with its boy band-style love ballad. The lyrics are filled with conspiracy theories and the bizarre world for the terminally online, yet the song somehow manages to be both hilarious and charming at the same time. The album closes with “The Power of Imodium,” a fitting fantasy power metal track that features soaring vocals and epic guitar solos. So far, the guys have done a great job of hitting many styles of metal, and I love the mix of power and folk especially.
“Dislike to False Metal” is a hilariously entertaining album that showcases Nanowar of Steel’s unique brand of humor-infused metal. The album’s tracks list cover a wide range of styles, from power metal to folk metal to progressive metal, and even venture into unexpected territory like sock hop and boy band pop. Each song is well-crafted and performed with precision, making it clear that the band takes their music seriously even when they’re making fun of themselves and the metal genre as a whole.
The album’s standout tracks for me include Winterstorm in the Night, which is so good, youâll forget itâs a parody if you zone out. Then again, Madeleine is so good at her craft, anything she sings about will make you take it seriously. “Pasadena 1994,” is also another top one for me, which boasts a guest appearance by Sabaton’s Joakim BrodĂ©n and delivers a thrilling retelling of the 1994 World Cup. Sober, is also another one Iâll have on repeat. However, every song on the album has its own charm and offers something. Like I said, this is really an album with no dull tracks. It’s just a fantastic album.
Whether they’re poking fun at metal elitists or spinning wild tales about mythical creatures, the band never takes themselves too seriously, making for a refreshing and entertaining addition to the metal scene. I would go as far as to say Nanowar of Steel has outdone themselves with Dislike to False Metal – it’s a hilariously clever and musically impressive album that showcases the band’s ability to make headbanging metal, while making us laugh.