A New Collab Era…?

We’ve seen some monumental collaborative tracks over the years, from Machine Gun Kelly and Kellin Quinn (Machine Gun Kellin?) to Aerosmith and Run DMC, and many many others.

But, noticeably, the last few years have been gracious in the collab department, with Spiritbox and BABYMETAL both partnering with other big artists to bring us some immense spliced styles.

Photo credit: Jinger, Courtney LaPlante, and Poppy at Louder Than Life Festival. MrAthez

In 2023, Spiritbox released their first collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, in the form of “Cobra”, which was a remix of MTS’s original song. Later, in 2024, the duo released an original together called “TYG”.
Spiritbox have gone on to release more collaborative tracks with bands such as PVRIS, Jinjer, and also playing with Poppy at Louder Than Life Festival.

But Spiritbox haven’t been the only ones venturing into the unknown. BABYMETAL have been taking things to the next level with their list of collaborations, and this is also something that isn’t new to them. We can look back at 2016’s Alternative Press Music Awards where the band played live with Judas Priest’s Rob Halford for “Painkiller”. Perhaps this was where it all began for them.
BABYMETAL have collaborated with Bring Me The Horizon on the track “Kingslayer”, and with Bloodywood on “Bekhauf” and “Kon! Kon!” earlier this year. Their collab discography also includes Electric Callboy, Poppy, and Slaughter to Prevail. BABYMETAL also pop up in Corey Taylor's music video for “CMFT Must Be Stopped”.

Poppy and Bring Me The Horizon have also been busy in the studio with their other collaborators. Poppy’s collaboration with Knocked Loose, “Suffocate”, has become iconic in the alternative industry, breaking out on Jimmy Kimmel Live - and causing havoc in the process. Excellent. BMTH, alongside “Kingslayer”, have released songs with YUNGBLUD, Ed Sheeran, and Grimes.

So, in terms of what we’re trying to get at here, other than list off a ton of awesome music, is delve into the sudden burst of collaborations. With Spiritbox, Poppy and BABYMETAL certainly taking the titles at the moment for most marketed and collab tracks, we wonder what’s going on on the other side of it all. These alliances can be great ways to inject new fans into a band’s remit, but we think there’s more to it than that.
Perhaps this is just a new wave of exploring artistry, being genre defiant, or showing support for one another in an industry that is struggling in so many areas. We sometimes need reminders that music builds community, and if our favourite bands can show us that they too are coming together to do something awesome then so can we.

Personally…I would like to see a Courtney LaPlante and Poppy collab, after the interview we all saw…you know the one.