MANGA REVIEW: Isekai Metaller Vol. 1

ISEKAI METALLER Vol. 1
by Kasuga Ryo
Available October 14

So anyway, there's a lot of isekai out there. It's not like it's anything new. Traveling to other worlds is a staple of fantasy fiction. But it's absolutely become a major trend in light novels, manga, and anime in recent years. A few years ago, a prominent light novel contest even put a ban on reincarnation isekai specifically. (This was only for one years, and it's clearly a ruling that didn't last.

In other words, we're to the point where the genre is saturated and we can mess around. There are a handful of ways this can be done interestingly and specifically: trade revenge plots for "slow life" stories, create a story that examines the tropes and pitfalls of isekai, or just shoot an absolute wildcard into a fantasy world and see what happens. Isekai Metaller is the third of these. And while it's probably not going to convert you to enjoying isekai if you're already burned out on it, it is a very fun twist on the concept.

Enter Alexi, who goes out in the most hardcore way imaginable: getting electrocuted at his band's farewell gig. He wakes up in a fantasy world full of dragons, monsters, and magic. Or, in Alexi's mind, the sort of imagery you'd see on awesome metal album covers. He's also got his trust Flying V with him, meaning he can still shred. And, as it happens, his love of music and his metal skills make him a force to be reckoned with. Accompanied by the usual suspects of fantasy-adventure stories, Alexi sets out to share his love of metal with the inhabitants of a whole other world.

First and foremost: yes, Kasuga Ryo's art absolutely does cash all the checks he writes. The fight scenes look epic, the monsters look sick, and you can definitely believe that Alexi would be geeking out about the creatures he encounters. With so much of the story's payoff resting on the shared aesthetic of high fantasy and heavy metal, the art has to do a lot of heavy lifting. And it really, really does.

The most enchanting thing about Isekai Metaller, though, is Alexi's personal story. Why did he choose this style of music to devote his life to? What does it mean to him? Anyone who knows (or is) a metalhead knows that there's a lot of heart and soul under the screaming, and that heartfelt connection is what he's out to share. The first volume, as is the case with most manga, is mostly setup. But if Isekai Metaller can keep its heart, it could be a very, very fun addition to the growing catalogue of isekai stories.

TEA PAIRING: The Dune-inspired rooibos blend Spice Chai Mélange is both very spicy and very relaxing — a perfect pairing for Alexi's journey. Use my code KARA15 to get 15% of this and other blends from Chapters Tea and Co.!