Ever think the current wave of reincarnation isekai could be more… well… metal? Good news: now there’s one that is! Kasuga Ryo’s Isekai Metaller is coming from Titan Manga next month, bringing with it an unlikely fantasy hero. But don’t let his grim appearance fool you. His goal is to help everyone feel heard and understood.
Join us as we dive into the first volume of this new series. From heavy metal references to glam rock rivalries, we’ll tell you whether this new series strikes the right chord.
The Story
Isekai Metaller stars Alexi, a metalhead to the core whose band isn’t quite as enthused as he is. Once a shy boy, Alexi learned to express himself through heavy metal music. He dreams of reaching other people’s hearts in the same way, and he’s not about to give up that dream. But then he ends up getting electrocuted during a concert. Which, to be fair, is a pretty metal way to go out.
Rather than going to that big stage in the sky, Alexi awakens in a world of monsters and magic. On awakening, he also finds himself blessed with super-sick lightning powers. (D&D enjoyers, imagine a bard upcasting Thunder Wave, and that’s our boy.) With his Flying V and his thunder god abilities, he’s about to take this fantay world by storm.
A New World
The world of Isekai Metaller is full of leveled magic users, scary monsters, and (of course) demons. But when Alexi crosses paths with his first monsters, all he sees are his favorite metal album covers. He’s less inclined to kill these cool beasts and more interested in meeting them. Moreover, he still has his dream: opening hearts and letting people get in touch with their inner voices through the power of metal.
He’s even building a party! Together with a cute mage, a wolfman warrior, and an orphaned thief, he’s going to challenge this world’s biggest battles. He does want to go home eventually. But first, he wants to change things here. It’s a world where lower-leveled fighters are sacrificed for the “greater good.” But at level 999, Alexi isn’t going to stand for weaker parties giving their lives for stronger ones.
The Power of Music
As funny and cool as the plot of Isekai Metaller is, the best part is the heart and soul of it. Alexi catches a lot of grief, in this world and the other, for his creepy appearance. But deep down he has a good heart, and his music really can help the silent be heard. Even when he faces off with another reincarnated warrior—a glam rocker—he manages to find common ground.
The point, as Alexi puts it, isn’t what your music is. It’s whether you like it and whether it speaks to you. It doesn’t matter if it’s the “right” genre or if you’ve listened to “enough.” What matters is getting in touch with that inner voice. And that’s exactly what he wants to do for the Demon King: not fight, but jam. Will he manage? We’ll find out as the series goes on!