Heroes & Villains - Metro Boomin

REVIEWED: December 3, 2022

We have been graced with yet again, another highly anticipated album. HEROES & VILLAINS is Metro Boomin’s sophomore studio album, succeeding his freshman project NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES in 2018. He has released notable collaboration projects in between these two, such as SAVAGE MODE II and Without Warning. 

The project opens with a Homelander sample and Morgan Freeman narration, amping up the intensity for what is to come. The Morgan Freeman narration takes a page out of the SAVAGE MODE II playbook and adds an element of flair to the project. It makes for pretty thematically intriguing intros and outros on tracks like On Me and Around Me.

HEROES & VILLAINS presents a masterclass in album sequencing. The seamless transitions between songs were incredibly satisfying to listen to. One such example is the transition from Metro Spider to I Can’t Save You. Another example is the flow from On Me to Superhero (Heroes & Villains). These transitions make you forget you are even listening to a new track.

The album cover and name were already enough for me to be invested before much was revealed. On theme with the project, he truly assembled the avengers of mainstream rap and R&B for his features. The features were revealed in the rollout. Individual comic book characters were designed for each of them, and it was incredibly cool. Honestly, I wouldn’t say I have any standout features, because all of them did a great job on their respective tracks. The short film was so well-produced and that was what got me fully interested in the album; I felt like I was watching a movie.

The project is the perfect length. It totals 15 songs, bringing it to a 48-minute run-time. I was able to listen to it in one sitting and this enhanced my listening experience for me. I was able to hear all of the transitions back to back and transport myself into the universe of the album. The story-building and investment into the world of the album are top-tier here.

The artistry and creativity that Metro Boomin displays in both the album rollout and the actual substance or content of his work are not only admirable but especially refreshing in an age of trend-following and staying within the box or comfort zone.

Although it was late to the game, it is looking steadfastly at the Album of The Year title. I love the beats on this project. This was a pleasant listen all in all. I found myself going back to relisten to the whole thing frequently since its release. I would recommend this project to anyone who either already appreciates Metro Boomin’s production ability or who listens to music from any of the features, namely Travis Scott and Don Toliver. Thank you so much for reading this week’s review, see you next week!