{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Metalhorse | type = studio | artist = Billy Nomates | cover = Billy Nomates – Metalhorse.jpg | released = {{Start date|2025|05|16|df=y}} | genre = | studio = * Paco Loco (El Puerto de Santa María) * Invada (Bristol)<ref name="Liner" /> | length = 36:30 | label = Invada | producer = James Trevascus | prev_title = Cacti | prev_year = 2023 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles|name=Metalhorse|type=studio|single1=The Test|single1date=5 March 2025}} }} '''''Metalhorse''''' is the third studio album by English musician Billy Nomates.<ref name="AM">{{Cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |title=''Metalhorse'' – Billy Nomates |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/metalhorse-mw0004484471 |access-date=17 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> It was released on 16 May 2025, by Invada Records, in CD, digital, vinyl, and cassette formats.<ref name="LTW">{{Cite web |last=Plummer |first=Robert |date=12 May 2025 |title=Billy Nomates: Metalhorse – Album Review |url=https://louderthanwar.com/billy-nomates-metalhorse-album-review/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Louder Than War |language=en-GB}}</ref> The album received favourable ratings from multiple publications including ''Clash''.
==Background== Incorporating elements of synth-pop, punk, blues, country, folk, and electro, the album revolves around the themes of loss and insecurity.<ref name="CM">{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Emma |date=15 May 2025 |title=Billy Nomates – ''Metalhorse'' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/billy-nomates-metalhorse/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Clash |language=en-GB}}</ref> It consists of eleven songs ranging between one and five minutes each with a total runtime of approximately thirty-six minutes, and it was produced by James Trevascus. It was preceded by Nomates' 2023 record, ''Cacti''. "The Test" was released as the album's lead single on 5 March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chelosky |first=Danielle |date=5 March 2025 |title=Billy Nomates Announces New Album ''Metalhorse'': Hear "The Test" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2299187/billy-nomates-announces-new-album-metalhorse-hear-the-test/music/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Music ratings |rev1=AllMusic |rev1score={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AM" /> |rev2=''Clash'' |rev2score={{Rating|9|10}}<ref name="CM" /> |rev3=''Dork'' |rev3score={{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Dork" /> |rev4=''The Line of Best Fit'' |rev4score={{Rating|7|10}}<ref name="TLoBF" /> |rev5=''Louder Than War'' |rev5score={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="LTW" /> |rev6=''Mojo'' |rev6score={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Mojo" /> |rev7=''MusicOMH'' |rev7score={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Momh" /> }} The album was given a rating of nine out of ten by Emma Harrison of ''Clash'', who described it as "an emotionally resonant piece of work that is vital, vivid and showcases why Billy NoMates is an undisputed 'Tor' de force."<ref name="CM" /> It was given four stars and referred to as "testimony to the fact that whatever doesn't kill you does indeed make you stronger," by British magazine ''MusicOMH''.<ref name="Momh">{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=John |date=16 May 2025 |title=Billy Nomates – ''Metal Horse'' |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/billy-nomates-metal-horse |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=MusicOMH |language=en-GB}}</ref> AllMusic described the album as "inspiring and often brilliant," rating it four out of five.<ref name="AM" />
''Mojo'' referred to it as "Maries' best yet," giving it a four-star rating.<ref name="Mojo">{{Cite news |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=June 2025 |title=''Metalhorse'' |url=https://archive.org/details/mojo-june-2025/page/88 |work=Mojo |pages=88 |via=Archive.org}}</ref> ''Louder Than War'' rated the album four out of five, noting "The ambition and scope of this record will take many by surprise."<ref name="LTW" /> ''The Line of Best Fit'' gave it seven out of ten and remarked, "''Metalhorse'' largely succeeds in conveying the pushing and pulling through life."<ref name="TLoBF">{{Cite web |last=Lepore |first=Dom |date=13 May 2025 |title=Billy Nomates: ''Metalhorse'' review – flavourful experience |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/billy-nomates-metalhorse-carnival-ride |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref>
The album was given a rating of three out of five by ''Dork'', which stated, "The album's conceptual framework – that crumbling funfair metaphor – provides a perfect backdrop for exploring life's precarious thrills and inevitable losses."<ref name="Dork">{{Cite web |last=Ellison |first=Jordan |date=14 May 2025 |title=Billy Nomates – ''Metalhorse'' |url=https://readdork.com/albums/billy-nomates-metalhorse/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Dork |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing |headline=''Metalhorse'' track listing |all_writing=Tor Maries |title1=Metalhorse |length1=4:49 |title2=Nothin Worth Winnin |length2=3:14 |title3=The Test |length3=3:50 |title4=Override |length4=3:28 |title5=Dark Horse Friend |length5=3:30 |note5=featuring Hugh Cornwell |title6=Life's Unfair |length6=1:58 |title7=Plans |length7=3:14 |title8=Gas |length8=3:10 |title9=Comedic Timing |length9=3:34 |title10=Strange Gift |length10=2:54 |title11=Moon Explodes |length11=2:49 |total_length=36:30 }}
==Personnel== Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="Liner">{{cite AV media notes |title=Metalhorse |others=Billy Nomates |date=May 16, 2025 |publisher=Invada Records}}</ref> * Tor Maries – vocals, piano, synthesiser, guitars, co-production * Mandy Clarke – bass * Liam Chapman – drums, percussion * Hugh Cornwell – backing vocals on "Dark Horse Friend" * James Trevascus – production, recording, mixing, engineering * Justin Perkins – mastering * Paco Martinez – engineering assistance * Stu Matthews – engineering assistance * Tom Skipp – art direction, design, photography * Naomi Lake – makeup
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Metalhorse'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Scotland|23|date=20250523|rowheader=true|access-date=24 May 2025}} |- {{album chart|UKDigital|9|date=20250523|rowheader=true|access-date=24 May 2025}} |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|4|date=20250523|rowheader=true|access-date=24 May 2025}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:2025 albums Category:Invada Records albums Category:Billy Nomates albums