Take a break from reading the millionth review of the new Metallica album and let's discuss metal. As a metal community outsider who values the music over however many writers it took to make it, I'll like to get your opinion. This was inspired by the band in the title and will be the focus of the writing. Thank you in advance for the read if you do chose to.

With two albums and several world tours under their belts, BABYMETAL has taken the metal world by storm. That doesn't exclude this band from controversy, however. Many metal fans have accused the band of not being metal at all and have even said that they are the worst thing to happen to metal. These types of comments are especially apparent on the video of BABYMETAL performing with Judas Priest frontman, Rob Halford.

BABYMETAL & Rob Halford - Painkiller, Breaking The Law

This video takes, like, a minute to start, I deeply apologize.

Why the dislike for this band? I think it stems from two reasons. The obvious one being the J-Pop vocals and melodies laced over their metal instrumentals.

BABYMETAL - ギミチョコ！！- Gimme chocolate!! (OFFICIAL)

The second reason is that they are, essentially, a Japanese idol band. Being that style of band, the three idol members do not play instruments, do not write their own music or lyrics, and the band itself is manufactured, brought together under their label to make music. It's completely manufactured and designed for chart success.

BABYMETAL - ド・キ・ド・キ☆モーニング - Doki Doki☆Morning (OFFICIAL)

To dwell on the former reason, I think it's rather unfair to say BABYMETAL isn't a metal band based solely off their sound. I am of the opinion that if they were not known in the larger metal community, they would be another Experimental/Avant Garde Metal band. However, due to their popularity and the band themselves pushing to make BABYMETAL a genre (Kawaii Metal), they are not seen as experimental, but rather trendy.

Take Carnival in Coal, for instance. They are a band of the aforementioned experimental genre that, in this song at least, have a prominent disco sound in their music. How is this different from BABYMETAL?

Don't be happy, worry

You would think that J-Pop and Disco are on the opposite side of the metal spectrum. To further pushed the notion of BABYMETAL being an experimental metal band, the employ many different genres on their newest release, Metal Resistance.

Their new album features a song of a nu metal sound

BABYMETAL - KARATE (OFFICIAL)

A song of a folk metal sound

Meta Taro

A song of a power metal sound as it features some members from Dragonforce

BABYMETAL - Road of Resistance - Live in Japan (OFFICIAL)

And a song of a thrash metal sound, just to name a few

BABYMETAL - Sis. Anger

This proves nothing but the fact that this band is experimental, and in fact, metal. If you disagree over their sound not being metal, then you would have to consider bands like Carnival in Coal and the such that incorporate traditionally non-metal genres and instruments in their music as not being metal as well.

The latter reason is an interesting one, which I know some of you share by the way this community talks about selling out. BABYMETAL was not made organically. Three girls from already existing idol groups were put together to play this music. None of the members even knew what metal was before they were put together.

If you are of the opinion that metal is all about being organic and not selling out, then I can't change your mind and won't bother. But, I will ask you, as someone who is rather an outsider of this community and mostly just listens to that experimental metal shit, why is it so important that a band is organic? I agree, I would rather listen to a band who writes their own music and plays their own instruments, but, if the music is good, why let who writes what stop you?

The question I'm asking is directed towards those in the metal community who do not think that BABYMETAL is metal. Why is a band with an obvious metal sound and a love for the genre not metal? And if it because of their manufactured way of doing things, why does that matter?