There’s a band that I absolutely cannot stop listening to at the moment.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, Babymetal have been at it for a few years now, earning that coveted ‘Youtube sensation’ tag with the song Gimme Chocolate in 2014. Their unique mix of Metal music and J-Pop vocals initially appeals to those like my myself whose car stereo would sound like the seventh layer of hell one week, and the next like I’ve just been shopping in Tokyo.

But somehow Babymetal have also captured a wider audience, most recently making an appearance on Stephen Colbert. They’ve earned the praises of some big wigs in the traditional Metal circles, including Metallica, Slayer, Trivium, Dragonforce and Anthrax.

Although, depending on where you spend your time on Social Media outlets, you would get the feeling that this particular brand of metal (yes, I’m calling them that, because they are metal, and I’ll get to that later) isn’t well liked in certain circles.

And right here is where we get to my most favorite part of Babymetal.

Sure, they’ve got the riffs that make you think you’ve accidentally bought a Lamb Of God album. They got the vocals that wouldn’t be out of place on a Magical Girl anime. They’ve even got the image and stage presence that, honestly, is just so Japan.

But the best part about this group is the reaction it invokes from those who I would but in the stereotyping basket of “Metal Hipsters.” These aren’t your typical modern hipsters – sure, they’ve probably got the beard – but rather than the vegan-praising, V-neck-shirt-wielding, Vampire-Weekend-worshipping image that most people recognise, Metal Hipsters only listen to one genre of Metal (yes, even though it all stems from the same four Black Sabbath riffs,) have single-handedly kept the IPA brewing industry in business, are filled to the neck with heterosexual testosterone, and will more than likely have a very vocal opinion on the state of the Metal scene and how mainstream has helped bands make a decent living corrupted the genre, which they will leap at every opportunity to cram down your throat.

Let me tell you, I have never seen the thought of three teenage girls contributing to the future of Heavy Metal shrink so much male genitalia.

Babymetal scares the shit out of these macho metalheads. It’s draws their ire because it’s so freaking different to them. That, of course, is where the irony kicks in – the very definition of Metal, at least I believe, is that of music that’s ‘Different’ and goes against the grain of what is perceived as ‘normal’ music. Babymetal freaks these guys out man.

But rather than just ignoring it and continuing to listen to their usual four riffs over and over and never embracing any other type of music ever, these Metal Hipsters have made it their mission, similar to that of an elderly person complaining about sex on the ABC, to let you know in no uncertain terms what they consider is ‘Metal’ and how Babymetal ‘is ruining the industry.’ Thankfully their only outlet for their rage is Social Media. This is were it gets amusing for me, as I swear music news outlets such as Metal Hammer must get a bit of a kick in posting regular updates on the band just to get a reaction, as hours of fun can be had sifting through the hilariously irrational arguments, ranging from a simple misspelt ‘theyz sux bro’ to full essays underlining their outrage that a band like Babymetal dares to share a stage with the likes of <insert-band-with-indecipherable-logo-here>.

One of the most brilliantly illogical one-liners I saw recently was one guy who professed something along the lines of “I refuse to listen to something that comes from a Talent Management company.” I didn’t have the heart to point out to this guy that that’s how most bands are managed nowadays. That’s like saying he didn’t like Babymetal because they were smart enough to hire legal and financial representation.

I’m glad a band like Babymetal exists. At the risk of sounding hypocritical (I don’t have the beard,) The fact that such a unique concept like Babymetal exists puts me at ease about the real state of the music industry – because as long as we’ve got new and interesting concepts coming from the rock and roll camp, it saves us from a world overtaken by Kanye West and dance music festivals.

Also, hopefully ‘Youtube sensations’ will produce a lot more of this and a lot less of that Friday song. Remember that one? That was a dark moment in music, kids.