IoMP 114: LADYBABY - Are They Rock or Metal?
Metal fans love rules… and then love breaking them even more.
In the first Are They Rock or Metal? episode of 2026, Collin and Tom take on one of the most confusing, chaotic, and weirdly heavy bands to ever explode out of Japan: LADYBABY. On paper, this should be a disaster—kawaii aesthetics, idol energy, and a history that includes a massive pro wrestler in a schoolgirl outfit. In reality? It might be way more metal than you’re ready to admit.
This episode isn’t just about deciding whether LADYBABY belongs in the metal camp—it’s about why visuals don’t negate heaviness, how intention matters more than aesthetics, and why metal has always thrived on upsetting people who take it too seriously. Along the way, Collin and Tom spiral into LADYBABY’s origins, the Babymetal comparison, the wrestler-frontman era, and the sheer cultural whiplash that made the band impossible to ignore in the first place.
Expect unfiltered opinions, unhinged tangents, and a verdict that feels obvious by the end—but only after the debate gets gloriously out of hand. If you’ve ever argued about genre labels, rolled your eyes at “novelty bands,” or secretly enjoyed something you swore couldn’t be metal… this episode is absolutely for you.
Hit play. Get uncomfortable. Because LADYBABY is metal, and the explanation is way more fun than the answer.
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