IoMP 131: Versailles Philharmonic Quintet - Are They Rock or Metal?
Sometimes… the debate is over before it begins.
And this episode? Yeah. This is one of those times.
Collin and Tom dive into the theatrical, over-the-top world of Versailles Philharmonic Quintet, a band that blends visual kei aesthetics with soaring, symphonic power metal. Think elaborate costumes, dramatic flair, and music that feels like it belongs in the final boss fight of an RPG you never finished—but definitely watched on YouTube.
From the first listen, one thing becomes painfully clear:
This is metal. Like… aggressively metal.
Which raises an important question: What happens when a “Rock or Metal?” episode has no actual debate?
Well, you get one of the most self-aware—and unintentionally hilarious—episodes of the series so far.
Collin compares Versailles unfavorably to giants like Galneryus, while Tom leans into the band’s unique charm, arguing that their sound captures a distinctly Japanese blend of power metal and anime soundtrack energy.
Is it groundbreaking? Not really. Is it fun? Depends who you ask. But that’s where the conversation gets interesting. Because even when the answer is obvious, the why still matters.
If nothing else, this episode might just introduce you to a band you’ve never heard before—and that’s always a win.
Listen now and decide for yourself: Are they worth your time… or just another case of “sounds like every anime intro ever”?
DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.
Check out more from the Influencers of Metal Podcast!
It’s Van Halen Week on the Influencers of Metal Podcast! Collin and Tom continue their quest to find the most metal Guitar Hero game by diving into Guitar Hero: Van Halen.
Hear which records from Galneryus, Haserot, Protest the Hero, Left to Die, Motionless In White, and more survived the chaos on this month’s edition of “What Have You Been Listening To?”
Few bands have disrupted heavy music quite like The Hu. But does that make them rock... or metal?
Festival season has arrived, and so it’s time for us to explore some of the biggest festivals in the world.
Is Sleep Token one of modern metal's greatest success stories—or one of its most overhyped bands?
Collin, Tom and the Pumpkin Queen break down their June listens, listener recommendations, and the albums dominating their playlists — featuring everything from doom metal and hardcore to metalcore madness
Heavy metal didn’t appear overnight. It crawled out of the blues, turned up the distortion, and terrified everyone’s grandparents.
Collin and Tom are travelling to Uzbekistan to uncover one of the world’s lesser-known metal scenes.
Collin and Tom launch their new series “Is It Really a Subgenre?” by diving headfirst into the legendary meme known as Crabcore.
Guitar Hero 5 has Iron Maiden, Rammstein, Dethklok and Children of Bodom… but somehow still only clocks in at around 10% metal. So where does it rank in the “Most Metal Guitar Hero Game” tournament?
Collin and Tom dive into the weirdest, funniest, and most confusing metal covers ever recorded.
This time, metal’s most iconic duo talk about the metal bands they wish were still around.
Frozen Soul, Jungle Rot, Faith No More, Cryptosis, Venom, Castle Rat, and more take center stage in the May 2026 edition of “What Have You Been Listening To?”
Van Halen helped revolutionize guitar playing, inspired generations of metal musicians and laid some of the groundwork for the hair metal explosion — but does that make Van Halen a metal band?