Gatekeeping Won’t save metal
Metal has always had its walls. From the outside looking in, it’s loud, aggressive, and intimidating. But from the inside, the culture has long thrived on one thing: community.
Mosh pits were never just about chaos, they were about trust. Metal scenes weren’t just about “who’s the heaviest”, they were about belonging. Yet lately, a new wave of metal fans seems more interested in gatekeeping than growing the scene; especially when it comes to who’s “allowed” to like what.
Every time I open TikTok or Reddit, I see the same tired cycle: someone posts about how much they love Sleep Token, Deftones, or Bring Me the Horizon to name a few, and immediately the comments flood in.
“That’s not real metal.” “Cringe.” “Poser.” Congratulations, you hate something popular. Do you want us to throw a party?
It’s this weird obsession with deciding what counts as true metal and what’s “mainstream trash.” But here’s the thing, literally every “true metalhead” started with something more accessible.
Nobody’s first album was some obscure Norwegian black metal demo pressed in someone’s basement. For a lot of us, it was bands like Slipknot, Linkin Park, Korn, Deftones, or even Metallica. And you know what? That’s completely fine. That’s how people get into the genre. Not to mention how absolutely talented those bands are.
The bullying is so bad it feels like middle school all over again. Fans who admit they like Sleep Token get dogpiled for being “TikTok kids” or “Booktok weirdos". Deftones stans get clowned for being “soft” or “sad girl metal.” BMTH listeners get written off as if enjoying a band with catchy choruses is some kind of crime.
Also, the presence of sexism is still alive and well while these gatekeepers are primarily targeting women.
It’s not just elitist, it’s boring.
And honestly? It’s kind of missing the whole point of metal.
Metal is supposed to be about freedom, rebellion, self-expression. Screaming in a room full of strangers. Feeling something heavy shake your ribcage. None of that requires passing some purity test.
If Sleep Token’s moody slow-burn tracks make someone feel something, that’s just as valid as someone finding release in blast beats or growls.
The funniest part is that all the bands being mocked now are the ones bending genres and pushing sounds forward. Deftones fused shoegaze with heavy riffs decades ago. Sleep Token is mixing metal with R&B and pop in a way that’s pulling new listeners into the scene.
These bands aren’t “killing metal”; they’re evolving it.
Gatekeeping doesn’t make you look cool or more “true.” It just makes the community smaller and meaner.
And let’s be honest with ourselves, the metal scene needs more fans, not fewer. The kids blasting Sleep Token in their bedrooms today could be the ones starting the next wave of heavy bands tomorrow.
So next time you feel the urge to dunk on someone for liking a band you think is “too mainstream,” maybe reevaluate your intentions. Let people enjoy things.
Being open-minded and supporting your community is actually way more metal than bullying someone in a comment section.
Written by Shaughnessy Hoefer