I dont particularly care for Babymetal, but I think a lot of you are looking at them the wrong way. They may "have a band too", but it is mostly there for the metal aesthetic of what is essentially just a jpop group. Therefore you arent going to see them approach the songwriting and other creative processes like a typical metal band; the music is designed and written by pop producers, and the actual 'band' is just recruited talent like you would find in any other pop group. So right off the bat you have to live with the premise that this is not actually an authentic metal band; this is a pop stage show. Judging their merit based upon the same criteria that you would judge an actual metal band is sort of irrelevant then. They are billed with mainstream metal bands because of their similar aesthetic and feel to metal, not because they are actually a metal band. The group is essentially a gimmick by the jpop labels to exploit the market of the mainstream metal scene. However you need to realize that this is the nature of the pop scene itself (large-scale appeal), and in fact the people involved with these projects are actually passionate about what they do.
I think it would help to look at them more as a performance act than as a band. Surely this doesnt appeal to the more underground metalhead (like myself and most others here), but this kind of thing is more the antithesis of underground to begin with. Personally id say either enjoy the act for what it is or just ignore it.
Yea, kind of like the rest of the jpop idol scene. Except id consider Babymetal to be more on the conservative side considering Japanese culture, but surely people not used to their jpop scene will see them as quite a surprise.
Actually just watched this video, and one thing I gotta admit is that those Japanese really do know how to mosh. I mean, just look at that wall of death to circle pit they got going there in the beginning, legit stuff.
Their stage show looks worth seeing at least once. I probably wouldnt go out of my way to go see them, but if they are on the bill id probably see if I can get into it.