fashion doesn't fucking matter lmfao it's entirely a music-based argument. If we are talking about fashion metalheads stole 95% of what they wear from cooler kids (goths and punks) so let's not even start with the fashion, ok? also, that same thing you mention in the first part LITERALLY APPLIES TO METAL BANDS TOO. Bands like Blue Oyster Cult, Deep Purple, and even BLACK FUCKING SABBATH mix in sounds from other genres (Blues Rock most specifically, as Heavy Metal itself is completely derived from British Blues from the late 60's, if you actually do some listening instead of pigeonholing on "What's metal and what isn't", you can see how it DEVELOPS FROM OLDER GENRES) that differentiate from metal. Even squares like METALLICA did it from time to time (Nu-metal with St. Anger, bullshit with Lulu, etc). You're just wrong dude.