Report: Black Metal Not Linked To Satanism, Say Its Fans
January 27, 2006Malaysia's The Star Online has issued the following report:
Black metal, like any other type of music, is only a genre, said Joseph Prabagar, founder and director of record label Demonzend.
"As far as I know, there is no satanism or cults involved with black metal. I think the authorities should really define what 'black metal' means,” he said.
His reaction came after the National Fatwa Councilsaid that black metal was a deviation from Islamic teachings and those found practising it could be penalised under syariah law.
Prabagar said many bands these days played not only black metal, but also thrash metal, death metal and heavy metal.
"There is a lot of overlapping. It can be very difficult to define what black metal really is.”
He explained that black metal usually had a very fast beat and darker lyrics.
"The term itself was actually taken from the band VENOM's album called 'Black Metal' in the 1980s. And in it, they actually poked fun at satanism. To link satanism and black metal, to me, is just absurd," said Prabagar.
Student Mohd Khairul Idzham, 25, who plays in a band said: "Music is like a knife. It's up to the person holding it to decide what he wants to do with it.
"It really depends on how you use it, but black metal music is just another genre of music."
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