SATANIC WARMASTER Claims External Pressure Led To Band Being Removed From HELLFEST Billing

Finnish black metallers SATANIC WARMASTER have been removed from the billing of this year's Hellfest festival — set to take place June 17-19, 2011 in Clisson, France — because the event's organizers allegedly bowed to pressure from other artists performing at the festival.

Commented SATANIC WARMASTER's Werwolf in a statement: "It has been brough to my attention that the organizers of the festival cannot hold on to our agreement to have SATANIC WARMASTER perform at the 2011 Hellfest. This was because of pressure put to the organizers by other artists booked on the festival.

"It is a disappointment (despite being totally expected) to see such mentality still present in the 'individualist' and 'free-thinking' metal community that any musical act can still be boycotted because of false preconceptions and arbitrary political motivations of other, 'bigger' artists. It is also more than amusing to see that the censorship and boycott some of the French authorities tried to push on the festival earlier are now excercised by the festival organization itself.

"Obviously, because I have never upheld any modern taboos or lived my life as an apologetic dabbler, it makes me also a target for politically motivated artists to keep us from playing because of their self-righteous reasons. Any artist can be put on a mock trial by taking words out of their context without thinking of the actual message, and SATANIC WARMASTER once again hangs crucified by hysterics driven by the love for a world and values I feel no oneness with.

"Everyone who has even slightest interest in this musical style knows what black metal is about, and in that light only a moralist or someone with a very extreme double standard can say that SATANIC WARMASTER is in some manner different from other artists of the genre.

"It makes me want to puke for making a statement like this, which is almost something that a politician would do, but to clear some things, it was mandatory to bite the bullet this time.

"Just to make sure everyone has their labels right, SATANIC WARMASTER's ideology is Satanism and music style black metal. Whoever claims otherwise does so only because of personal feelings and/or resentment."

SATANIC WARMASTER started in 1998 has has sold tens of thousands of albums worldwide without the support of any major distribution companies or record labels. The band reflects a Satanist's world view and is known for its unapologetic, arrogant and amoral stance.