Woe - Kicked Off Festival For Performing With Inquisition
New York black metal band Woe released the album Hope Attrition in March and they seemed to cause some attrition in Germany as they were removed (along with tour mates Ultha) from the Droneburg VII festival at the venue Hafenklang in Hamburg, Germany as a result of performing with Inquisition, a band previously accused of having ties to Neo-Nazism, which they have denied. Hamburg ist Droneburg have issued a statement explaining the cancellation was forced last-minute by the venue.
Woe has issued the following lengthy statement: "Woe and Ultha were just kicked off of a show because we are performing with Inquisition. We learned this via SMS, before our booker was informed, after driving four hours across Germany, and with no opportunity to appeal the decision.
"The absurdity of this situation is profound. For years, we have been exceptionally vocal about our political and social stances but still careful to not let them define us as a band. We never backed down from an opportunity to discuss it in interviews, we never shrank from it online, we covered a classic anti-fascist punk song to extremely apolitical black metal crowds, and we doubled down with songs like 'No Blood Has Honor' on our new album. Along the way, we introduced countless black metal fans who had never considered politics that it is possible to take an anti-fascist stance without sacrificing the harsh, abrasive stance of a black metal band. Our politics have made us the subject of ridicule by some people in the extreme metal scene, but we do not care. Even our detractors typically understand that black metal is full of conflict and diversity. Those who hate us for our liberal views are free to do so, and, ironically, those are the people who are least willing to tell us what we should or shouldn't do, what shows we should and shouldn't play. We'd find this funny if it wasn't so poignant right now.
"The worldwide extreme metal scene is a diverse, complicated thing full of people with different backgrounds and experiences. Many bands and fans have never once thought about politics, many of them do not care about politics and object to the idea that they should have to care about them to appreciate music. To these people, riffs are riffs, songs are songs, imagery exists to build mood, and message is secondary to feeling. Even within Woe, we have varying levels of political involvement. Regardless of whether you agree with the apolitical metal fan's perspective, recognizing it is crucial to understanding why bands with questionable backgrounds can operate on an international level and why a band like Woe might choose to put ourselves in close proximity to people with whom we may not agree.
"Woe and our tourmates Ultha exist to create and perform art, not proselytize, but we are also adamant that performing at explicitly apolitical events with diverse lineups is crucial for the representation of our social and political beliefs. Black metal encourages questioning systems, offending those in power, and evolving beyond outdated beliefs. If we were to only play to crowds who were squeaky clean, nothing would change, nobody would grow. Similarly, if you think that a band has committed such intense crimes that they should be barred from participating in the international scene, that is between you and the band, not your allies who choose a different approach to engagement. If we choose to participate in an event, it is because we are confident that it does not compromise who we are.
"To have a show canceled now, after years of unflinching willingness to stick our necks out to crowds who might be unreceptive, goes beyond being a slap in the face. The venue Hafenklang decided how two openly anti-fascist bands, one of whom is primarily comprised of people of Jewish background, should engage with extremism in a music scene that is only now starting to become politically aware. We and those alongside us deserve the trust and respect to effect change as we see fit. Every adult must be responsible for themselves and choose a level of involvement that is right for them. It is not appropriate for others to decide how we should or should not engage.
"This is why the right thinks that the left is full of fools and reactionary children who have never stepped out into the real world. Rather than targeting the actual fascists or supporting allies within the scene, they eat their own. Hafenklang have today acted as agents of the right by silencing us and, once again, promoting the right's message that anti-fascism is the enemy of black metal. Despite this, we are resolute in our position. We played an antifa-sponsored benefit in Brooklyn for J20 protestors barely a week before leaving for this tour, and we will not allow this incident to change our views. Those responsible for today's cancellation, as with all similar events, are people from outside of the scene who have decided that they know how to handle our problems better than those of us actively participating in the metal scene. To those who would deprive of us our voice and strip us of our agency, we urge you to improve this situation by making bridges with people within the metal scene. Wars like this are won through discussion and understanding, not force."
Woe has issued the following lengthy statement: "Woe and Ultha were just kicked off of a show because we are performing with Inquisition. We learned this via SMS, before our booker was informed, after driving four hours across Germany, and with no opportunity to appeal the decision.
"The absurdity of this situation is profound. For years, we have been exceptionally vocal about our political and social stances but still careful to not let them define us as a band. We never backed down from an opportunity to discuss it in interviews, we never shrank from it online, we covered a classic anti-fascist punk song to extremely apolitical black metal crowds, and we doubled down with songs like 'No Blood Has Honor' on our new album. Along the way, we introduced countless black metal fans who had never considered politics that it is possible to take an anti-fascist stance without sacrificing the harsh, abrasive stance of a black metal band. Our politics have made us the subject of ridicule by some people in the extreme metal scene, but we do not care. Even our detractors typically understand that black metal is full of conflict and diversity. Those who hate us for our liberal views are free to do so, and, ironically, those are the people who are least willing to tell us what we should or shouldn't do, what shows we should and shouldn't play. We'd find this funny if it wasn't so poignant right now.
"The worldwide extreme metal scene is a diverse, complicated thing full of people with different backgrounds and experiences. Many bands and fans have never once thought about politics, many of them do not care about politics and object to the idea that they should have to care about them to appreciate music. To these people, riffs are riffs, songs are songs, imagery exists to build mood, and message is secondary to feeling. Even within Woe, we have varying levels of political involvement. Regardless of whether you agree with the apolitical metal fan's perspective, recognizing it is crucial to understanding why bands with questionable backgrounds can operate on an international level and why a band like Woe might choose to put ourselves in close proximity to people with whom we may not agree.
"Woe and our tourmates Ultha exist to create and perform art, not proselytize, but we are also adamant that performing at explicitly apolitical events with diverse lineups is crucial for the representation of our social and political beliefs. Black metal encourages questioning systems, offending those in power, and evolving beyond outdated beliefs. If we were to only play to crowds who were squeaky clean, nothing would change, nobody would grow. Similarly, if you think that a band has committed such intense crimes that they should be barred from participating in the international scene, that is between you and the band, not your allies who choose a different approach to engagement. If we choose to participate in an event, it is because we are confident that it does not compromise who we are.
"To have a show canceled now, after years of unflinching willingness to stick our necks out to crowds who might be unreceptive, goes beyond being a slap in the face. The venue Hafenklang decided how two openly anti-fascist bands, one of whom is primarily comprised of people of Jewish background, should engage with extremism in a music scene that is only now starting to become politically aware. We and those alongside us deserve the trust and respect to effect change as we see fit. Every adult must be responsible for themselves and choose a level of involvement that is right for them. It is not appropriate for others to decide how we should or should not engage.
"This is why the right thinks that the left is full of fools and reactionary children who have never stepped out into the real world. Rather than targeting the actual fascists or supporting allies within the scene, they eat their own. Hafenklang have today acted as agents of the right by silencing us and, once again, promoting the right's message that anti-fascism is the enemy of black metal. Despite this, we are resolute in our position. We played an antifa-sponsored benefit in Brooklyn for J20 protestors barely a week before leaving for this tour, and we will not allow this incident to change our views. Those responsible for today's cancellation, as with all similar events, are people from outside of the scene who have decided that they know how to handle our problems better than those of us actively participating in the metal scene. To those who would deprive of us our voice and strip us of our agency, we urge you to improve this situation by making bridges with people within the metal scene. Wars like this are won through discussion and understanding, not force."
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Comments: 17
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| Rupert Posts: 469  |
I don't get it... Does the venue think that they are or aren't fascist for having played with Inquisition?
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 62160  |
Sounds like st(ink) pauli ... well anti fa is more less evil as idea what they fight aganst and same time they do more violently. btw I miss auscro dude here
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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| LuciferOfGayness Account deleted |
LuciferOfGayness
Account deleted Written by Rupert on 17.04.2017 at 18:21 Yeah I think its that way. Sounds a bit strange as Woe are on the left-wing 
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| Rupert Posts: 469 |
Written by [user id=162327] on 17.04.2017 at 20:30 That wasn't a yes or no question hehe
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| LuciferOfGayness Account deleted |
LuciferOfGayness
Account deleted Written by [user id=162327] on 17.04.2017 at 22:41
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| BitterCOld The Ancient One Admin Posts: 15294  |
It's not fascism when the left does it.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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| Alex F Posts: 3519  |
Written by BitterCOld on 17.04.2017 at 23:07 The Churchill quote "The fascists of the future will be called anti-fascists" feels rather applicable. Edit: Or whoever said it, as I remember reading that Churchill never actually said that.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18390  |
Written by BitterCOld on 17.04.2017 at 23:07 Those assholes are left in the same way Stalin was leftist, that is... They are just totalitarian self-righteous people with nothing better to do. I'm all ears when if I see one of the Inquisition fellas saying or doing something nazi-like, but when everything is so fucking vague I simply don't get it.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Desha delicious dish Posts: 821  |
Do we have any information, if any antifa was actually involved in this by the way? So far the only one responsible is the venue. Might even be the complete opposite (as Woe is more left wing). I think blaming Antifa has become too much of a trend lately (especially that silly "antifa = fasicsts" argument people keep making).
---- You are the hammer, I am the nail building a house in the fire on the hill
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| Maco Pvt Funderground Posts: 3593  |
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| Vombatus Potorro Posts: 2395  |
Written by Desha on 18.04.2017 at 00:26 Not sure if the organization "antifa" was directly involved, but in Germany sometimes it is the case and sometimes not (Inquisition had that issue with a club owner only before). Regardless, if it is "antifa" or not behind this doesn't matter. What is relevant is that people with these ideas are proliferating. If "antifa" keeps on getting mentioned all the time it is because they are the most visible collective with this retard-herd-like mentality, so not a surprise people spit on them whenever possible and rightly so.
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| Desha delicious dish Posts: 821 |
Written by Vombatus on 18.04.2017 at 19:33 There is no antifa organization (which is part of my point). It's just a group of people that don't have anything to do with eachother, just sharing the same general mindset when it comes to fighting fascism. Usually people under the banner of Antifa are the ones blocking Peste Noire or nsbm like Graveland or Satanic Warmaster, which is why it's so weird that Woe of all people is getting their show cancelled (and not something I usually see), so it's kind of a different case than most times. Hate the Antifa all you want for what some of them do, that's just you guys' opinion. Just please don't call it fascism. That's the thing I find silly.
---- You are the hammer, I am the nail building a house in the fire on the hill
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| Vombatus Potorro Posts: 2395 |
Written by Desha on 18.04.2017 at 19:53 If wording is so important let's call them "network", "collective", "groups" or whatever you want. They certainly have some sort of structure to operate, as a flat organization or whatever (as opposed to the defined "classic" hierarchy organizations). I wouldn't be surprised some antifa retards would want to cancel Woe, since they are already responsible for cancelling bands like Marduk. You can't expect any logic. And I agree that the word "fascism" isn't the best way to describe them. I think "totalitarian" is more accurate. Same sort of garbage but on a broader term.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
There is an Antifa organization. Well at least there is in The Netherlands.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| BitterCOld The Ancient One Admin Posts: 15294 |
It's Wolves In The Throne Room all over again.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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| titmo71 Posts: 17 |
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