Soliloquy

BANGALORE, INDIA: Polish black metal band Behemoth were forced to cancel their show in Bengaluru on 3 March after receiving life threats from radical Christian extremist groups.

The band, in an announcement on Monday, February 16, said that they had no recourse but to cancel their upcoming show after being threatened with physical assault and legal tangles by the said groups in the city.

This show in Bangalore was a part of their ‘Chant of the Eastern Lands’ tour, ostensibly intended to promote their latest album The Shit Ov God, which was released last year.

“Behemoth regret to announce the cancellation of the band’s scheduled performance on March 3 in Bangalore, India. Over the past few weeks, we and our team have received numerous credible threats stemming from religious Christian groups who have been applying pressure to authorities and to the promoter in an effort to stop the show from taking place. These threats have raised serious concerns regarding the band’s safety and security, including the possibility of arrest or physical danger,” Behemoth said in an official announcement.

Incidentally, Behemoth were also forced to cancel their shows in Ankara and Istanbul in Turkiye recently due to similar threats, albeit from radical Islamic groups. In Islamic countries, it is generally perceived that the band are anti-God and propagate the glories of Satan in their work.

“This is another example of religious fanaticism attempting to impose itself on artistic expression” – Behemoth after cancelling Bangalore show

India, a nation known for its secular traditions and a long history of religious harmony, was expected to provide Behemoth with a safe space to practice their art, but unfortunately, it was not to be.

Posterity will view this also as a failure of the Karnataka government, where the Indian National Congress is in power, known for its avowedly secular stance in the face of religious fanaticism.

“This is another example of religious fanaticism attempting to impose itself on artistic expression, something the band has recently faced in Turkey. It is deeply concerning to see what feels like a growing movement toward censorship around the world. In this modern age, artists should not face intimidation, threats, or the risk of imprisonment for performing their art,” Behemoth added.

This will also be seen as a breakdown of law and order, especially in the state of Karnataka (whose capital is Bangalore), where Christians form less than 2% of the entire population (according to the 2011 census), and cannot be viewed as a viable threat insofar as preventing musicians from merely practicing their art. Fans of the band, quite naturally, were distraught with this decision, and many vented their ire.

“If your god is hurt by words and music, your faith is flimsy,” Monsieur Campdublanque commented.

“Scary to see this happening again – symptoms of a greater issue, which most will probably fail to see. You have my full support!” said Shayan SO.

“I am extremely disheartened by this decision. I feel that the government should have stepped in and resolved the issue. India is known for its freedom of expression and secular nature; we cannot give in to the demands of extremist religious groups,” offered Avantika Sen, a graphic designer.

Behemoth, known for their highly acclaimed work such as And the Forests Dream Eternally, The Satanist and I Loved You At Your Darkest, apologised profusely to their fans in Bangalore before promising to return to the subcontinent in the future.

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