BLOODBATH: 'Mock The Cross' Shirt Controversy

Swedish death metal "supergroup" BLOODBATH has issued the following update:

"We have just learned that our latest shirt design [see images below] has run into some controversy. Actually, it's been a bit of a rocky road from the start with this one. Back at the sketch board, some of our art direction ideas were met by hesitation and according to the designer would feel 'uncomfortable to do.' However, the design went through and obviously with such a fantastic piece of artwork and beautiful symbolism the t-shirt has hit home with BLOODBATH's audience all over the world, but apparently a demon vomiting on Jesus on a cross, surrounded by snakes, vultures and skulls was over the line for some confused 'death metal' fans. Perhaps they should ask themselves if it was really death metal they were searching for in the first place.

"Here are examples of some Dr. Phil-approved quotes we recieved:

"'Recently saw your t-shirt 'Mock The Cross.' It seems rather childish and immature not to mention very dangerous, to ridicule Christ. Why such disdainment for the incarnate God who died to save all mankind, even your sorry asses! If you have a problem with organized religion, that's one thing. It has little to do with Christ and His life and teachings. Of course if you curse Him in apparent ignorance, then you wouldn't know the difference. Hell won't be a cool place to be. The power of the cross is foolishness to those perishing.'

"'I don't care about all the Satan worshippers that are gonna flame me. But, BLOODBATH, YOU JUST LOST A FAN. On that degrading shirt. I believe what I believe. I rather not have bands mock it. This band is done. Never again. See you on judgment day.'

"To top it off, we also just recieved the following message from Raw Talent, the printer of the merchandise:

"'I have just been informed by the owner of the company that unfortunately we will not be able to print the 'Mock the Cross' design again for you guys. It is against the owner's moral and ethical standard for himself and also for the company. He wanted me to let you know and to send his apologies.'

"With that said, let's get the weak aside and the BLOODBATH choir ready to mock the fucking cross again as we moved on to a new printer for our latest over the top 'Iesous' shirt design. Original artwork by Alex Norman features a detailed drawing of a dead Jesus with a crown of thorns and blind eyes, bleeding crosses in the background on both sides, and his hair engulfing skulls and the BLOODBATH logo. The back features a cross dripping in blood with the lyrics: 'Eeso Yeshua Iesous Die by Our Rage.' The design was also printed using a technique which results in the ink becoming one with the fabric, creating a soft vintage look and feel. Not a shirt to miss, grab one now!"

"The Fathomless Mastery", the new studio album from BLOODBATH, sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 45 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Fathomless Mastery" was previously described by the band as representing "nothing but hateful brutality." Promising its "most crushing production yet," the group's lineup on "The Fathomless Mastery" is the same as that on BLOODBATH's "Unblessing the Purity" mini-CD, which came out in March:

Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH) - Vocals
Martin "Axe" Axenrot (OPETH) - Drums
Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (KATATONIA) - Guitar
Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA) - Bass
Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson (ex-21 LUCIFERS, GENOCRUSH FEROX) – Guitar

BLOODBATH released a live CD/DVD digipack entitled "The Wacken Carnage" on June 2 in Europe and June 24 in the U.S. via Peaceville. The package contains footage of the band's appearance at the 2005 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival.

Front:

Back:

Fan-filmed video footage of BLOODBATH's performance at the Party.San Open Air festival, which took place August 7-9, 2008 in Bad Berka, Germany, can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "sparkdee").