Church Officials Attempt To Ban 'Blasphemous' Dutch Metal Festival

July 13, 2006

According to an article on TCTubantia.nl, church officials in Holland are attempting to stop the Dutch metal festival Els Rock Open Air from going ahead because of concerns over the "blasphemous" lyrical territory covered by several of the bands (including SUFFOCATION and HOLY MOSES) that are scheduled to perform at the one-day event. However, it appears that the church authorities are fighting a losing battle, seeing as a permit for the festival — which is scheduled to take place August 26 in Rijssen — was issued as early as last year and can no longer be contested.

The church representatives have publicly voiced their disappointment over the fact that a permit for the event was granted in the first place. In return, the city officials have dismissed the church's claims as baseless and have expressed confidence in the festival organizers' ability to put on a successful event in accordance with the local regulations. Wim Stegeman, the Vice Mayor of the city of Rijssen, has stated that there are no grounds on which to stop a festival like Els Rock from going ahead. He also pointed out the fact that the festival organizers made sure not to invite any bands that were deemed "too extreme" in their lyrical approach.

Els Rock Open Air festival billing:

SUFFOCATION
HOLY MOSES
SUN CAGED
PERZONAL WAR
CHIRAW
ORPHEO
ELGUAPOSTUNTTEAM
WASTEFORM
THRONAR

For more information, visit www.elsrock.nl.

(Thanks: Gyurka Jansen)

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