If you’re stoked for Lamb of God’s upcoming performance on 28th September in KL Live, don’t hold your breath just yet.
The Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (JAKIM) is protesting the band’s visit. Director-general, Datuk Othman Mustapha, said Jakim raised the objected as the band’s music was a mix of metal songs with the reading of verses from the Quran. He claimed that the group incorporates evil and anti-divine elements in its performance. [Source]
“Lamb of God had drawn many controversies and was dubbed a ‘satanic’ band that fitted evil spirituality and anti-godliness even by the Christian community,” said Mustapha.
“The organizing of such events do not only corrode morality but also the faith of Muslims. Performances by heavy metal outfits that were often extreme also encouraged its audience to lose control.”
But despite the heavy guitars and monstrous screaming, the people behind Lamb of God aren’t totally evil in any way. In 2010, vocalist Randy Blythe was arrested in Czech Republic after a 19-year-old fan died after he slipped into a coma during one of their shows in Prague. Though Blythe wasn’t exactly guilty, he insisted on returning to the Czech Republic to defend himself against the manslaughter charges. [Source]
And while the band’s aggressive facade is only an “act” to get the crowd rolling, Othman Mustapha is still determined that Lamb of God’s performance in the country would revive the black metal trend that once made waves sometime in 2005-2006.
Mustapha hopes that the authorities will not approve Lamb of God’s performance to ensure that it does not open up crises related to faith and morality.[Source]
What do you think about JAKIM’s judgement on the heavy metal band? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
