Once again, members from a metal band face trial due to expressing their thoughts and writing lyrics freely.

This time, it’s not a religious group or some media outlet that asked for imprisonment due to metal being dangerous to the youth or some other nonsense reason. The orders came from a military force in a country which arrested the members of metal band Confess, Nikan “Siyanor” Khosravi and Arash “Chemical” Ilkhani, and put them in jail. Surprisingly, we are not talking about K.S.A. this time, but a country a bit further: Iran.

The band members have been imprisoned, with charges such as being in an underground band, owning an independent record label, communicating with western media, writing anti-religious lyrics, and all sorts of stuff that are considered basic freedoms, between November 10, 2015 and February 5, 2016 when they were released on bail (30,000$). But it doesn’t end here as the band members will be taken to trial and judged for their charges. Nikan and Arash might even face a death sentence if they were judged as blasphemous in court.

Confess_band

The news was posted through the Metal Nation Radio website when the CEO, Trev McKendry, who seems to be a close friend with Nikan, received a message from the band’s Facebook page admin. Trev hasn’t revealed the sender’s identity since the band’s Facebook page and associated persons are being watched by the Iranian government. The message translates as follows:

Hello, hoping you doing well..
I have a important news for you!

Nikan (Siyanor Khosravi & Arash (Chemical) Ilkhani arrested by the “Intllengante unit of Seppah-e Pasdaran of islamic republic Iran” (One of the main military forces of the country) since “November 10th of 2015” and the has been under the arrest in Evinperison in Tehran-Iran” and up until they released in “February 5th 2016” on the “1.000.000.000 Rial” (30.000 U.S $) and all of these days they’ve been held in “2-A Solitary Confinement” of the “Evin”..!

The “23” and “21” years old two Members of the Iranian metal band called “Confess” arrested in accusation of “Blasphemy; Advertising against the system; form and running an illegal and underground band and record label in the satanic “Metal & Rock” music style!; writing anti-religion & atheistic, political & anarchistic lyrics and interview with forbidden foreign radio stations.

During the arrestment Lead singer and the Dj of the band has been under a tough conditions and a hard investigations!
The current situation of the guys is that they are working with their lawyers and waiting for their trial and announce of their judgment dates, judges of the lawsuit and until that they all their activities is shut down.

All the personal and band E-mails and facebooks are under the control of the government!

As it told the Metal & Hard Rock music (In a one word, the extreme music) in Iran is forbidden and against the law and because it consider as a satanic genre of music it has a harsh punishment such as imprisonment and having lots whiplash and consider as a political-religious-security crime and the criminal is a deteny!”

The garges of “Siyanor [-13]” & “Chemical” puts them in the situation that they are face the minimum 6 month to the maximum 6 years of imprisonment in of jail! If the court find them blasphemers even they are facing EXECUTION!”

The last studio album of “Confess” is “In Pursuit Of Dreams” which released in “28.10.2015” via an Iranian music company called “Opposite Record” (That found by the Front-man, Lead Guitarist & Lead Vocalist, Composer & Lyricist, “Nikan Khosravi“).

The sad thing is that the promoting of this record couldn’t goes well and stop undone for now!”

After 4 years of international success; after releasing of 33 tunes as the 2 full length studio albums, 1 official EP record and 3 Independent single tracks; but now the future of the two main man of the band is blur and so the band as well..!”

“The reason of this radio silent was the safety of our brothers in prison and now we hope you guys help us to telling the world that the life conditions of us is very terrible and spread the news. we are experiencing a so real times and a dark days and our friends are in a horrible danger…

Thanks for your time; “Peace”

* I am (namewitheld); a real close friend and old friend of the guys and admin of the official page of “Confess”. I knew that You and Nikan was friend and he really needs you now by share it, post it and talk about it in the network and your radio shows and your co-workers and friends! We are need your help.. *

Confess is a Thrash Metal band from Iran, signed to the independent record label Opposite Records. The band consists of Siyanor (Vocalist / Lead & Bass Guitars), DicTator (Drummer “Touring Member”), Chemical (DJ / Sampler), and Outsider (Drummer “Recording Member”). Since the band was founded, they released 2 full-length studio albums, 1 EP, and 3 singles.

Metal bands have been persecuted and charged with blasphemy and that sort of nonsense ever since anyone can remember, but I believe this is the first time the word execution has ever been tossed. The list of bands and musicians put behind bars or bullied by media persons goes on and on. And for what? Having drums faster than 150 bpm and using a distortion pedal? Is it the rough vocals and “aggressive lyrics”? Is it because some religious entity told people that enjoying life and being happy while not restricting others’ freedoms gives you eternal damnation? Or because that same religious body isn’t interested by that style of music because it makes people turn against them?

Has anybody around you been butthurt and started crying when you played a metal/rock song? Share your stories with us in the comments section.

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