MARDUK Banned From Playing In Minsk

According to Naviny.by, the Prosecutor General’s Office has banned Swedish black metal band MARDUK from playing a show in Minsk, Belarus.

Pavel Radzivonaw, a departmental head at the Prosecutor General’s Office, told reporters on Monday that MARDUK‘s concert, scheduled for May 22, would not take place.

“The band preaches Satanism, which has nothing to do with art. This is an affront to Christian values, they preach the ideas of death, of the Third Reich,” he said, describing the band’s songs as “destructive.”

Four other groups that were scheduled to appear with MARDUK at the Re:Public club — including KATAKLYSM and VADER — will be allowed to perform. However, Radzivonaw warned, their concerts may be stopped if they involve violations of laws.

“Souls For Belial”, the new Håkan Sjödin-directed video from MARDUK, can be seen below.

The song comes off the band’s 12th studio album, “Serpent Sermon”, which will be released via Blooddawn Productions/Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway: Friday, May 25
Rest Of Europe: Monday, May 28
Spain, Italy: Tuesday, May 29
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, May 30
Australia, New Zealand: Friday, June 1
USA/Canada: June 5

Source: Blabbermouth.net