Slayer banned in India

Ph3n0m

from today's Metro (11/10/2006)

Heavy metal band Slayer's latest album has been recalled from music stores across India after the country's small Christian community said the cover depicting Christ with amputated arms and a missing eye was insulting. Christian groups said the album - Christ Illusion - did not only have an offensive image on its cover, but some of the songs, such as Skeleton Christ and Jihad, hurt the sensibilities of Christians and Muslims alike. 'We took strong exception to the album which is offensive and in very bad taste', said Joseph Dias of Mumbai's Catholic Secular Forum. The protests prompted EMI Music, the US band's Indian label, to pull the album from all music stores and its depots. 'Last week we recalled and destroyed them as we did not want to any community to be hurt' said T Suresh, the company's manager....


I am pretty disgusted at this - what about the genuine fans who want to listen and purchase this album. Its all well and good not to insult people - but they were never in position to but it in the first place, so what was the big deal?

Doctor J

Misguided public hysteria will win over common sense every time.

John

Although after hearing the album I think EMI made the right decision. Oh Slayer, what happened to you!?!

cournioni

I can't see how Jihad is an anti-anything song. It is simply the views of the 9/11 bombers in the form of a song. I really doubt that Slayer share the views of the terrorists.

I think its a good album and it is a pity that such narrow minded folk always get their way...

brianthebard

PORNAPSTER wrote:

I can't see how Jihad is an anti-anything song. It is simply the views of the 9/11 bombers in the form of a song. I really doubt that Slayer share the views of the terrorists.

I think its a good album and it is a pity that such narrow minded folk always get their way...

I have to agree with that. Slayer (or should i say jeff) are very good at writing songs about controversial subjects without displaying their personal feelings. They have written things like "south of heaven" or "angel of death" about subjects that are pretty abhorrent to most people-but they never said that the angel of death was their typa dude! They leave that up to the listener. It's what makes them worth listening to imo.

Alucard II

John wrote:

Although after hearing the album I think EMI made the right decision. Oh Slayer, what happened to you!?!

you say that as if THIS is the album which marks the beginning of Slayers decline...

OctavarIan

I hate this kind of carry on. Banning something because it offends a bunch of people's stupid religion is ridiculous. EMI are just as guilty for pulling the albums back, they shouldn't have had to.

wrote:

'Last week we recalled and destroyed them as we did not want to any community to be hurt'

They even went as far as destroying them! Just so a community wouldn't be 'hurt' by an album they would most likely never see, hear or come into contact with. Man, the sooner religion is gone the better.

John

Alucard II wrote:

you say that as if THIS is the album which marks the beginning of Slayers decline...

True but with each album I think: "Now they'll have their mojo back!" but it never happens

But as for banning albums in case it hurts people, what about all the Slayer fans who want to hear the album but now can't? I'm offended by a lot of things but I don't think they should be banned as someone is obviously getting something from it. Case in point, religious texts. Some good advice in some of it but a lot of hateful and despicable stuff too.

Tar.Aldarion

Basically what you guys said(apart from I like all slayers albums i've heard, haven't listened to the new one much at all yet though), that is woeful.

cournioni

Here is a very good video for the song "Jihad", made by a fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv3TudB5J10

I find that sometimes videos can really help you to get into a song or even an album.

Sgt. Sensible

PORNAPSTER wrote:

Here is a very good video for the song "Jihad", made by a fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv3TudB5J10

That video is ok for stupid people.

senordingdong

That's ridiculous.
Makes you feel almost prooud to be a westerner.

e.doobie

lmao!
I MEAN C'MON!
what are they gona do?
monitor everything going into the country to ensure no minority (or otherwise)gets ''offended''
because thats all it will do ... offend..

they need to monitor the children being sold and shipped out ....

what the need to phucking worry about is the ''christians'' themselves.

bloody pityful if you ask me

cournioni

Sgt. Sensible wrote:

That video is ok for stupid people.

Well thought out post I see... :rolleyes:

Het-Field

Wouldnt buy the album myself on the basis of the cover. Its jsut Slayer trying to sell records. I have the rest of the Salyer discography, and i have seen them play twice before. I also have my ticket for the gig on the 5th in the Point. However, the whole anti God thing is kinda offensive, and I protested the selling point of the album by not buying the album itself. Seasons in the Abyss had nothing to do with God. And it was a great album, with Dead Skin Mask the best slayer track ever. They should stop invoking religion as a selling point. Its like when Brian McFadden wrote a song based on him being abused by the Christian Broters, in spite of the fact that he didnt go to a CB School

cournioni

Het-Field wrote:

Wouldnt buy the album myself on the basis of the cover. Its jsut Slayer trying to sell records. I have the rest of the Salyer discography, and i have seen them play twice before. I also have my ticket for the gig on the 5th in the Point. However, the whole anti God thing is kinda offensive, and I protested the selling point of the album by not buying the album itself. Seasons in the Abyss had nothing to do with God. And it was a great album, with Dead Skin Mask the best slayer track ever. They should stop invoking religion as a selling point. Its like when Brian McFadden wrote a song based on him being abused by the Christian Broters, in spite of the fact that he didnt go to a CB School

I would have thought the album was more to do with religion being the main source of conflict in the world today... I tend to agree with it.

xanthor

Het-Field wrote:

Wouldnt buy the album myself on the basis of the cover. Its jsut Slayer trying to sell records. I have the rest of the Salyer discography,l

I'm curious about where you decided to draw the line; The cover of Christ Illuson is hardly the first time they've used a cover that stands to incite controversy. IIRC, the cover of God hates us all (a blood covered copy of The Bible) was censored here.



It's a pretty solid album BTW - Bostaph was great, but Lombardo's 'Less is more' approach makes things a little tighter.

Angus MacGyver

Im Shocked, not at the christians are giving out again but the the fact that mother teresa's head is floating on the album cover and theres no mention of it. If they banned the album citing that as a reason, i could understand, seeing as shes prob India's most famous person apart from Ghandai, but there isnt a mention of it. And another thing " the countries small christian community" How are they allowed to speak for the rest of the population. F**K the majority indeed