This is interesting:
Quote:
ATMF vs TERRORIZER MAGAZINE:
ENGLISH VERSION, SCORRERE PER LA VERSIONE ITALIANA:
JANVS were recently censored by “TERRORIZER”, a well-known English magazine distributed world-wide and deemed as a point of reference for extreme metal music. As that highly regrettable fact is grounded on the supposed as well as manifestly unfounded JANVS’ right political affiliation, we think it should be viewed as an opportunity to make some brief and lucid observations about the intellectual climate and police state currently existing in the so-called “independent” music press.
Here it is what happened:
After Louise Brown, Managing Editor of “TERRORIZER”, listened to the JANVS’ new album “VEGA”, she suddenly and definitely congratulated the band members on the new artistic phase they entered. She also showed interest in promoting JANVS in the “Breaking Faces” section devoted to the newest bands. So we called James Hoare, Deputy Editor of “TERRORIZER” and responsible for this magazine section, and, again, he recognized and stressed the value of “VEGA”. But we were then asked a question about some experiences band members had when they were younger and their supposed right political affiliation. As in our opinion we are not the appropriate interlocutor to provide such personal information – being, above all, strictly linked to individual opinions –, we didn’t answer the question by considering it as a bad and inappropriate remark. Rather, we expected that the artistry of “VEGA” was evaluated, for what the album is in its substance and expresses. However, at the same time we suggested the magazine team to remove any doubts in that regard, if in its own interest, by interviewing the band. From then onwards, we received no reply. So we resolved to call Mr. Hoare again to clarify the whole question. He answered us that as we didn’t “make public amends” (we’d like to know what for, actually), “TERRORIZER” – in Mr. Hoare’s own words, a magazine which must have a very cautious approach to what it publishes – couldn’t support JANVS, despite the band has a recognized added value. When we asked which passages of “VEGA” were suggestive of political hints, the album being of a broader nature and having wider perspectives, we encountered a wall of silence from people who seem wanting to play the role of a censorship policeman dealing with supposed personal opinions (as no remark was made about the actual contents of “VEGA”) and acting as resolutely as a reliable CIA official may do – or better to say, a KGB or DDR official by reason of the magazine’s political orientation acknowledged by its team in the last telephone conversation with us. It was also suggested that even ATMF is politically labelled, whereas it acts relying on spiritual and cultural grounds. During our last unpleasant telephone conversation with the editorial team, we stressed how blind the magazine’s attitude seemed to us, as the magazine carelessly supports bands such as Sepultura and Napalm Death. Moreover, some other inappropriate remarks were made, e.g. “you see, our magazine name ‘TERRORIZER’ originates from the band bearing the same name … so …” (we’ll let you guess what these words intended) or “our readers are, above all, Death Metallers and Black Metal is not of great importance, actually”. All these were elusive remarks for not acknowledging what was already obvious, i.e. the magazine’s political orientation. It seems that the whole question was initially raised by a “TERRORIZER” reader who called the editorial team (we have doubts that it really occurred, actually) to report how dangerous the JANVS’ project was.
Thus, we wonder whether it is still possible that this type of narrow-minded individuals, defeated by their own lack of dignity, may affect public opinion in such a mean and devious way by manipulating editorial decisions of a so important magazine and whether readers shall still support a magazine which is so held to ransom and fears its own shadow.
After this unbelievable fact, which is not the first and will not be the last, the word “extreme” needs to be redefined. Luckily, other similar magazines keep on providing all-round editorial products driven by genuine interest and free from such distorted mindset. However, there is someone who thinks readers are dumb idiots unable to decide what is the best for them and that they need to be kept unaware of potential “dangers”, such “dangers” perhaps making them think freely and helping them deciding what is worthy of their support and what is not, according to the genuine artistry involved rather than the plastic attitudes making the system risk-free. And that is the most reprehensible aspect of this whole sad affair. If this is the editorial policy put forward by “TERRORIZER” – of course, the magazine is free to impose it –, its statement of intent should be clear and known by everyone.
Thus, we invite all music labels and magazine readers still believing in music as a way to break free from the modern world’s trends, to firmly support any actors really acting freely, making the word “independent” something authentic and not behaving submissively and deviously by paying attention to politically correct reactions.
Now, when I did my usual research on bands before reviewing them, I found
nothing whatsoever to suggest any right-wing or extremist opinions anywhere about Janvs, and so (if this is true, of course) think that Terrorizer is being a bit silly. Still, waiting to hear the magazine's side, made a post at their forum about it.
Truthfully, it's often impossible to know about a band's personal and political opinions, and whilst MR does have a no-NSBM policy, there is a vast grey area that is very divisive. My personal opinion in the matter is that as long as the band's lyrics don't actively call for the lynching of Jews, blacks, etc, then they can believe what they want in their spare time - it's the music that's important.
