Marduk‘s show at the Life House club in Rzeszow, POL was cancelled earlier this week after the venue was apparently sabotaged. The Polish conservative Christian political party PiS were trying to stop the concert, because they said it was “promoting satanic content.” The club refused to cave in to the pressure, and this led someone to break in and steal a water meter and pipe to cut off their running water. A local media report says the venue then tried getting portable toilets, washbasins, and a fire fighting water tank so the show could go on, but local authorities would not allow it.

Marduk‘s booking agency Massive Music commented (translated from Polish):

“Something unusual happened. From the beginning of the announcement of the concert concert in rzeszow, they were on us and the pressure club to cancel this concert. The situation was definitely over yesterday and today. The Club, only today, had police control, fire department, and sanitation. On yesterday’s “unknown” Perp broke into the club, cut out a part of the pipe with wodomierzem, cutting off the club from running water.

On this basis, the health department has halted the activities of the life house club (until it is restored to the current water club) Coincidence? The Club did everything for the concert to take place (he ordered portable toilets, sinks, a fire tank, and even in case a aggregate generator). Unfortunately, the strength of political pressure and offices has proved too large. We regret to cancel tonight’s concert even though the teams are in rzeszow and the stage is ready.

There has never been such pressure in our history, letters from lawyers and control. We were also not able to move the concert to another place, because the checks appeared only today, on the day of the concert, and other clubs in the city did not talk to us or fear the risks.

Purchased collector tickets can be returned at sales points. Tickets from the network network can be returned after a long weekend as soon as the disposition returns.”

Behemoth’s Nergal, who is a Poland native, also commented:

“Unfortunatelly they succeded. Marduk concert in Rzeszów got cancelled. How far you will go to protect your one and only truth? How long you will keep on violating our freedom? What it will take for you to realize that NONE of your fascist ways will break our spirit?

Do I sound pathetic? Exagerated? Reactive?Try to live free life in the country full of blind sheep led by conservative, stubborn, shameful lowlives.”

This isn’t the only controversy surrounding Marduk as of late. The band have also faced allegations of Nazism in the past, and those accusations have surfaced again after recent reports said two members purchased Nazi propaganda back in 2016, though they have since denied those claims. The group also played a concert in Stockholm, Sweden with Taake, who have also been facing allegations of Nazism. Marduk said the following about that show:

“On April 29, despite the outraged bleating from the enemies of black metal, Marduk Official and Taake (Official) performed in a sold-out Stockholm venue. Both bands wish to thank the Stockholm Slaughter promoter, Vlad of Death Disco Productions, for going above and beyond in the face of overwhelming adversity. But above all, our heartfelt gratitude to you – the fans – whose unwavering support ultimately made this a highly worthwhile experience, not to mention at all possible.

Let this little escapade serve as a reminder of how outside interference in black metal matters should be approached: unity in defiance, with neither apology nor compromise.”

[via The PRP]