Fans Of Lamb Of God Voice Frustrations Over Social Media.

PETALING JAYA: Fans of American heavy metal band `Lamb of God' have taken to social media to cry foul over the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim)'s call to ban its upcoming concert, calling the move "hypocritical".
 Fans of metal music, commonly referred to as 'metalheads', expressed disdain that the authorities could not be bothered to educate themselves on the genre's many complexities.
 Jakim had accused the band of bringing about a new wave of the "black metal scare" and that the band was "satanic". "First of all, Lamb of God is not even black metal.
 People who understand metal music know the vast difference between black metal and the other genres," said human rights lawyer Michelle Yesudas when contacted. Lamb of God, slated to perform at Rockaway Festival on September 28, is commonly labeled as groove metal, heavy metal, or metalcore
. Rockaway Festival is major annual gathering of international and local rock and metal acts that attract fans from all over the region.
 "I bet if you peel all off of these religious reasons, you'll discover that this is all about self-preservation. If it really is for religion, those heavily drugged clubbers at rave parties would have gotten it by now," Muhammad Asri Ashari, a metal musician, wrote on Facebook. Another avid metalhead, Mikhail Svrcula, also took to Facebook to point out that Jakim was pigeonholing every metal act based on a few bad apples. "Sure, they have tattoos, but all of them are family men with children.
 They are like any other family man, a far cry from who Jakim thinks are in these bands," he said. "This is art. This is how people express their feelings.
 Some people perform and go to metal concerts. That does not mean we are insulting any religion." Many other fans criticised Jakim of double standards. Adan Rahman @Adey_Adan1h tweeted: "Lamb of God to be banned from performing.
 Meanwhile, alcohol, gambling and clubs are widespread. Congratulations, Malaysia." Other fans also questioned why acts such as Jennifer Lopez or K-Pop acts, known for provocative onstage routines, were allowed to perform, with many concluding that it is discrimination against metal music.
 Even a politician has defended the concert. Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang tweeted: "After New Village and Tanda Putera, now comes Lamb of God. I think Malaysians are mature enough to judge things on their own. If (you) don't like (it), then don't watch (it). No one (is) forcing anyone to buy (a) ticket and watch."