A Russian heavy-metal band accused of neonazi sympathies has been barred from performing in the Dutch city of Roermond. The local theatre, the Vinegar Factory, cancelled the show when it became clear that the band Temnozor would be expressing racist and neonazi views through its music.

The town's authorities asked the Dutch intelligence service AIVD to investigate the group, as a preliminary to banning it. A spokesperson for the local government says that this step is no longer necessary after the theatre's cancellation of the show, which had been scheduled for 16 January as part of Temnozor's European tour.

Temnozor's music is loaded with references to Slavic mythology and anti-Christian mythology. One of their CDs was issued on the Hakenkreuz (or swastika) label. The Roermond theatre initially gave the group the benefit of doubt, arguing that the record might have been released without the band's involvement. The band is allied to the Pagan Front, which is an international alliance of pro-nazi heavy-metal bands. Other members are Sunwheel from Poland and Der Stürmer from Greece.

Temnozor on stage (Photo: thepaganfront.com)