In 2015, Nikan Khosravi Khosravi (Siyanor [-13]) and Arash Ilkhani (Chemical) from the Iranian groove-thrash metal act Confess were jailed for “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “spreading propaganda against the state” via their music.
Their punishment? Apparently, the band members received a “combined prison sentence of 14 and a half years” when adding up: “five years each for charges of insulting the sanctity of Islam, one year each on charges of propaganda against the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and an additional two years for just for Khosravi on three counts of insulting the Supreme Leader and the president.” As a cherry on top, there is an additional six months for “disturbing public opinion through the production of music containing anti-regime lyrics and insulting content and for participating in interviews with the opposition media,” which also includes 74 lashes.
After posting bail, both Nikan Khosravi and Arash Ilkhani fled to Norway, where they were granted asylum. Does this story sound nearly familiar? We recently reported on the black metal project Kaaboos (کابوس), who also immigrated from Iran to Norway, yet was unfortunately declined asylum.
Since restarting Confess in Norway, Nikan Khosravi and Arash Ilkhani have been thriving with the Revenge At All Costs album release, European touring, and festival appearances. You can watch a recent performance where the Iranian act covered the groove-thrash classic, “Territory” by Brazilian metallers Sepultura, at Willimsfest.