Confess (band)


Confess is an Iranian heavy metal band.
The band is known for facing charges in Iran for their music. The band members incur more than 14 years in prison in their country.

History

Formed in 2010, the band defines its music as groove, nu metal, NWOAHM and thrash. Their influences are Lamb of God, Slayer, Slipknot, Trivium, DevilDriver, Chimaira.
Band members Nikan "Siyanor" Khosravi and Arash "Chemical" Ilkhani were arrested on 10 November 2015 and held in solitary confinement. At that time, they potentially faced execution after being charged with blasphemy for "writing satanic music and speaking to foreign radio stations". Their second album included tracks entitled "Teh-Hell-Ran" and "I'm Your God Now", which are considered blasphemous by Iran's hardline Islamic government.
The full charges levied against the band reportedly included blasphemy; advertising against the system; forming and running an illegal band and record label "in the satanic metal & rock music style"; writing anti-religious, atheist, political and anarchistic lyrics; and conducting interviews with "forbidden" foreign radio stations.
As of January 2017, according to Raha Bahreini, Amnesty International's Researcher on Iran, no band members were facing execution. However, they may still suffer consequences as a result of Iran's crackdown on freedom of expression. The members petitioned for political asylum in Norway; their petition was granted. Currently, Khosriva and Ilkhani live in Norway; they are not in danger of extradition back to Iran.
On 9 July 2019, the band members were sentenced to 14 years in prison by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran. For the crime of playing metal, frontman Nikan Khosravi has also been sentenced to 74 lashes.
Nikan and Arash have now both left Iran and are in Norway, where they continue making their music.

Members