progpower usairon savior
21:15 Thursday, 27 February 2025
The current American political landscape has once again rippled across the global music scene, this time leading to the withdrawal of Iron Savior from this year's ProgPower USA. The German heavy metal band announced their decision in a recent statement that expressed deep concerns over the direction of the U.S. under its new administration.
"With the heaviest heart that we have decided that we cannot travel to Atlanta this year," the band wrote. Their reasoning? A deep unease about what they describe as the Trump administration's dismantling of the post-World War II global order.
The band specifically called out President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Elon Musk, accusing them of "tearing down everything that has been built up since WW2." They also criticized the administration's stance on Ukraine, stating that it has "rewritten history" by reversing the roles of aggressor and victim in the conflict.
Further fueling their decision is what they view as an alarming shift in U.S. foreign policy. The band referenced U.S. officials allegedly encouraging collaboration with Germany's far-right AfD party and claimed that the administration is undermining Western stability for financial gain.
"We are deeply worried about this and simply do not feel safe and welcome anymore in your country," Iron Savior explained. "Of course we know that only 50% of the voters voted for Trump and that 50% didn't vote at all. We feel extremely sorry for those of you who think the same, but at this point we can't foresee what will happen in the next months."
Despite their disappointment, the band left the door open for a future return. "We hope to return to Atlanta some other time in a better world like now," they concluded.
On the "positive" side of the coin, bands' cancellations are not something that ProgPower USA haven't dealt with in recent years, especially as the visa approval process for bands entering the US has undergone massive changes, and has become more bureaucratic than ever. We are confident they will be able to find a more than suitable replacement for Iron Savior, and those who want to witness the Germans playing in Atlanta will have to wait for the next opportunity.
