Hey everyone! So I wanted to give a huge shoutout to everyone who gave feedback on the Cancel Culture article. This is one of the first opinion pieces I ever wrote and there is a lot to be improved upon moving forward. As someone who gives out harsh criticism it’s actually nice receiving it back from so many people that I respect and am friends with. It’s enlightening. I’m not aiming to gain back anyone we may have lost in this process; this is something I’m more or less doing for myself as I heard you, and I see a lot of the flaws I didn’t address in the article. I also understand there are going to be those who don’t believe anything I’m going to say below, but that’s a judgement call that I’m not going to argue with. Just a few things to clear the air.

Thanks again, everyone. Much love.

First off let me start by saying that there have been multiple times where people have tried to cancel us. It wasn’t as popular a term when it happened but it has become synonymous with a mob trying to completely fade someone’s name from existence and make sure they can’t live without harassment or a Scarlet Letter hanging high above their head. People have threatened to sue us with no legal grounding, labels and bands have tried to get their crew / followers to threaten / sneer at us, and there have been scores of people within the dark scene who’ve personally taken it upon themselves to denounce us. Am I going to list any of those people or artists or labels right now? No. Why? Because it’s internet drama at best and I wish them the best in their life and career. To say I’m emotionally detached from most things that occur on the internet is putting it lightly; this is a hobby site at best and I’m here to enjoy and celebrate music.

This isn’t to say that I’ve been at fault at times in the past; when I first joined the Brutal team I was younger and sometimes I went out of my way to slam a band just because I didn’t like their album. Do I do that anymore? No. I try to find my favorite music in the scene and raise that on a pedestal instead; I found that loving instead of hating makes me happier. Who would have thought? Then again all I ever did was tell someone that their album sucked with a few too many fucks written in between and it was all over. One person even told me that I would only be in the scene for a year before I wouldn’t be involved anymore. Ten years on, here I am. Take that, whoever you were.

But Cancel Culture has become a huge sensation in the past couple of weeks and though the discussion died down a bit I still wanted to discuss it and type about it and present my own thoughts and arguments. I’m sure there’s going to be hate and vitriol thrown my way over this but I’m used to it. And if I’m thrown on a list to be blacklisted so be it; it’s not going to affect me none and I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. Onto my first topic of discussion.

A couple years back a label released a remix for one of their artists that was done by someone particularly nasty – and the evidence regarding this individual’s case is smeared all over the internet and I’ve seen the evidence myself. I made an opinion piece based upon that but never once did I call for the label to be banned, to be canceled; I merely put my own thoughts out on the matter and let whoever read the article to make their own judgement call. It was staggering to me that so many people defended said label, but it was also received overwhelmingly positive as many people thanked me for discussing the matter. The label rescinded the remix, apologized, and made a direct donation to a charity involving that matter. The case was shut, closed, and I moved on with some cautionary forgiveness. Now I’m sure I’ve been shadow banned by the label; I’ve featured a couple of their artists on our site since and I don’t get so much as a thanks from them. The connection pipeline between us has ultimately been shattered and it’s beyond repair.

Here’s the thing though: I’m not going about my life as a keyboard warrior telling everyone to not support the label and that they’re horrible and if that they’re even remotely connected to the label that they’re the devil and evil and morally corrupt. No, it was a (pretty bad) mistake and they paid for it and apologized. Both the artist and the label did. Moving on.

Now this isn’t to say that the idea of Cancel Culture is horrible as there’s certain instances where I one-hundred percent agree. Take into account Joe Letz, the former drummer from Combichrist. I’ve read dozens upon dozens upon dozens of accounts where this dude was absolutely horrid, from international news pieces to personal posts scattered throughout the industrial scene. Whenever I hear about him I cringe a little, and I just say I’m not interested. If asked in person by someone why, I’ll tell them and if they don’t believe me the proof is a Google search away.

This is in stark contrast to how I feel about Drab Majesty. I remember reading about this controversy myself as Drab had made a stereotypical racial joke against Asians. The whole scene responded by trying to pin them down as some of the most horrifying, disgusting individuals to have ever existed in the world. Drab responded by apologizing twice online and even donating to an Asian charity. There are still some who still drag their name through the mud which I don’t agree with; there’s penalties and there’s forgiveness. I believe that if we’re meant to heal then we’re meant to forgive. For something as small as this Drab Majesty does not deserve to be a on a list next to the likes of Joe Letz. I even showed the joke to my sensei who is of Asian descent just for his opinion on it, he had a hardy laugh, and said that he didn’t find it offensive at all but compared it to standup comedy. I suppose it’s different strokes for different folks.

And speaking of lists this brings me onto that whole Problematic Bands / Promoters / Labels list that was made popularized by the Reddit community on r/goth. Are there some individuals on there that are God awful? Absolutely. Can their behaviors be excused? No. But to put the likes of Drab Majesty who made a joke next to a list of sexual abusers is ridiculous.

But this is but one opinion amongst many which is why I reached out to a couple of individuals with different opinions, backgrounds, and beliefs from myself to see what they had to say about the whole situation. I first started with the infamous Ken Magerman of Sounds and Shadows. Confirming with him that he is left leaning, we dove into the conversation. Does he think that cancel culture is an issue? In his own words:

Not really, I’ve had folks try and cancel me a couple times. Both times, I heard the feedback. Acknowledged what I did, the harm it caused. Stopped doing that thing. Then had no issue. People make mistakes all the time. Ones who get cancelled generally have to double or triple down. While showing a lack of accountability and empathy. I think sometimes people tend to pile on and make social media posts that are about themselves as much as the person they want everyone to know they are canceling. I’m a big fan of the “call in” before the public “call out”. Overall when I look at the recent “list” of cancelled bands going around…lots of familiar names which I had to remove from Sounds and Shadows. In a lot of ways, getting cancelled is a lot more about how you react to criticism than what you did.

While I agreed with some of his points I disagree with the intent that cancel culture isn’t an issue. Otherwise it wouldn’t have so much discussion surrounding it. Moving on with Ken I specifically asked him if he had an issue with conservative viewpoints, citing that I am independent with both left and right views. He stated:

When it comes to politics if someone wants to have a discussion of State rights vs Bigger government, or the best way to drive the economy with the tax code, then I can have that conversation. If someone thinks sky god told them gay people shouldn’t exist…. well fuck them. That isn’t a politics conversation, it’s just about fear and them lacking in moral fortitude.

That is a statement I can wholeheartedly agree with. Policies is one thing; we can argue over high heaven about taxes and all that. But the moment someone’s right to exist is called into question then there’s an issue. Lastly, I asked him about the Goths Against Cancel Culture group which absolutely ignited the dark scene on fire. He said:

I read some of it. Came off as pretty bitter and unevolved. “Someone didn’t like what I said and everyone needs to respect my right to be a prick.” No, we don’t. I mean I’m not going to go looking for you. I’m not going to buy your album or review you either. That’s my free speech. Making a group just to have a tantrum about that feels petty and small. Either live by your asshole ethos of not caring what anyone thinks, or admit you care very much. Don’t say you do what you want and then pout about it.

But I am not one to take just one opinion over the other. I went on over to Danielle who initially created the Goths Against Cancel Culture Group on Facebook and asked if she would be willing to answer a couple of questions regarding this subject. She agreed and we had a chat. A cursory introduction: Danielle is a centrist Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative. The very first thing I was curious about was whether or not there was any basis to the claims that she made the group just because someone didn’t sell enough copies of an album. Her response was this:

I’m calling out this claim as utter nonsense. I think it may have to do with some claims I heard about the “guy in charge” of GACC. Well, that guy is me. It is a baseless rumor spun by those who prefer slander to truth, driven by the rush of internet validation dopamine hits. I initiated this group on my lunch break on September 25, 2025, driven by a deep-seated resolve to stand up for friends and creatives in the goth and industrial scenes. This is not just a cause for me or my friends; it’s a part of who I am, a reflection of our shared love for this unique and vibrant subculture. I am resolute in my refusal to let the venom of unverified gossip, warped context, and unjust attacks tarnish it.

She continued to discuss her intent with the GACC group saying that she has nothing to gain from it and that’s she already leads a successful life. She stated:

Art and music fill my everyday life, but as a hobbyist. I write songs but releasing them would not provide any financial benefit to me; I have a successful career. I’m a middle-aged married woman with three dogs. I rescue animals and have a passion for songwriting, piano, guitar, art, and costumes. I am not a chart-chasing diva, and I also care very little about what others think of me.

The next discussion revolved around the idea that her group was filled with racists, transphobes, and other such nasties. To that she responded with:

These accusations – not real reports, but in fact a large, vicious game of telephone – are vile smears, hurled by individuals too eager to condemn without verifying the facts. GACC is a nonpartisan bastion for the goth and industrial scene, rooted in its rebellious, apolitical core, not peddling ideologies. We welcome all, conservatives, liberals, and those who shun ballots, united by a commitment to free expression and mutual respect under our non-aggression principle. True hate, neo-Nazi filth, or blatant bigotry is banned outright, and we don’t endorse artists with proven crimes, like Mr. Kitty, where the evidence is undeniable.

In addition to that I continued to question Danielle on the diversity of the GACC. She stated:

GACC embodies the original ethos of the goth scene: a vast, shadowy sanctuary where all are welcome, regardless of their creed, politics, or identity. In the ’70s, bands like Joy Division didn’t demand your political stance, they just bared their souls. We follow suit. Our members are a brilliant tapestry: people of color, LGBTQ folks, liberals, conservatives, a slew of libertarians and anarchists, and trans individuals sick of being pawns in performative outrage battles. If you cherish the scene and reject the chokehold of cancel culture, you’re with us. My admin and mod team reflects this, a diverse blend of liberals, conservatives, independents, libertarians, and apolitical voices, with three admins from left, center, and right to ensure no ideology dominates.

I can appreciate that a group does keep their lineup diversified with individuals who can debate with one another on any and all topics without falling into a pit of despair. I’ve also talked with Danielle about any controversies she’s experienced thus far. She stated:

We’ve had to eject some members who violated our non-aggression principle with insults, political rants, or aggression, like all the death threats sent my way early on. We’re a free speech zone, but that doesn’t mean you can spread harm or derail our focus on music and unity. one member was removed after flooding discussions with inflammatory political memes and personal attacks, turning civil dialogue into chaos. Despite warnings to focus on music and respect others, they persisted, so they were out. Initially, our growth led to some posts slipping through auto-approvals; however, we have since corrected this issue. Moderation’s light but resolute, with appeals allowed, ensuring we protect our ethos without becoming the authoritarian gatekeepers we oppose.

The last thing I did in regards to GACC was question one of their mods for validity. Anthony was the one who responded. Skipping through the boring introductory questions, he identifies as a homosexual who has been involved in the industrial hard techno scene since the early 90s and is a libertarian. When asked about his opinion on Cancel Culture, he stated:

I’m an absolutist when it comes to freedom of speech and artistic expression, I don’t believe in cancel culture at all being a productive environment for an artist to thrive. With all art the artist should be allowed to explore the darkest most twisted human emotions, whether they make you uncomfortable or not.

This is something I agree with. Free speech can make you uncomfortable and it probably should. That doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences to free speech, but the moment you attempt to nullify’s someone’s right to free speech then you become the issue.

The last thing I wanted to do was get away from the inner workings of the Dark scene and talk to someone who is a bit on the outside. And so I spoke with Str Helvete of Helvete Inc. Again, skipping over the introduction part, Helvete is a gay, black man who doesn’t have a political identity. When asked about his involvement in the scene, Helvete stated:

I think I exist on the outskirts of it. Close enough to see things from a comfortable distance without being sucked into the chaotic nonsense that seems to plague those scenes constantly.

That’s fair enough as I, too, also, as well exist a bit on the outskirts but see all the chaos and laugh at most of it. And when I asked him about cancel culture in the scene he stated:

I have actual important things in life to worry about. I feel like once you’re a certain age with real life responsibilities, you don’t have the time or energy to get wrapped up in Spooky Music Civil War. That sort of thing is better left to kids in the scene with too much time on their hands who like fighting, edgelording, and virtue signaling on the internet. The internet has given self-righteous soapbox preachers and witch-hunters more power and the ability to do more damage without making anything better. It stops being about any sort of social justice and safety, but more the thrill of calling people to task and having the power to “cancel” someone while ultimately doing nothing of real-world value.

And this is something that needs to be reflected; a lot of people who shout on the internet do just that: shout on the internet. Loud enough to be heard online but in the real, physical world they do nothing more then stand around and be lifeless. Continuing on his rant, he stated:

When I was asked to participate in this interview I was a bit hesitant because I wasn’t sure I wanted to be involved with the shitstorm that is the current social climate and I actually had to think about whether or not I was prepared for whatever backlash there may be. I then realized how absolutely ridiculous that thought, and the entire situation is. I’ll be sure to have my publicist write out the script for my Youtube apology video, lay low for a while, then do a comeback tour when the mob has gone on to the next hot topic. That’s how this whole thing works, right?

The sarcasm is brutal but the honesty is stark. When I first started typing up this article I knew that this was going to kick the hornet’s nest. But it will also show me who’s who; am I going to be canceled for going into an opinion piece with an unbiased opinion? Or will people be a little more understanding moving forward and realize that not everyone has to think identically. Continuing the conversation with Cancel Culture I asked him if he had ever known anyone that deserved to be cancelled which he responded with:

I really try not to concern myself with other people’s businesses. There seem to be people who devote their lives to dredging through any source they can to find dirt on any and everyone so they can trot it out for the internet to examine and judge. Obviously I hear things from time to time as that is the nature of things but I don’t bother with details. Perhaps someone deserved to be canceled, perhaps they didn’t. I don’t know, I wasn’t there and if it has nothing to do with me then I don’t find it important enough to investigate.

And this is another point that I can agree with. I have received so many complaints and so many ideas from people on the internet about who I should listen to, who I shouldn’t, why I should and why I shouldn’t, where they came from and what they did or did not do, most of the time without any evidence just word-of-mouth from a he-said-she-said situation. At a certain point of time where does it all end? No one’s perfect, everyone’s done something wrong, and everyone’s guilty of something in their life that people would love to bring up and destroy them with. Such is the nature of man.

To me, Cancel Culture is both good and bad. In the case of horrible people such as Mr.Kitty and Joe Letz and others like them I think it’s great to know who they are, what they’ve done, and why they shouldn’t be allowed in public spaces. But it’s a double-edged sword; there are plenty of people in the dark scene who try to get others canceled for the simple reason that they don’t like someone or something they did. Keeping things anonymous, someone recently tried to cancel a well-loved individual in the industrial scene without any proof and just their word. While it was taken seriously, many individuals close to the accused dove deep into the accusations and found absolutely nothing. The topic was dropped and people moved on.

To me it’s a simple matter of doing your own research and not believing everything any one person or individual states. While it’s true that anyone who is brave enough to come forth with serious accusations should be treated with respect, I also believe that it’s important to uphold the phrase, “Innocent until proven guilty.” Do your own research, find out what went wrong and who did what. Sometimes you’ll find the bad guy. Other times you’ll find whatever’s being said is baseless or silly. Just don’t fall for mob tactics just because you want to be a part of something.