The organizers of the Party.San Metal Open Air festival, set to take place August 9-11, 2007 in Bad Berka, Germany, have removed Norwegian black metallers Taake from the billing of this year's event after the group's singer Hoest appeared on stage in Essen, Germany, last week with a swastika drawn on his chest.

The explanation of the decision reads as follows: "We wouldn't support a black metal band which needs a swastika to provoke or to superimpose their lack of musicianship. We only support the true evil black metal and no Christian-influenced Nazi scum!"

As a result, Taake have also been officially removed from the billing of the Tomahawk Festival and the Ragnarök Festival in Germany.