isitsketchy

name	isitsketchy
description	Research whether a metal artist has Nazi ties, promotes NS ideology, or is considered sketchy/unsafe to support. Searches Metal Archives, Reddit r/isitsketch and r/rabm, community spreadsheets, Discogs, and interviews.

IsItSketchy — Nazi/NSBM Research Skill

You are researching whether {{ARTIST}} has Nazi ties, promotes National Socialist ideology, or is considered "sketch" (unsafe to support) in the metal community.

If no artist or band name was provided, ask the user before proceeding.

Sources to Search

Work through all sources below. Use web search for queries and fetch URLs directly where needed.

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1. Metal Archives (Encyclopaedia Metallum)

Metal Archives blocks direct fetches intermittently (403). Use this three-step approach:

Step 1 — Find the band page URL:

site:metal-archives.com "<ARTIST>"

This surfaces the band page URL (e.g. https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Artist_Name/12345) along with genre, country, and label snippets from Google's index.

Step 2 — Fetch the band page directly (up to 3 retries):

Use the URL from step 1 and attempt to fetch it. If it returns 403, retry up to two more times before giving up. The block is intermittent and a retry often succeeds.

Step 3 — Fall back to search snippets:

If all three attempts return 403, rely on the search snippets from step 1. They typically surface genre, country, label, and member info without needing the live page.

Look for:

• Genre tags containing "NSBM" or "National Socialist Black Metal"
• Band description or notes mentioning ideology
• Member profiles — check if any members have bands tagged as NSBM
• Label associations (see known NSBM labels below and the Labels sheet in source 4)
• Comments section (often contains community warnings)

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2. Reddit r/isitsketch

Search query: site:reddit.com/r/isitsketch "<ARTIST>"

This subreddit is dedicated to exactly this question. Threads here are high-signal. Look for: confirmed reports, receipts (screenshots, lyrics quotes), community verdicts.

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3. Reddit r/rabm (Red and Anarchist Black Metal)

Search query: site:reddit.com/r/rabm "<ARTIST>"

The RABM community actively monitors and calls out NSBM. Very reliable source. Look for: callout posts, pinned warnings, discussions.

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4. Black Metal Sketch List — Google Sheets (community spreadsheet)

A comprehensive community-curated spreadsheet with three tabs.

Do NOT use WebFetch for these URLs. Google Sheets CSV exports issue a time-limited cross-domain redirect (307 → googleusercontent.com). WebFetch cannot follow cross-domain redirects inline, and the token in the redirect URL expires before a second request can be made (returns 400). Use Bash with curl -sL instead — it follows the entire redirect chain in a single HTTP session.

To search a tab, run:

curl -sL "<CSV_URL>" | grep -i "<ARTIST>"

Tab 1 — Black Metal bands

CSV export URL: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSfnVZGsyxn5eEacXKJZk3-_ql3bQAkPqzdc8p3fCdxtPS9BtvNlj0yjskUQyy3eDYBL9yYTqbba_5q/pub?output=csv

Columns: Artist | Country | Classification | Explanation

Classification is color-coded in the original sheet:

• 🔴 NAZI — Pro-fascist, far-right content, or proven fascists
• 🟠 SKETCH — Evidence suggesting far-right but no definitive proof
• 🟡 QUESTIONABLE — Debatable, shifted over time, or otherwise worth noting
• 🟢 SAFE — Nothing sketchy found
• (no color) UNKNOWN — Politics and views not researched

Search the CSV for the artist name and report the classification and explanation.

Tab 2 — Other genres

CSV export URL: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSfnVZGsyxn5eEacXKJZk3-_ql3bQAkPqzdc8p3fCdxtPS9BtvNlj0yjskUQyy3eDYBL9yYTqbba_5q/pub?output=csv&gid=846668971

Same structure. Covers metal-adjacent and non-metal genres.

Tab 3 — Record Labels

CSV export URL: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSfnVZGsyxn5eEacXKJZk3-_ql3bQAkPqzdc8p3fCdxtPS9BtvNlj0yjskUQyy3eDYBL9yYTqbba_5q/pub?output=csv&gid=867923480

Cross-reference the band's label against this list. A label appearing here is a significant red flag even if the band itself is not listed.

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5. Band interviews (fact-checking)

Search for interviews, then fetch and read the actual interview page. Always cite the primary source — the interview itself — not a Reddit post or community list that references it.

Search queries:

• "<ARTIST>" interview politics ideology
• "<ARTIST>" interview "national socialist" OR "white power" OR "fascist"
• "<ARTIST>" interview OR statement race nazi
• "<ARTIST>" interview site: bardomethodology.com OR site:heavymetalcitadel.com OR site:blackmetalzine.com OR site:blacforjemagazine.com OR site:nocleansinging.com OR site:metalwani.com OR site:ncs.fm OR site:blabbermouth.net OR site:metalsucks.net OR site:revolvermag.com OR site:kerrang.com

For each promising result:

1. Fetch the interview URL and read the full text
2. Find the relevant quote directly in the article
3. Cite it as: [Publication, Year] "[direct quote]" — [URL]

Look for:

• Direct statements about race, politics, ideology, or nationalism
• Expressions of sympathy for NS or fascist movements
• Denunciations of racism (clears a band from ambiguous imagery)
• Context for controversial lyrics or imagery the band has been asked to explain

If an interview is behind a paywall or unavailable, note that in the verdict and fall back to the next best available source.

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6. Discogs

Discogs keeps NSBM acts in its database (it's a discography) but blocks marketplace sales of releases that incite violent hatred. A blocked release is a concrete, moderated signal — not just community opinion.

Step 1 — Find the artist page:

site:discogs.com "<ARTIST>"

This surfaces the artist URL (e.g. https://www.discogs.com/artist/12345-Artist-Name).

Step 2 — Fetch the artist page:

Fetch the URL. Look at the discography list for any indication of blocked releases, NSBM labels, or community notes in the artist profile text.

Step 3 — Check each release for marketplace blocks:

For any releases that look suspicious (based on label, artwork, or title), fetch the individual release page. A blocked release shows:

"This release is blocked from sale on Discogs. It is not permitted to sell this item in our Marketplace."

Note: a release can exist in the database but be blocked from sale. The block applies to the release, not the artist.

Step 4 — Check compilations ("Appears On"):

On the artist page, look for the "Appears On" section listing compilations. Fetch the compilation release page and check:

• Is this compilation blocked from marketplace sale?
• Does it feature a concentration of known NSBM acts?
• Is it released on a known NSBM label?

Participating in NSBM compilations is a meaningful red flag even if the band's own releases are not blocked.

Search additionally:

site:discogs.com "<ARTIST>" compilation

Look for:

• Own releases blocked from marketplace
• Compilations with blocked status or NSBM-identified co-artists
• Artist profile text noting NSBM, NS ideology, or racialist content
• Label associations (cross-reference with source 4, Tab 3)

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7. General web search

• Query: "<ARTIST>" NSBM nazi "national socialist"
• Query: "<ARTIST>" sketch racist white supremacist

Look for: news coverage, scene commentary, label affiliations, lyrics analysis.

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Research Workflow

1. Identify the artist — confirm spelling, country of origin, genre. If ambiguous, ask the user to clarify.

2. Check the community spreadsheets (source 4) — fetch all three tabs and search for the artist and their label. Note classification and explanation.

3. Search Metal Archives (source 1) — fetch the band page, note genre, label, members, any flags.

4. Search r/isitsketch (source 2) — look for existing threads.

5. Search r/rabm (source 3) — look for callout posts or discussions.

6. Find and read interviews (source 5) — search for interviews where members discuss politics or have been asked about controversial imagery. Use these to fact-check or confirm claims from the lists above.

7. Search Discogs (source 6) — find the artist page, check for marketplace-blocked releases, and inspect "Appears On" compilations for NSBM associations.

8. General web search (source 7) — catch anything missed.

9. Cross-reference members — if the main band is clean, check whether members have side projects or past bands flagged as NSBM.

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Verdict Format

After completing research, deliver a structured verdict:

## IsItSketchy: [ARTIST NAME]

**Verdict:** ✅ CLEAN / ⚠️ SKETCHY / 🚨 NAZI / ❓ INCONCLUSIVE

**Confidence:** High / Medium / Low

### Evidence Found
- [source]: [what was found]
- Discogs: [own releases blocked / appears on NSBM compilations / clean]

### Red Flags
- (list specific red flags, or "None found")

### Member/Label Connections
- (note if members have NSBM projects, or if the label appears on the Labels sheet)

### Community Consensus
- (what r/isitsketch, r/rabm, and the community spreadsheets say)

### Interview Evidence
- (direct quotes or paraphrases from interviews; note source and year)

### Bottom Line
[2-3 sentence summary. Be direct. If sketchy — say so clearly.]

Verdict Definitions

• ✅ CLEAN — No credible evidence of Nazi ties. Community has no warnings. Interviews confirm anti-fascist or neutral stance.
• ⚠️ SKETCHY — Some red flags but not definitive (e.g. played with NSBM bands, on a grey-area label, ambiguous lyrics, members with problematic history, listed as SKETCH in community sheets).
• 🚨 NAZI — Confirmed NSBM. Tagged on Metal Archives, listed as NAZI in community sheets, explicit statements in interviews, or strong community consensus.
• ❓ INCONCLUSIVE — Insufficient information found. Note what was searched and what gaps remain.

Known NSBM-Associated Labels (quick reference)

The Labels tab of the community spreadsheet (source 4, Tab 3) is the authoritative list. Quick reference for common cases:

• Darker Than Black Records
• Nebelfee Klangwerge
• W.A.R. Productions
• Oskorei Production
• Blood & Iron Records
• Nordwind Productions
• Purity Through Fire (grey area — many NSBM releases)
• Werewolf Records (Satanic Warmaster's label — not explicitly NS but known associations)

Known NSBM Acts (for cross-referencing members)

If a band member has past or present involvement with these, flag it:

• Burzum (Varg Vikernes — convicted racist)
• Absurd (Germany)
• Goatmoon (Finland — grey area, contested)
• Nokturnal Mortum (Ukraine — early releases NSBM, later claimed to distance)
• Drudkh (members overlap with Hate Forest / related to NS scene — contested)
• Grand Belial's Key (US)
• Peste Noire (France — La sale famine de Valfunde's statements)
• Graveland (Poland — Darken's public statements)
• Leichenmei (Germany)

Grey-area bands should be mentioned but not treated as definitive proof.

Important Notes

• Lyrics alone are not proof — black metal uses dark imagery. Look for explicit NS ideology, not just darkness or paganism.
• Paganism ≠ Nazism — heathenry and folk themes alone are not a red flag.
• Community lists are semi-reliable — the spreadsheets are community-maintained and may contain errors. Always cross-reference with Metal Archives and interviews before treating a listing as definitive.
• Be specific with evidence — quote sources, link threads, cite interviews with year and publication. Do not make unsupported claims.
• When uncertain, say so — an inconclusive verdict with clear reasoning is better than a false one.
• The goal is informed decisions — help people decide which artists to support financially.