The Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) has issued religious guidelines on black metal, a subgenre of music that has been thrust into the spotlight after Swedish black metal band Watain was banned from performing here.

In a media release yesterday, it stated that elements of black metal are "clearly in opposition to Islamic teachings" and that such music may lead to the glorification of Syaitan, or the devil, and "to the level of worshipping him as God".