Rumor has it the influential English metal band Godflesh has postponed their North American Tour, citing visa issues potentially related to the ongoing US government shutdown. Facepalm.

The news comes from metal-leaning music blog Brooklyn Vegan, which points out that Live Nation added a note to Godflesh’s scheduled October 19 performance at Irving Plaza: “This event has been postponed – new date TBD.” An update to the band’s website implies that it might be April before the band returns to the States:

Visa issues are to blame for the postponement; Godflesh will not be touring the U.S. this October. You can read Justin’s full statement here, however, to surmise: new dates should be announced shortly for a tour in April of 2014. The new LP should be out just after that. I don’t know if it has to do with America’s mighty government shutdown debacle; due to that my wife won’t be getting paid any time soon. Things will start looking real exciting after a paycheck or two missed. Anyways, maybe this delay will give me an opportunity to go see the band. For the rest of you, I’m sorry.

All the more reason to call your congressman/woman and tell them to put an end to all this tomfoolery.