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Influential US progressive metal band ISIS, have been confused with the reviled terrorist group of the same name and are experiencing some unwarranted backlash from fans on social media.

According to the band, its members are being inundated on social media with posts from people who believe they are somehow associated with the terrorist group, which recently claimed responsibility for beheading American journalist James Foley.

“It certainly caught us off guard. Fans have emailed us that they’re reluctant to wear our T-shirts now and we’ve also gotten some off-colour comments,” Aaron Harris, the band’s former drummer, told ABC News. “Just like our fans, we’ve been watching the news in disbelief. We haven’t commented on it because we haven’t been an active band since 2010, even though our music does live on.”

Having formed in 1997 in Boston, ISIS went on to release many influential albums, including 2002’s Oceanic, 2004’s Panopticon and 2006’s In the Absence of Truth. They last toured Australia in 2009 as part of that year’s Soundwave festival. Although they officially disbanded in 2010, their Facebook page is still active to support the current musical projects of former members, three of which, formed Palms with Deftones frontman Chino Moreno.

“It is an unfortunate situation and of course a few less than enlightened people are not seeing the distinction between an inactive band of musicians and a band of terrorists involved in current world affairs,” a representative from Ipecac, the band’s label, told ABC News.

To help clear up confusion, the band have changed the name of their official Facebook page from “ISIS” to “Isis the band.”

Watch: Isis – Pliable Foe