Garfield Metal Festival Called Off After Community Raises Concerns Over Alleged Extremist Ties
A controversial heavy metal music festival scheduled to take place in Garfield, New Jersey, has been canceled after residents and anti-hate advocates voiced concerns about several bands that were expected to perform at the event.
The festival, known as Vengeance Fest VII, had recently come under growing public scrutiny following allegations that some participating bands were connected to white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideology. The criticism quickly spread across social media platforms, where community members and advocacy groups questioned the event’s lineup and the background of those involved in organizing the festival.
One of the organizations that publicly raised concerns was One People’s Project, a New Brunswick-based group that monitors and reports on hate groups and extremist activity. In a public statement shared in mid-June, the organization described the event as a gathering connected to extremist elements within the music scene. The group also highlighted past controversies surrounding the festival and pointed to alleged links between some scheduled performers and National Socialist Black Metal, a subgenre that has been widely associated with neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs.
Additional criticism focused on K.E.P. Productions and its owner, Kyle Powell, who organized the event. Advocacy groups cited previous concerns about the company’s role within the controversial music scene. The Southern Poverty Law Center has previously described Powell’s music label as a significant participant in what it referred to as the hate music movement.
As public attention intensified, the venue hosting the event, the Wisla Club in Garfield, announced that the festival would no longer take place. In a statement shared publicly, the club’s board of directors said it had not been aware of the alleged affiliations connected to some of the bands when the event was booked.
The board emphasized that the organization does not support hatred, discrimination, racism, or extremist beliefs of any kind. According to the statement, once concerns were brought forward by members of the community, the venue reviewed the situation and ultimately decided to cancel the event.
The controversy also prompted responses from some of the musicians who had been scheduled to perform. Josh Hammond, a member of the band Mourning, stated publicly that the group was unaware of the issues surrounding the festival before the criticism emerged.
Hammond said the band rejects racism and hateful ideologies and does not wish to be associated with any movement that promotes discrimination or intolerance. The statement sought to distance the group from the allegations connected to the event and reaffirm its opposition to extremist views.
Local officials in Bergen County welcomed the cancellation and praised the venue for responding to community concerns. In a joint statement, county leaders said the decision reflected the values of local residents and reinforced the message that hate and discrimination are not welcome in the community.
The cancellation marks the latest example of local organizations and residents taking action when concerns are raised about events linked to extremist ideologies. Community advocates argued that public venues have a responsibility to understand the nature of the events they host and to respond appropriately when credible concerns emerge.
While supporters of the festival had anticipated a weekend focused on live music, the event ultimately became the center of a broader discussion about community standards, public accountability, and the role venues play in ensuring that gatherings do not provide a platform for hate-based messages.
The festival will no longer take place as scheduled, bringing an end to a controversy that drew attention from residents, advocacy organizations, musicians, and local officials across Bergen County.
Sources
- One People’s Project
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- Wisla Club Official Statement
- Bergen County Officials’ Joint Statement
- Public Statement by Josh Hammond of Mourning
