BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A black metal music festival that has been linked to Nazi-style ideology recently took place at a VFW hall in Bloomfield, sparking an outcry from local residents and elected officials.
Vengeance Fest VII was initially planned to take place at Wisla Club in Garfield, but the show was canceled in response to concerns from the public, the club said.
The concert’s promoters, KEP Productions, said they still planned to hold the show at an undisclosed location – and on June 27, they did.
“We knew this would happen and always have a backup,” organizers said. “We've been doing this since 1994. Never have I seen such weakness in a people, never... We all know who the true Nazis are.”
Multiple reports say the Bloomfield concert took place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 711 on Broughton Avenue, which rents out space for events like many other VFW facilities.
The quartermaster said that the VFW was only told it was a metal show, and that they weren’t aware of the controversy and prior cancellation in Garfield.
Photos and videos from the concert show several attendees wearing shirts of bands that use neo-Nazi symbols and doing Nazi-style salutes, idavox.com reported.
Ken Hagemann, state commander of the NJ VFW, said that while the organization cherishes the First Amendment’s free speech protections, its members also “strongly condemn discrimination, racism, antisemitism, extremism and associated violence.”
“Any criminal gang, group, or enterprise, including street gangs or motorcycle gangs or clubs, including their individual members, that are identified or listed by a federal or state law enforcement agency; are prohibited from hosting, renting, or attending any event on VFW property,” Hagemann wrote.
“At this time, it appears the post did not know the reputation of the renters, nor did they know another venue revoked their booking,” Hagemann said, adding that policies will be “reviewed and amended as necessary.”
“Unfortunately, unscrupulous people renting VFW facilities are sometimes not truthful about the event details when booking the rental and slip through the cracks like cockroaches,” he said.
The explanation wasn’t good enough for some community members.
“The promoter of this ‘festival’ is on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Hate Music list,” one person commented. “The person who booked the bands could have looked them up before accepting the money.”
The SPLC has accused the concert’s promoter, KEP Productions, of playing a central role in the racist music scene in 2025.
“Hate music will continue to serve as a potent tool for white supremacist recruiters internationally,” the nonprofit asserts.
‘PEOPLE GET TRIGGERED OVER NOTHING’
Kyle Powell of KEP Productions said the event in Bloomfield drew about 300 people. He denied the festival was hateful, blaming “woke” culture for the outrage, NorthJersey.com reported.
“I started having problems once President Obama was elected,” the Newark resident said. “Peoples' levels of sensitivity changed, and we had the rise of antifa ... people get triggered over nothing.”
Bloomfield Police Chief George Ricci told News 12 New Jersey that he sent officers to the VFW post conduct an investigation and gather additional information.
“Officers spoke with the event organizer, who denied claims of any Nazi or white supremacist affiliation,” Ricci said.
Previous social media posts from KEP Productions promoting its shows have included the uses of phrases such as “Achtung – We Demand You Attend!” In 2022, promoters mocked a post from a musician who said that he was pulling out of a show because he learned that it had ties to Nazi ideologies.
“I’m here for riffs and friendship, [expletive],” the original poster wrote. “That’s what metal has given me, and that’s the opposite of hatred.”
“This is the kind of band we’ll never do business with,” KEP commented. “No. Weakness. Allowed. In. BM. Period.”
KEP Productions has since posted online that legal proceedings are being planned against multiple parties for attempting to “stifle free speech with hashtag activism” in advance of the Bloomfield concert.
Promoters are planning to hold another Vengeance Festival in June 2027.
‘BLOOMFIELD REJECTS HATRED’
On Thursday, Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell issued a statement about the concert, noting that it was privately organized and held at a private venue – which she did not name.
“Let me be clear: Bloomfield unequivocally rejects hatred, discrimination, racism, antisemitism, extremism, and any ideology that conflicts with our values of inclusion, dignity and respect for all people,” Mundell said. “We take these concerns seriously because standing against hate is fundamental to who we are as a community.”
“As mayor, I know this news is deeply upsetting to many members of our community,” Mundell continued. “It is upsetting to me as well. The actions or beliefs of those associated with a single private event do not define Bloomfield or the people who call our township home.”
“Bloomfield has always been, and will continue to be, a welcoming community where people of all backgrounds belong,” she insisted. “We remain committed to standing against hate and fostering a community where every resident feels safe, respected and valued.”
Mundell said claims the Bloomfield Police Department “provided security” for the event are false.
“The department’s role was to respond to concerns, assess the situation, and ensure public safety in accordance with the law,” she said.
Other local officials who blasted the concert include First Ward Councilwoman Rosalee Gonzalez.
“This is not Bloomfield,” she criticized.
Some local residents said they weren’t aware the concert was taking place until it was over.
“Nazis were set to perform at a venue in Garfield,” a Facebook commenter wrote. “Anti-fascists found out and mobilized to have the venue pull the plug on the event… They instead performed to a small audience in Bloomfield.”
Many people criticized the promoters and said they don’t want shows such as the Vengeance Fest in town. Some comments seen online included:
Some community members also mentioned that Bloomfield Township has experienced its own recent racial controversies.
Last year, a Bloomfield firefighter filed a lawsuit against the township and the fire department after a fellow firefighter handed him a tied noose and asked him: “I want you to figure out what kind of knot this is.”
“This is a noose,” he replied. “This is what people used to hang my ancestors from trees.”
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