Clifton fest promoter: White supremacy, antisemitism songs not hate speech, just 'black metal'

Joshua Jongsma | NorthJersey

UPDATE: Clifton's Dingbatz cancels controversial bands' performances

Several bands scheduled to perform in Clifton on Saturday sing about white supremacy and antisemitism, but the festival's promoter said it's not hate speech, it's just "black metal."

Nyogthaeblisz, Intolitarian and Northern are among acts scheduled to appear at "Vengeance FEST III" at Dingbatz on Van Houten Avenue from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Nyogthaeblisz appeared on an album titled "Satanic Skinhead: Declaration Of Anti-Semetic Terror." Lyrics on the album from one band are: "Noxious death-gases and enraptured hellfire/Viciously devastating the menial Israelite rats/Lion of Judah envenomed, withers and ceases to be," according to Washington City Paper.

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A representative from Dingbatz, a club with a stage and bar, deferred comment to the promoter of the festival KEP Productions, describing the festival as an "outside event."

"He booked this festival four months ago and I received one email today with concerns," the Dingbatz rep said Wednesday.

There's no validity to claims of hate speech from the bands at the festival, said promoter for KEP Promotions Kyle Powell. Some controversy, he said, is to be expected from black metal. He pointed out some members of Nyogthaeblisz are Mexican.

"People are hell bent on being PC and get offended," Powell said. "If you’re offended then fine don’t attend the show, but don’t try to ruin it for the people who have traveled and paid to see the artists play."

One of the band's record labels was called Satanic Skinhead Propaganda.

"It’s a black metal show so black metal deals with evil and doom and various things of that nature," Powell said.

Shocking lyrics or names can be used to invoke curiosity and lead to album sales, Powell said.

Antichrist Kramer, part of the band Intolitarian, is credited for a track called "Bioterroristic Holocaust 666" with Nyogthaeblisz.

Clifton Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said he was not aware of the weekend band festival.

“We haven’t had any major concerns with (Dingbatz)” Bracken said, adding the venue has been "pretty diligent in reporting all incidents." The lieutenant said at this time he does not believe there is a need for additional security.

In a 2017 photo on the band's Facebook page, Northern appears to be performing in front of a black sun symbol that has connections to the Nazi party.

Last year, a Philadelphia bar canceled a show scheduled by Nyogthaeblisz due to concerns over the band's subject matter. The band performed anyway, under a fake name, Philadelphia Magazine reported.

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Staff Writer Matt Fagan contributed to this story.

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com