Heavy Metal Bands To Rock Dutch Town

A heavy metal rock festival hoping to hold an open-air concert in an area known as the Dutch Bible Belt received a permit on one condition: no cursing.

The Elsrock festival caused an uproar last year when it was held for the first time outside the small, heavily religious town of Rijssen, 75 miles east of Amsterdam.

Two religious political parties complained that heavy metal "is typified by lyrics about death and decay, and vocals that change between a hellish wail and deep grunts."

Churches protesting a new concert this year were pacified only by "the stated readiness of the organizers to make sure that no blasphemous words are used, and that the honor of God's name is not besmirched," Mayor Bort Koelewijn wrote in a letter granting the permit, made public Tuesday.

"Should there in practice be any blasphemy, I'll ask the district attorney to prosecute."

A spokeswoman for the town said the concert was scheduled for Aug. 25, and as many as 1,200 people were expected to attend. She did not know the names of any of the bands.

Organizers could not immediately be reached for comment.