Artist Showcase: Assault
Rustbelt Rock Reviews
By: Z.M. Delgado
Zackolantern.com
Volume #17: Artist Showcase: Assault
June 17, 2022
Independent Artist
Good evening, Rustbelt Rockers. Tonight I have a piece that is pretty exciting for me to finally write. It is June the 24th and I am sitting on my couch listening to Assault’s“A Blind Eye,” an album that I will tell you more about in a few weeks. Officially not available until July 15th, I managed to weasel myself a copy. This is in part because of my role within the Cleveland Metal Underground as its personal Gonzo Journalist. However, I received the album also as a favor from the guys in Assault. You see, over the past few years I have been following the band via social media, and keeping in loose contact with their frontman Dylan Andras. Dylan and I first met about six years back…
Assault: Dom, Dave, Owen & Dylan
Chance encounters:
2016
Chen and I were hammered. There is some dispute as to what club we were even in, but that is really a minor point in the story. While Cleveland was celebrating the end of “The Curse,” we were personally in a state of mourning. The Metal world was still coming to grips with the loss of our patron saint, Lemmy. As such Chen and I vowed to wear our Motorhead shirts to every show for a year. So as we staggered up to the stage that fateful night, we found a local act constructed from a bunch of kids, including a 16 year old Dylan. He saw us, pointed out our shirts and sent the next song out to us. The fledgling Assault then broke into “Killed by Death” and totally nailed it. Chen and I were drunkenly impressed and inspired. We spoke to the band after the set and found them on Facebook. Then we parted ways and didn’t see each other until March 2022...
What followed was the experience I catalogued in RbRR #3, my very first show review. I wasn’t seeing Assault that night, but rather drove to Michigan to see “Lich King” with support from, among others Cleveland’s “Mutilation Barbecue,” the second of Dylan’s six music projects. I didn’t know about MutiBBQ or Dylan’s involvement in the group until days prior to the show. That night we finally hung out and I promised him I’d be at the next Assault gig. Of course I made it, that was RbRR #7, and it ended up being a great experience. Also it was my introduction to Assault in its new high powered form; Dylan now supported by three musicians of exceptional talent. That night solidified my fandom. They proved to me they were no longer a teenage garage band. They had also become more than just some local act that managed to slap together a decent demo. No, Assault was neither of those things. They had grown into something far greater, far more powerful: Assault was now a fully realized, powerhouse of a Thrash Metal band.
Symbiosis:
From there on out I was on board and found an interesting relationship developing. It was some sort of unintended symbiosis. I gave the band media attention and they gave me access. You see, every time I’ve seen Assault, they’ve played with a different line up of acts. So each show I attend in support of my home town favorites, I am treated to a fresh dose of Cleveland’s best and brightest Metal artists. It has blossomed into a wonderful ecosystem, with me able to spread my thoughts on, and awareness of, so many bands. In return I gain source material and a dedicated reader base comprised of my favorite people: Fanatical Metalheads. So here we are. Six years after a chance meeting with a young guitarist, that leads to another seemingly random encounter in Michigan, which in turn leads us right here. I am writing my 17th review. 17 times I have sat down to share my musings with you, 17 times you have joined me…and each week your number grows. I have to believe that you have been enjoying this journey with me.
So yeah, I am again talking about Assault. This time is so different though because this time, it’s the big one! We are counting down to July 15th and the Album release; believe me folks the anticipation is growing. Of course I am here to document it, and if I can, urge it along a bit. With that in mind I have a three part piece to present to you, this article being the first installment. Number two will be my full review of “A Blind Eye” and the final part will my retrospective account on the party itself and anything of note leading up to it.
Owen
An Interview:
For the first installment, aside from that lengthy introduction, the main focus of this article will be my interview with the boys. In the hours leading up to the show June 17th (RbRR #16), I was fortunate enough to sit down with both Bewitcher and Wraith, but my interview with Assault was always my main focus for the night. So after harassing Mr. Andras, he agreed to round up his entire team and give me some time. Some time ended up being over 40 minutes of recorded interview that varied from the bands back story and deep lyrical explanations, to inside jokes and nonsensical hilarity. I will try to keep the article in a more linear form than the interview was but, as I have come to find out, when dealing with Assault you can expect things will rarely go as planned.
Dave, Dom, Owen
A History of Assault:
Who is Assault? (A just question, my liege.) Assault is a four piece Thrash Metal band from Cleveland, OH. They are comprised of Dylan Andras (Vox/Rhythm Guitar), Domenic Velioniskis (Lead Guitar), Dave “Rolling Thunder” McJunkins (Bass) and Owen Pooley (Drums). I wondered why they chose Thrash. (As I have stated in past articles, due to its speed and inherent complexity, I feel it is the most difficult form of Metal to create.) When asked, Rolling Thunder responded “Why not!?” in a way that led me to believe I had offended the man with the mere question. Dylan replied “Uh, Metallica,” then “Megadeth, Pantera really resonated with me and that was it.” As for other influences they listed: Slayer, Motorhead, Anthrax, Michael Schenker, Every Time I Die, Iron Maiden; specifically Steve Harris, and Pantera (No that is not a typo, Assault insisted I list them twice.)
Assault at the Grog Shop.
Dylan in the moment.
Dylan founded Assault in 2014. During this period they had around 12 different members cycle through the group, including a brief stint with Dom. Dylan finally found Rolling Thunder and Owen in 2018. At which point Dom rejoined the band, finalizing it into its current incarnation. Since then they have played relentlessly, gaining valuable stage experience while honing their craft. They released a DIY demo in 2018. That circulated leading to them being solicited online by a producer who wanted to record them. Dylan was attracted to the project because of the producer’s connection to the band “Moon Tooth.” They were told that for a mere four thousand dollars, they would receive two weeks studio time limited only by their own desire to work. They were housed in studio and sleeping in bunk beds right down the hall from the recording gear in Long Island, NYC. Sounds good right? Well as it turns out, not quite. I forgot to mention the PS4, WiFi or the New Years Eve party. Add in intoxication, lackadaisical work hours and an unskilled, disinterested producer and you have a very expensive debacle for a group of young musicians. Upon entering the studio many of the songs were unfinished, with solos being improvised on the spot. A convoluted schedule meant the band members weren’t all present at the same times, preventing meaningful collaborations. In the end, Assault came back to Cleveland without a new album, but with some very valuable experience gained.
Enter Noah Buchanan of Mercenary Studios, Guitarist of Nunslaughter. Here Assault tried their hands again, betting on a hometown boy with Rustbelt sensibilities. In Mercenary, they found a setting that was both relaxed and professional. The close proximity to home allowed the band to dictate their own pace, and focus on the quality of the recording as well as capturing their live energy on tape (Something the band thought was absolutely essential.). While chronologically it took longer than the NYC sessions, the time they now had was used more efficiently with the lessons learned. The end result is a tight and aggressive Thrash record.
A Blind Eye, Cover art by Kasia Jasmina
Album art was conceived by Dom. It was brought to life by European Artist Kasia Jasmina, based on a sketch provided by the band. They seemed very happy with the outcome, saying they had “100%” input into the process. Depicting a two headed snake emerging from a skull, set before the Cleveland skyline, it is a very nice piece of Heavy Metal artwork.
Dylan
Creating a Death Solution:
So long before this fearsome foursome had a finished album, or even a studio story to tell, they had to write some songs, correct? I began to wonder, “How does Assault approach the process?” Well it all begins with Dylan and Owen. The frontman and drummer take pieces of songs: snippets and ideas and jam them out. They then stitch them together into a patchwork. Later they bring in these skeletons of tracks to Rolling Thunder and Dom so they can add the meat. Once Bass and Leads are mapped out, then they move into lyrics, penned mostly by Dylan and Dom.
Owen
Rolling Thunder!
These lyrics cover a wide area of subject matter. Take “Death Solution,” for example. Dylan described it as “just about banging your head.” I would put it in line with classic Thrash tracks such as “Bonded by Blood” and “Metal Militia.” “Blind Eye,” originally entitled “Turtles,” is about environmentalism and how humanity has ignored reality while we are systematically poisoning our planet. “Antebellum,” a highly politicized track, was inspired by the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. “Obey/Decay” deals with Guitarist Dom’s problematic history with cocaine (No worries, he’s been clean for a while now.). The band also told me on some tracks they will mix and mold together different themes within one song to obscure their true meanings while leaving the lyrics open to listener interpretations: “Leech,” the band explained is both about “capitalist pigs,” as well as a particularly vile Ex-girlfriend of Dylan’s. The best example of this would be “The Second Head of the Snake.” Possibly the most epic of the songs on the record, is also one of its oldest. Dylan told me he began work on the track as early as 2016 and he described it as “angsty.”
Dom
When I asked him to discuss the metaphor behind the snake, he gave a long, and slightly rambling, account. He detailed an unnamed, man-eating mythological serpent of pagan lore. It is apparently only active at sundown and is the equivalent of the “Devil” to this nameless sect. This story continued for some time before he mentioned that its inception began following a disagreement with his stepfather… over doing the dishes. It was at this point that his band members erupted into laughter. “I was wondering when the dishes would come into it.” Rolling Thunder said with a grin. While Dom mockingly added, “I was gonna let you go on with all your pagan snake shit.” The recording becomes largely unintelligible at this point as a result of the gales of laughter. Here Dylan lightheartedly confessed, “If you want the short answer: I was mad because I had to do the dishes and I’m like ‘I’M ANGRY EVERYBODY!’ So it’s just about… Fuckers that make you mad.” Whatever teenage angst caused the inspiration, when you hear the record, you’ll have to agree it turned into one hell of a Metal song.
The Scene:
No matter how good a band is, they can’t get far without their fans. I asked Assault about the Cleveland Metal scene and they lent some interesting insights. While, like most Midwestern musicians, they at times dreamed about packing it up and going to try their hands in L.A., they have since dug in their Rustbelt roots. “Cleveland’s home. Cleveland will always be home.” Said Dom.
They told me about their high school experiences and it was a common tale. Being outsiders, having few peers who identified with the music they enjoyed, and then finding a community in the Metal Scene. When the band hits the road they take their loyalty to this Scene with them; representing for Cleveland with their own brand of brutal Thrash. The band has seen this tribe grow along with them. Dom explained that from 2016-18 the underground scene “Kinda fucking sucked ass. It was terrible.” Currently it is thriving, in no small part due to Assault’s stewardship. I believe the COVID shut down had something to do with the resurgence as well. When the music returned our love of the live experience boiled over and we came out in force. Now we find ourselves in a sea of enthusiasm with a Thrash Metal monster at the helm. “The Cleveland Metal Scene, dude, has been fucking crazy lately.” said Dylan. “The last two or three years it has ramped the fuck up. It’s just getting bigger.” added Rolling Thunder.
Who's ready to crush cans with Rolling Thunder!?
One Hell of a Party …Somewhere:
So how big and bad has this scene become, my friends we will soon see. Saturday, July23rd, 2022 Assault will officially celebrate “A Blind Eye” at Cleveland’s legendary Grog Shop. This party, true to form, was another debacle unto itself. In the months leading up to now, I have relentlessly hounded the band at every opportunity, trying to get the opportunity to break this story. Well many of you who read RbRR #12, will remember I had originally announced the party to be on the 16th at No Class. That was the first plan, until Chen randomly perused the web and found a Weedeater show scheduled for the same club, same night. I immediately questioned Assault and they confirmed. They then snapped into crisis mode and frantically attempted to find an alternate venue. They got a confirmation from The Foundry, only to have the same situation somehow rear its ugly head a few days later: another accidental double booking. Now things looked really bad, as stages were filling up fast and the timeframe was whittling down. Then, Lemmy smiled down upon the boys, with a true Rock N’ Roll blessing: an opening at the Grog. Probably the best small venue in town, the Grog Shop is the perfect place for Assault to present their album to the world.
So now, we party Cleveland! What a night it should be. One to remember for sure, but what to expect? Here’s what we know so far:
ASSAULT - “A BLIND EYE” Release Party
w/ Atomic Witch and Necroprophecy
The Grog Shop
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
9pm $10
Be there!
So there you have it: The official facts. Three bands, ten bucks, one hell of a value. Add in Grog’s signature $5 tall cans and you’ve got a recipe for a packed house. I would advise you to buy tickets ahead of time, as high turnout is expected. Speaking of that turn out, the fans will get an additional treat the night of the 23rd. According to the band, Assault will finally be presenting their new batch of merch. Not even I have gotten a peek at the designs as of yet. The guys have assured me there will be Cd’s, Tapes, T-shirts, patches and stickers available. They also mentioned the possibility of snapback caps, back patches, booty shorts and even… Vinyl LP’s. All of this is still up in the air, as like the studio and the venue, Assault is prone to last minute changes. That being said, I know the boys won’t miss the opportunity to cash in on this once in a life time event. I don’t doubt for a second we’ll have plenty of reasons to leave our hard earned dollars with Assault that night.
Fun on a Bun:
So before I close out this article, I have a few other nuggets of info for you. Let’s call them fun facts.
For one, the boys in Assault are busy. As I already mentioned Dylan has a ridiculous 6 different music projects going: Assault, Mutilation Barbecue, Olathia, Earthrise, Dylan and Dom and a solo acoustic project. Owen also keeps very busy, frequently on the road with his second act, 200 Stab Wounds.
This intermingling of musicians has made the community very tight knot; making Assault not just participants, but also huge supporters of the scene. You will see the boys at many gigs around town, in the pit in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Rock. They made it a point to shout out Church&State & Zō in the interview, two bands that impressed them and me. It is cool to see this “family like” vibe in the clubs.
I did discover something I found very concerning. When asked who their favorite Ninja Turtles were, they all said “Mikey.” For me, this sent up immediate red flags. With four men of their talents, who all identify with Michelangelo in one group, it could lead to debauchery the likes of which this world has never seen.
Dom asked the group, to solve the age old debate of Booty vs. Boobs, to which all present swore allegiance to the ass (though Rolling Thunder seemed on the fence.).
I wondered if there was anything I had missed, so I opened the floor to the boys and asked, if they had anything you want to communicate to my readers. To this the Dom quickly answered, “I have one nut! That’s a fact! Single jingle.” And “If you look at my car I have fuzzy dice, but I cut one of them off.” Rolling Thunder added, “He’s a Cyclops below the belt.”
This man has one nut, but still more balls than you!
I closed the interview with one final question: If you were a Metal Head who had never heard Assault, why should you come check them out the next chance you get?
“Because we fucking said so.” was Dylan’s response. Rolling Thunder answered, “Dude, because we don’t have a gimmick.” Dom disagreed. “No, we kind of do, but in a good way. I feel that we are the only ones in the city that can actually encapsulate what made Metal so cool in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Everyone else tries to do it and they don’t do it well.” Dylan elaborated further with “We’re not cheesy about it either. We’re not pizza thrash. Put that down.”
I absolutely will. Assault: Four Michelangelos, Seven testicles, Zero Pizza.
That’s really what it’s about isn’t it though: Thrash Metal… hell… ALL Metal really. About angry teenagers picking up guitars and growing into legends. It’s about vibrant and violent scenes where people come together and throw down for the world’s greatest art form. It’s about guitars and drums and headbanging until your neck snaps. It’s about only having 7 nuts between you, but still having more balls than anyone in the room. On that note I will leave you. I hope you have enjoyed this closer look at our rising stars in Assault. I hope also that I have peaked your interest and it will bring you out to join me as we fire up the circle pit on July 23rd. I’ll see you there and don’t forget to pick up Assault’s New Album “A Blind Eye” available July 15th. Check out their Bandcamp to hear the single “Antebellum” right now.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Zackolantern.com
June 24th-26th
Assault
@assaultcle
Atomic Witch
Atomicwitch.bandcamp.com/
@atomicwitch_
Necroprophecy
@necroprophecy.official
Assault will also be performing :
July 2nd, 2022
w/ Truckstop, Dark Secret, The Grym Sins, Kaos
Dils Center 521 Market St.
Parkersburg WV, 26101.
July 7-10, 2022
Full Terror Assault Open Air 2022
Cave in Rock, Illinois
Hogrock Campground
