Iravera, Counting Gravestones, For Absent Friends
Volume #34: Iravera, Counting Gravestones, For Absent Friends
9/17/2022
The Vortex, 1167 Brittain Rd, Akron, OH 44305
Hello Rustbelt Rockers, and welcome to the 34th installment of the RbRR. This week I was able to check out a new club hosting three Metal bands. I was at The Vortex in Akron to see Iravera with support from Counting Gravestones and For Absent Friends. Vortex is a pretty nice spot. They boast great sound, excellent lighting and a ridiculous amount of fog machines (there were times when it was so thick that it made seeing the bands difficult and photography nearly impossible.). They also have a nice corner with a collection of free arcade games to play between bands. For what it’s worth, I have to say I love the décor and atmosphere. Also I want to mention, I appreciate that it was really clean for a small venue. So many of them border on literal shit holes, Vortex is one of the few clubs I’ve visited whose bathroom isn’t one step away from a toxic waste dump.
Metacore act, For Absent Friends, was up first. Some of you may have read my review of their recent demo in RbRR #21. The band has only been together for about a year, and is comprised of two vocalists, two guitars, drums and a bassist who also sings. They opened with their song “Inferno,” which I really enjoy. It is hard and fast and devoid of the “Metalcore cleans” that I dislike so much.
For Absent Friends
Much to my displeasure, the lead guitarist’s instrument cut out mid way through the song causing it to fall apart. This left both band members and the sound engineer scrambling frantically to correct the problem. The issue was addressed, but not fast enough to salvage the opening number. On the next track I noted how great the growls sounded, but the cleans were flat and too low making them difficult to hear. At this point one of the vocalists as well as the lead guitarist took to the floor in hopes of stirring up the crowd.
This kid rocks hard!
I have to mention the incredible performance by FAF’s lead ax man. This kid was all over the club, jumping and running. When he was on stage, he rocked out hard, headbanging with ferocity. I found his play to be the highlight of the set. Their bassist was good, while exhibiting nothing overly fancy on the fret board, he had some very quick fingers. Playing 8 songs in total, including their entire EP, they had the kids at Vortex headbanging and even garnered a small three man moshpit for one song.
For Absent Friends
My final summation is, that while they are definitely better live, I still find For Absent Friends clean vocals to be out of place, and in general to detract from their sound. On the opposite side of that coin, their growls and snarls are very intense and have an excellent tone. While I am not a fan, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that the kids in the room seemed to eat it up with gusto.
Counting Gravestones/Grxves
Up next was Counting Gravestones. I first encountered this act at the Sunshine Live benefit concert that I featured in RbRR #29. In that article I categorized them as a Deathcore band, which is not entirely accurate. While they do have many elements from that genre, it is a bit of a disservice to use that label. They opened hard and heavy, with drummer Justin providing a thundering rhythm. I was once again struck by this bands incredible stage energy. Front man Grxves and Bassist Tomo never seem to stop moving.
Counting Gravestones/Tomo
That energy quickly transferred to the crowd, which birthed a moshpit, moments later. The second song, “Crooked” had an excellent opening riff and the guitarist, Jack, put in some nice work and excellent melody. Once again I was impressed by Grxves’ vocal range. He has an outstanding ability to switch from growls to cleans in an instant, a feat that most other acts need multiple singers to accomplish.
Counting Gravestones/Jack
“Bloodbound,” which I really enjoy, brought some nice tandem guitar work as well as a great solo from guitarist, John. The moshing continued throughout the set, as the fans seemed to be enthralled by CG’s intensity. Their song “Tombstone Doors” opened with a very creepy, almost atmospheric, intro that I loved. They went on to debut a previously unreleased track “Eternal Torment” as Tomo stalked the floor. His fingertips lit by LED’s, he never stopped playing as he slid through the Headbangers like a ghost.
Counting Gravestones/John
They closed out with “Pray for the Fall” leaving the crowded floor itching for more. CG left the stage to huge applause and it was well deserved. These young bloods managed to put together a very solid set, and now for the second time they have impressed my thoroughly. Both their stage show, as well as their musicianship, is worth checking out.
Counting Gravestones/Justin
I must say they have also earned my apology. I realize now they are so much more than a label like Deathcore. They have more complex guitar structure, better solos, great melodies and they don’t beat you over the head with the clean vocals. They like to be called “Melodic Metal” so that’s where I will file them. Whatever that means, they are a damn good band who I highly recommend. Grxves told me that we can expect a full length album sometime in 2023, which this author is anxious to get a hold of.
Iravera
Closing out the evening was Iravera, a Metalcore band from Columbiana County, Ohio. They began their set with a sample track of the theme from “Stranger Things” played from a laptop. They consist of two vocalists, two guitars, bass and drums. Of the two vocals, one handles the cleans and the other does the growls. I found the growler very impressive, performing good highs and lows, both screaming and snarling in various tones.
Iravera
Meanwhile, the clean vocalist was… a little too clean(Reminding me an awful lot of the singer from “The Ataris.”). A clear Nu-Metal influence was strong in their sound, which is something I am not a fan of. In fact, I really think that between the clean vocal style and the constant samples from the lap top, they sounded like cross breed of a Death Metal band and a Nu-Metal act similar to a Linkin Park. (At one point the clean singer started dancing and raising the roof, while spouting “Hear we go, Here we go, Here we go!” I really and truly feared he was about to start rapping.)
This dude has the voice of a demon.
My dislike of the Nu-Metal sound will obviously taint my opinion of Iravera as a whole, so here is what I did like about their set. They played very hard, with both energy and passion. They were tight and on cue, with no noticeable slop in their play. I acknowledge they had some solid lead work and most important of all: the crowd seemed to love them.
Iravera
Iravera
There was dancing, moshing and headbanging throughout their set. While I was in no way a fan of Iravera, I was in the clear minority. In fact, I may have been alone in that opinion. I got the distinct impression that the set went over great as far as the crowd was concerned. What can say except, I can’t love them all and ultimately my opinion doesn’t mean nearly as much as a room full of excited Metalheads.
I headed out as soon as Iravera finished. It is a long drive home from Akron and I had many miles to burn and thoughts to think. I reflected on my role in this scene, and how I must try to objectively report on bands that play well, but I don’t like. Music is so subjective and Metal such a diverse format that I can’t be expected to swoon over every act and every genre I am exposed to. I challenge you to go find out for yourselves. Get out to the shows and you tell me what you think. Was I right? Or better yet, was I dead wrong? Did you listen to Iravera and hear fire? Did you love For Absent Friends, clean vocals and all? Did you think my opinions of Counting Gravestones, or any other of the dozens of bands I review, to be full of proverbial shit? There is only one way to find out. I can only dream that every person who reads my work will be inspired to go check these bands out first hand. Whether I love them or not, they are all hardworking, talented and deserving of our respect.
Until next time… Rock on, Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Zackolantern.com
9/24/2022
For Absent Friends
@forabsentfriendsofficial
Counting Gravestones
@counting_gravestones_
Iravera
@iraveraband
