Mutilation Barbecue, Molech, Assault, Paradox Rift, Church&State
Rustbelt Rock Reviews
By: Z.M. Delgado
Zackolantern.com
Volume #12: Mutilation Barbecue, Molech, Assault, Paradox Rift, Church&State
May 27th, 2022
Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland, OH
Goooood Morning, Rustbelt! And it is a very good morning here at the RbRR, well, afternoon to be exact. I am so happy to be back at the keyboard doing what I love to do. It has been a tumultuous week for your author, culminating it what was probably the worst 36 hour period of my life. However, by 5pm Friday evening, with the help and dedication of my beautiful wife, I found myself free and clear of troubled waters and on my way to the Grog Shop as scheduled… and I am glad I made the trip.
The Grog was hosting an event that I’d had my eye on for some time: Mutilation Barbecue with support from Molech, Assault, Paradox Rift and Church&State; five bands of unquestionable heaviness. Those of you who follow the RbRR will be familiar with the evening’s headliner: Mutilation Barbecue. I covered their disturbing and brutal antics in Volume #3. Supporting act, Assault, thoroughly impressed me at the Foundry, which I covered in Volume #7. Incidentally, these two bands are connected by more than my mere attentions though. Among other things, they share the participation of Mr. Dylan Andras, who pulls double duty, both as Guitar/ Vocals in Assault, as well as Mutilation Barbecue’s Bassist. Dylan had a lot on his plate for this Friday night show, and I was anxious to see how he would handle the work load.
I arrived at the Grog about 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. I was greeted warmly by some familiar faces as soon as I arrived. As it turns out, Cleveland Death Metal artists, Ignominious (RbRR #7), were in attendance supporting their brothers in the scene. I said hello, then made my way to the merch area, scanning the tables on my way to the Assault booth. There I met up with band members Dave, Dom and Dylan. We caught up and of course, discussed their much anticipated album release. (Keep reading for the most recent information I have received pertaining to this.) The crowd was thin at this point, so the bands and club decided to push back the music until 8:45, in order to allow more fans to arrive. Turns out it was the right call. By the time Church&State was plugging in, the sparse population had grown to a much more respectable size. The house music faded and the show began.
Church&State are a Political Crossover band, which means they exist in that place between Metal and Punk/Hardcore that I particularly enjoy. I was immediately interested when I saw their Bassist slide on a white mask that looked like it would be equally suited to a rock show, as a home invasion. “What the hell is that?” I asked, wondering if maybe I was in store for some sort of Horrorcore or comic book-esc band like Gwar or Ghoul. That however was not the case. The remaining three members wore no such get ups and I was left with only more questions. The band appeared to be from my generation, probably children of the 80’s and they had the look of Veteran Punks. That was exactly the vibe they exuded as the first distorted riffs opened and percussionist, Bob, broke into a savage little number called “Human Progress.” Quickly forgetting about the mask, I was swept in the hard edged, fast tempo and aggressive energy. The crowd who caught that first song seemed to agree as C&S immediately earned heavy applause. A quick “Thank you,” from front man, Sean, was all we received before the band broke into their second song: “Pariah.” Equal to its predecessor in all regards, this song continued to build crowd energy, and deservedly so. By now, I noticed that attendance had grown significantly. As newcomers walked in, they found a room with rapidly building intensity, like electricity arcing; it spread in all directions. Screaming a chorus of: “Born on the wrong side of the cross!” C&S gained further credibility with the Grog Shop’s angry Hardcore and Metal patrons. Sean delivered an unsettling dead eyed stare to crowd, as Guitarist Matt, played a very Slayer-esc intro. I later learned the song was entitled “Computer Says No” and is about social media censorship.
Their eight song set flew by in a blur of inflammatory lyrics and storming stage antics. Finding myself really impressed, I tracked Sean down once he was done offloading his gear. He was really cool, and we chatted for a few minutes, giving me some really good insights into their music. He told me that the main focus of C&S was to write hard, pissed off political music. No jokes, no fun and certainly no games. This is angry music and it is meant for angry people. Stylistically his description pretty much aligned with mine from above: They are a Crossover band, and they draw elements from both Hardcore and Metal. In sound I would compare them loosely to Madball, Municipal Waste and Dead Heat; lyrically they are much more in line with Anti-Flag, The Gallows and Megadeth. I did ask about the mask. As it turns out the Bass player is… a government employee! Subsequently, Bob, (IF that is his real name…) wants to remain anonymous. Considering their subject matter, I can understand why.
Up next was Paradox Rift, a four piece Experimental Death Metal outfit. They took to stage, and my first thought was: “Their singer looks like Jesus!” Then the music started and my second thought was: “Holy shit! This is heavy!” They broke into their unique blend of Death Metal and I was floored by the power. Apparently I wasn’t alone, as a moshpit broke out for their first song. I noticed members of MutiBBQ and the boys from Ignominious in there, throwing down in support of the scene. It’s always great to see the love between these bands. At some point during the set front man, Luke Weeks, bolted through the pit, headed to the bar during a lengthy instrumental break, presumably in search of inspiration. Returning just in time to grab his mic, he finished the song without missing a beat.
Bassist, “Osha” Covie," delivered an energetic performance of tight grooves and consistent headbanging. Guitar/Vocals Preston Lund serves up an impressive array of heavy riffage infused with some very emotive and interesting melodies. The bedrock is laid out by “Knife” Burrington, in an absolute demolition of blast beats and crashing cymbals. If you took equal parts of the vocal styles of Randy Blythe and Nergal, you might have Luke’s sound well described.
The still growing crowd moshed, banged their heads and screamed for more as Paradox Rift finished up a very solid set of Death Metal. I grabbed a copy of their two song: “Dismembered by Dogs,” and I highly recommend you check it out. If you’re a fan of Lamb of God, Behemoth or even Swallow the Sun, they might be right up your alley.
Up third, was rising Thrash juggernaut Assault. If you read RbRR #7, you are aware of my opinions on this band. Suffice to say, I am a fan. (If you want a more in depth look, please reference the prior article. It was a fun one to write.) It was at this point in the evening that I believe the crowd hit its peak. I never got a count from the door, but as far as area bands at the Grog Shop this was one of the best draws I have seen. Included in this mob were two of my old Metal buddies, Aaron and Jimmy. Now these two enjoy roughly the same sorts of Metal as me, and I have been encouraging them to come and check out this scene for a while. I was happy that they made it, because like me they love old school Thrash. Obviously this meant I wanted their opinion on Assault.
So here it was: Two new dudes, completely uninitiated into the band, except for my recommendation. In fact, I’m not even sure they’ve heard the demo. We approached the left side of the stage; the boys plugged in, introduced themselves and jumped into “Death Solution” without further ado. Throwing my horns to the ceiling and howling in excitement, I realized I was joined by most of the room. With a glance to my right, I saw Jimmy and Aaron looking to each other, nodding in approval. A pit fired up almost immediately and didn’t cease for most of the set. How could it? With songs like “Antebellum,” “Blind Eye,” “Obey/Decay” and “Obliviate” in the setlist, there is no time to let up for a second. Owen hammered on the drum kit with an annihilative style that is equal parts power and precision. The battered fans were also treated to the debut of another song off the forthcoming release, entitled “Leech.” This song starts slower than many in Assault’s arsenal; having a chugging riff that still manages to lead up to one of those mindbendingly complex guitar solos that have become the bands trademark. That two pronged attack, of Dylan and Dom on guitar, is one of the best duos I’ve ever seen. The stage chemistry and energy they seem to ooze, appears to be rare and dangerous combination.
We also got the special pleasure of acknowledging it was Bassist Dave’s birthday. In recognition, his band mates demanded he crush a PBR tallboy, while leading The Grog Shop in a chorus of “Happy Birthday.” He then went on to perform his most difficult and impressive number “Let it Burn,” which has every bit of the funk that you get from Burton era Metallica. (Yeah, I said it.) It was at this point the screams of “Rolling Thunder!” began rising from the crowd. (An affection nickname some Thrashers have assigned to Dave, in honor of his absolute groove.)
Assault was rewarded by more than a few crowd surfers taking to the air and being bounced enthusiastically around the pit. So, how did Assault do Friday night? Well don’t ask me. I’ve made my opinion known. I’ll tell you who absolutely lost their shit over the set: Aaron and Jimmy. These dudes screamed, headbanged, high-fived and told everyone in the room, how much they loved the set. They headed to merch table and before I could make it there, already had corralled Assault and were literally shouting their praises. They bought T-shirts and grabbed stickers, and I got them both a patch to celebrate the moment. It wasn’t long before they were offered “Rolling Thunder” a round at the bar and a hooker. (I'm pretty sure they were serious.) Dave accepted the beer, but politely declined any… sponsored companionship. They went off for their drink and I got ready for the next band in the lineup.
Molech is a Hardcore band from Indiana…? I think. I really regret not catching them to have a conversation, because as of now, I’m having a hard time coming up with a whole lot of info. They have an internet presence, but their “bio’s” & “about” sections are vague. I am old, and very bad at… internet, so maybe I’m missing something. I reached out to them via instagram and have received no response. So, that being said, these cats seemed on the young side. I’d wager at least a portion of the band is looking forward to summer vacation. But as I’ve mentioned in the past, when it comes to Rock N’ Roll, age is just a number… and ‘round these parts we judge our bands on Skills, Balls and Heart. Let me tell you, Molech had an abundance of all three.
They broke into a fiery and chaotic set of some of rawest, nastiest Hardcore I’ve ever heard. The band members, and in particular their singer, moved around so much that I was hard pressed to come away with any usable photos. While a portion of the crowd cleared out after Assault finished, a substantial number remained. Of those that did, the majority crowded the stage and banged their heads furiously. A moshpit broke out and a rogue participant flew loose, killing my PBR. (Good for Molech, bad for me.)
So, without any further input from the band, what can I tell you about Molech? Well like I said: it’s raw, it’s nasty and it’s chaotic. Vocally, I would compare them to Mike IX Williams from Eyehategod. Their sound reminds me of Anal Cunt, or early Zao. I cannot speak to their lyrics, as they are indecipherable; but that is by design. If you’re looking for the hardest of the hard Hardcore in the Midwest, I’d say check out Molech. These kids play with real passion. That’s all I got. I’ll post their link below.
Closing out the show was Mutilation Barbecue: possibly the fastest growing and in this author’s opinion, the best, straight up, Death Metal band in Northeast Ohio. I first came across these boys at a Lich King show in Michigan (RbRR #3) and we immediately bonded over our Cleveland roots. That was one hell of a night and I was anxious to see what they’ve been up to since. They came out with what can only be described as swagger as they crossed the stage. A sizable crowd remained of loyal and enthusiastic fans. They were greeted with fervor as they broke into “Necrophiliac Obsession” and then “Hivemind Homicide.”
Moshing erupted immediately, followed quickly by stage diving and crowd surfing. MutiBBQ attacked further with “The Lady Next Door,” and “Self Cannibal;” matching their fans intensity pound for pound. I noticed that the five piece was short one man: Guitarist Peter Blanchet. Luckily, Guitarist Nick McGroder, covered so well the uninitiated wouldn’t have noticed, as he crushed songs like “Abortion Ambulance.” I want to say: This kid is an absolute shredder and his riffs are worth seeing performed live.
Speaking of things you wouldn’t have noticed, another was even the slightest drop in energy from Dylan Andras. He performed his Bass duties with every bit of the charisma and energy that he dedicated to his set in Assault. Drummer, Harrison Good, delivered a complex and driving rhythm that is more elegant and nuanced than you get in the vast majority of Death Metal acts. And then there’s Maggot. Chris Fucking Maggot: Pit Lord, Heavyweight in the scene, consummate supporter of his fellow musicians. Chris Maggot, who I have previously described as basing his vocal style on Godzilla and the like, really knows how to put on a show. His presence on stage has such… command. That’s part of that “swagger” I was talking about. With his foot up on the monitor, surveying the crowd, vocals, so low they rumble the room. Headbanging and flailing about, channeling whatever dark, twisted desires drive a man to front a band like this. It is a thing to behold. Mutilation Barbeque is an incredible live act, no question about it. Death Metal fans should rest easy knowing that both home and on the road MutiBBQ are representing the Cleveland scene and they are fucking killing it.
They played a total of eleven songs, but I think my highlight of the set was when they broke into their flagship number “Mutilation Barbecue.” This song is a total banger. Grilling, savoring, and then devouring the listener. The song, the EP, the band: Mutilation Barbecue is pure horror, unadulterated destruction; the apocalypse condensed and recorded for your listening pleasure. The Grog Shop loyal loved it and from what I see, at this point a lot of the Midwest is starting to love it too. I swung by the merch table, and grabbed a copy of their newest E.P. “Abortion Ambulance,” and I gotta say, it is BRUTAL.
I said my farewells to friends and performers alike. It took a while, because as I continue to cover this scene I realize I am seeing a lot of the same people in the crowd time after time. To me this is a very promising sign. This scene is really starting to put down roots and grow. Loyalty and solidarity are becoming clearly visible in the crowd. The people are coming out and they are excited. With the forthcoming release from Assault, there is a buzz in the air. So what is that buzz exactly, you ask? I did promise an update, didn’t I? Well here it is:
Assault - “A Blind Eye”
Official release will be July 15th
Release Party:
Who’s excited? Are you excited? I know I am! It feels like something is happening, doesn’t it? This will surely be a MUST SEE Metal event for Rustbelt Thrash fans and honestly a once in a lifetime opportunity. These are the moments when legends are born. Assault has worked very hard to finally reach this point. Their diehard fans have been salivating for this news. I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to break it. We finally get to be there to see Cleveland’s Thrash Kings ascend to their rightful place on the throne. This show has the potential to be remembered as a seminal moment in Cleveland Metal history.
So ask yourself, “Do I want to be a part of it?” I take a look at the upcoming events Assault and these other acts have booked and I see potential. I see growth and this simmering fan base boiling to the point of explosion. But of course, it starts with you and I. We have to get out and support these talented musicians. I’ve been experiencing it first hand and honestly I’m having one hell of a time. Why don’t you come along for the ride? I hope to see you out there in the scene and especially at No Class on July 16th.
Until next time, Rock on Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
5/30/22
linktr.ee/MutilationBarbecue
linktr.ee/molech
facebook.com/churchandstateohio
churchstate1.bandcamp.com
