Zō, Assault, Ignominious
Rustbelt Rock Reviews
By: Z.M. Delgado
Zackolantern.com
Volume #7: Live Review: Zō, Assault, Ignominious
4/16/2022
The Foundry Concert Club, 11729 Detroit Ave, Lakewood
I go to a lot of shows, big and small. I have seen some of the biggest names in Metal over the years, yet nothing gives me pleasure quite like an underground show. For those of you who read Rustbelt #3, you know a little bit about how I feel about up and coming bands. I love the access you get; the ability to walk up to and speak with the rising stars in our community is an honor and a privilege. Sure, some are mere hobbyists, reliving glory years or just trying to have a good time. Many are young musicians just cutting their teeth; testing the waters against an often unforgiving crowd. The veterans of the scene are perfecting their form, mastering their art and weeding out weak material as they wait for their shot at a wider audience. Local Metal bands like these are the lifeblood of this music we all love, and I always enjoy the opportunity to see them do their thing. They give passionate, entertaining and visceral performances not for money, but for the sheer exaltation of doing it. This was most definitely the case when I entered The Foundry last Saturday night.
On the docket for the evening was three of Northeast Ohio’s own: Zō (Cleveland), Assault (Cleveland), and Ignominious (Norwalk). Of the three I was only familiar with Assault prior to this show, having caught them back in 2016. Since then they’ve changed lineups, dropped a very solid four song demo and played a lot of shows. With COVID and the shut down, like most bands, they lost the ability to perform. Long story short, this evening was my first shot to see Assault in a very long time and I was chomping at the bit.
I arrived at the club early, and had to hang around and wait for the doors to open. I wasn’t the only one. I counted about a dozen Metalheads like myself, who showed up early looking to get the party started. Doors opened promptly at 9pm as posted and we filed in. As it stood, I was flying solo for the evening. My usual cadre of Headbangers all got caught up in holiday plans, and cancelled on me one by one over the course of the week. This was a bummer, to be sure, however back in March I had given Assault my word I would be at the next show and I wasn’t going to break it.
After heading in, I grabbed a beer and surveyed the room. Sparsely populated to be sure, but it was mere minutes after doors opened, so that was to be expected. It wasn’t long before I came across Chris Maggot (Vocalist/Mutilation Barbeque) who I first met last month in Michigan (Rustbelt #3). We caught up and over the course of the conversation I was introduced to his cohort, Colin: the front man of Ignominious. He alerted me to the fact that this was in fact his band’s first performance. While he mentioned being in other acts, as far as Ignominious was concerned, this was the maiden voyage. Colin was admittedly nervous and it is completely understandable. Anyone who has ever been in or around underground music knows anything can and frequently does go wrong, especially at a first gig. I was interested to see how the opening act would fair and if their jitters would be justified. It turns out I wouldn’t have to wait long for the answer to that question. Hearing sound check beginning, I grabbed a fresh PBR and made my way to the rear of the room.
The four piece Ignominious took the stage to a decent sized crowd for a small venue. They opened with a song called “Bestial” that struck me. While it was unquestionably Death Metal, it had a riff that had a vaguely Southern Sludge feel and a nice bass break down: two things that I always enjoy. They performed another original entitled “Dunkleosteus” before breaking into a series of covers, from different artists including: Dethklok, Gojira and Metallica. I liked this, and believe it showed flexibility in a young band that may be a little short on original content at this point. It would be easy to choose to cover a band like Cannibal Corpse or Obituary, who are obvious influences. By picking Metallica (Relax, it was Creeping Death) and Gojira it shows greater depth and Dethklok conveys a lighthearted self awareness that is a good trait for a band to have. They closed with their only available recording, the single “47 Lacerations” which is a very solid Death Metal song, which draws further from that Dethklok influence. Despite some complaints about the microphone cable from Colin, I would say Ignominious’ first show went very well. The crowd size increased throughout the course of their set, and they finished to strong applause. They surely earned themselves some new fans and I noticed more than a few Tshirts being sold after.
I caught up with Colin at the merch table, and asked him what he thought of the show. He jokingly replied “It was our first set, so I think we did at least barely average.” He went on to say he “liked the crowd reaction,” to which I agreed. Most everyone in the room did seem to be feeling it. Chris Maggot gave them his endorsement. “It was fucking amazing!” He went on to say he “loved the covers” and the original material “was great. That slam at the end of it! Really, really good. I always love ending a song off on a good slam.” The good news is, for those of us who enjoyed the set, Ignominious plans on releasing more music soon. As to, how much and when, is unclear but Colin seemed optimistic we’ll have it by summer. Let’s hope that happens.
Up next was the reason I made the trip last night: Assault. If you are a fan of old school Thrash Metal, as you know I am, then this band is exactly what you need. Based on their four song demo alone I could make this case. It exhibits surprising attention to detail and depth of song structure for a band so early into their career. Those songs also show plenty about both their quality, and their commitment to Thrash as an art form. That being said, what you can pull off in the studio in one thing. Anyone with a basic recording setup and infinite patience can create a passable demo. My question walking into The Foundry last night was this: Can Assault, in its current incarnation, pull it off live? Much to my delight, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes!”
Opening with the first track from the demo: “Death Solution” Assault immediately set to work without warning or mercy. Hard, fast and aggressive right out the gate, this was true old school Thrash Metal to its core. Dylan’s voice, like well tuned sandpaper, powerfully delivered each line while he and guitarist Dom traded solos of the highest quality I have ever seen in a “local band.” Following their scorching intro, Assault broke into four tracks from the forthcoming album: “A Blind Eye,” “Obey/Decay,” “Leech” and “Antebellum.” The first two songs I listed, Dylan let slide my way a few months back, and clearly I wasn’t the only one. It sounded like the entire room was singing along, word for word, as Assault hammered out their new material with absolute precision. Following this onslaught, they dipped back into the demo for their monster track “The Second Head of the Snake.” This is another one that had undeniable crowd support in the vocal department. They closed out with “Obliviate” which I can say, much like the band that wrote it, truly lives up to its name. Assault left the stage to an absolute uproar from their loyal fans.
So here’s my assessment: In Assault, I think we have something very powerful brewing. Rarely do you get to see local talent with such tight, enthusiastic performances. While they never seem to miss a note, they are still clearly having a good time. (Try not to smile when you see Dylan and Dom trading kicks during solos.) Even rarer than their precision is the obvious raw talent this band possesses: Perfect metronome timing with elaborate rolls and fills, hard hitting Bass with a natural groove and guitar solos like that… well, they don’t happen by accident. The music holds the original feel of Thrash that is almost lost in a scene where Death, Black, Hardcore and Punk elements so often seep in to flavor the brew. If and when the larger Thrash community catches wind of Assault, I have a feeling they will explode. Whether or not I am correct in this assumption will have to do largely with their pending full length release. Based on what I saw last weekend, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the record will be a very strong effort. Hearing “Obey/Decay” live was undoubtedly the high point of my evening and something I highly recommend you do as well. In fact, it would probably be a good idea for you to check out Assault as soon and as often as possible. Let’s face it Cleveland, they are ours… for now. Enjoy it while it lasts, because I have a feeling these boys are going to be going places very soon.
After the set I caught up with Dylan, Dave (Bass) and Owen (Drums) at the merch table (Where I finally picked up one of those dope purple beanies I keep seeing around town). We talked about them and their music, but soon I found myself picking Dave’s brain about the evening’s headliner, Zō. Now Zō is described only as “Progressive Metal” on their Facebook page, and for me that is a loaded term. What can be considered Progressive Metal can vary widely from Messhugah to Tool back to Mastodon and over to DreamTheater. Now those are all bands that have wildly different sounds, so I was unsure what to expect. Dave gave them his full endorsement, and assured me they would be worth my listen. So I made my way towards the stage once again, now weaving my way through a much more crowded Foundry. It seems that during my enthusiastic observation of Assault’s set, I failed to notice the audience growing considerably. A crowd that had loosely occupied the rear stage area for Ignominious, now inflated to shoulder to shoulder Metalheads spilling out into the bar area.
With the Headbangers sufficiently agitated yet still hungry for more, Zō took to the stage. They proceeded to conjure 9 songs of considerable complexity and length. In true Prog Metal fashion, they changed tempo, music and vocal style, in a manner that leaves the listener unsure of which direction any given song will turn next. Their sound and structure seems to groove nicely and has natural progressions in mood and intensity… and speaking of intensity, it is a trait Zō has in abundance. Many bands that attempt long songs end up getting lost in the weeds and subsequently grow boring live. Zō prevents this by having a much heavier approach than many in Prog, and it translates well on stage. Frontman Cameron Bolyard, flails around incorporating his entire form into his performance. That is, when he isn’t pulling double duty on second guitar. At these times he addresses the microphone with a mad ferocity; his eyes shifting wild, veins bulging while he stares like Rasputin. His stage presence reminds me of some sort of bizarre hybrid that is equal parts Robert Plant and Chuck Schuldiner. He has a guttural, demonic scream which is often contrasted by melodic clean vocals, coming from Bassist Chris Bowman and Drummer Tristan Hughart. Lead guitarist Matt Flanagan weaves a unique and atmospheric tapestry as the songs move from soothing atmospheres to skull splitting riffs. Their instrumentation and melodic qualities are showcased in “Lament of the Seas” and “Inferno” while songs like “Carnage” and “Wormwood” exhibit the bands absolute savagery. With songs exceeding 9 minutes in length, I truly do Zō a disservice by trying to break down their sound into a few paragraphs. If it were possible to do so, I would say they are a hybrid of Death and Mastodon with touches of Lamb of God, Swallow the Sun, Gojira and Tool. None of this really does Zō justice, and I can honestly say this is an impressive band that you need to hear, in order to decide for yourself. In addition to the songs I’ve already listed, I particularly enjoyed “The Flying Dutchman,” and “Red Sky” is an absolute killer. The Metal faithful on the floor of The Foundry agreed with me whole heartedly, and threw down for Zō in kind. It was awesome to see members of both Ignominious and Assault in the pit supporting Zō. Dom of Assault went on to climb the stage and join Cameron in some brotherly headbanging. In the local Cleveland Metal scene, it is ALL about solidarity and I love it. I caught up with Cameron and Chris after the set, introduced myself and gave them my thoughts on the show. When asked “What’s next for Zō?” They told me they were “currently working on deciding the next steps for the band.” They also added they were “working on new music with talks for the next release.” Encouraging news from an interesting and very heavy band.
Saying my goodbyes, I closed my tab and headed to the door. Driving home, I reflected on my night. Normally this is the point when I hash out my thoughts with Chen and the boys, but I was a lone wolf that evening and had to settle with my own Rattleheaded insights. Right off the bat, I have to say I am glad I made the trip. Seeing Assault was worth the time and cover charge alone. Being there for Ignominious’ birth could pan out to be an event of note in the years to come, you never know. For a fledgling project playing their first show, I have to say they were pretty solid. I am hopeful for their future and expect we will see more good things from them as they build their catalogue and live experience. Discovering Zō was an added bonus. This band has a very cool and unique sound, in a genre where parody often outweighs creativity, Zō is pushing boundaries. Melody, brutality and at times very dance-able grooves; they are truly something to behold. If this is a band that can hold it together for the long haul, I believe that they have the potential to turn some heads. One negative note: I was unable to find any of their merch for sale at the show, which was unfortunate (They do have an online store). I wanted a CD as I feel their music needs deeper examination to fully dissect. (I’ve since tracked them down on streaming services. Their recorded material is very well put together and does a fair job of capturing their live energy.) It would be nice if the music was available for purchase, particularly in physical form. As an avid collector of rock merch and memorabilia, I loathe streaming as an exclusive option. This is of course the artist’s prerogative and I must respect it. But a word of advice to all our rising stars: You will never have better access to my wallet then at your merch table. If I am there in the first place, I am more than likely excited about your music and a few beers deep. If I can walk away with a CD, maybe with a few signatures on it, a patch or a Tshirt… well as the saying goes “Shut up, and take my money!”
My crew falling off, crackling mic chords and merch complaints aside, I had a great night at The Foundry this weekend. I got to see three of Ohio’s rising stars in the company of an energized and enthralled group of Cleveland’s dedicated Metalheads. What the underground lacks in flash, it makes up for in grit and passion. Like I said at the beginning, in a club like The Foundry with bands like Zō, Assault and Ignominious, it is never about the money and always about the music.
So here goes nothing Cleveland. This is my official call to arms: My name is Zack, and I am a Cleveland Metalhead. (“Hi, Zack!”) This is my home. These are my bands. This scene is part of who I am and has been since my first sortie into it in ’94. If you are reading this then, I would wager you have at some point felt the same; in fact I am certain of it. No one reads the Rustbelt Rock Review who doesn’t know this beautiful sensation. This feeling we all get when we discover a new act: The sense that bands like these are our birthright, our heritage and our legacy to the future. We know in our very souls: This music matters. It is meaningful, it is powerful and it is ours! These artists and their diehard fans literally bleed for it. Embrace it with me Cleveland. Embrace our scene! Slayer and Megadeth didn’t get to where they are by simply being “super good at Thrash Metal.” They got there on the backs of millions of dedicated fans. Those millions began as a few loyal psychopaths and deviants in their home clubs. It is time for you: the menacing and maniacal lords of the moshpit; the patch sewing, body moding, dope smoking, drunks; the fiercely loyal, headbanging, lunatics that I call my brothers and sisters… to do your part! Follow all these bands on social media. Share their posts! Ramming our scene down people’s throats is the first way we show bands like this how much we appreciate them. But it doesn’t stop there. Go to the shows and celebrate their music! Then BUY their merch. Take that merch and wear it out; especially to national shows! Then talk them up. Play your friends “47 Lacerations” from Ignominous. Get online and stream the shit out of Zō. And when you see your boy out there, wearing his new purple Assault beanie, you hoist your horns high and scream “Cleveland Metal!” I promise I will return the favor. At the end of the night, it’s up to these bands to write great music, but it’s up to us to treat them like they do.
Stay safe out there Cleveland and stay heavy. Til next time… Rock on, Rustbelt.
-Z.M. Delgado
4/18/2022
Zō
@ZoBandOH
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7q5O3DtdqqAfzmwDu9EgrW?si=TQBWn43GTW6c32iuto-WnQ
Assault
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3IaDPo28nMEzPjvclpXkWz?si=QZ3xP2w1Ty6ao54sok__Vw
Ignominious
@ignominiousmusic
