Rustbelt Rock Review

By: Z.M. Delgado

Rustbeltrockreview.com

Volume #141: The Lion Within, Jozey & The Corruption and Frameshifter

June 7th, 2024

Maple Grove Tavern 14832 Pease Rd, Maple Heights, OH 44137

Good evening friends and welcome back to the Rustbelt Rock Review. It is time for another nonsensical analysis of the world of Cleveland’s underground Rock Scene. This week I found myself headed Southwest on my way to, one of my favorite haunts, the Maple Grove Tavern. I was a few minutes late entering the club and thus I missed the beginning of Frameshifter’s set. I heard the sounds of their music echoing outside as I crossed the parking lot. I paid the man at the door and made my way up the stairs quickly. Once inside I grabbed a seat in the corner and settled in to enjoy the show.

Frameshifter is a five man group from Canton, OH, made up Vocals, two Guitars, Bass and Drums. Initially I labeled them as a Nu Metal band, but as the set moved forward I picked up on a lot of Progressive elements in their song writing. Their vocals came clean and clear at times, while being screamed and growled at others. They had a big Bass sound, no doubt brought forward in the mix by their use of a five string. They would be extremely heavy for one portion of a song then become quite melodic for the next. These changes made sure the songs stayed interesting and they kept the listeners on their toes as well. There was a subtle Science Fiction angle to their songs, obviously reflected in their titles. With tracks like “The Creature,” “Ocean Landing,” and “The Lunarist” in the repertoire it is hard to ignore the sci-fi influences here. They had a pretty solid stage presence, with their Vocalist moving about the stage and the club freely. At one point, during the song “Interactive Sky,” he began to sing without benefit of a microphone. His mighty voice filled the room in a powerful display of lung capacity. The crowd seemed to really love what Frameshifter was doing and I can understand why. They played a tight, hard set showing off some seriously heavy tunes with a cool and unique sound. I would say fans of bands like Mars Volta, Mudvayne, Deftones and Gojira should give Frameshifter a listen right away.

Eric Stevenson: The Official Tattoo Artist of the Rustbelt Rock Review

Second on the evenings agenda was a band that I have been meaning to check out for some time: Jozey & The Corruption. Hailing from Akron, OH this four piece group is made up of Guitar/Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Drums. They had a grit about them, both in sound and appearance. The played a style that is a hybrid of Punk Rock and straight up Rock N’ Roll. Their music was hard and fast and a lot of fun. Their lyrics frequently dealt with intoxicants, with numerous references to cocaine making an appearance. They played primarily Punky riffs, but with Guitar solos that were pure Rock. Throughout the set Jozey made the strings of his ax dance and shimmy in a way that few can. Over the course of their eleven songs Jozey & The Corruption succeeded in tantalizing the eardrums of everyone in attendance. They played with a ferocity, hunger and heart that seemed to resonate with the crowd. I dug their sound as well as their energy as they kept things lively at the Maple Grove. I would say fans of bands like Rancid, U.S. Bombs and Motorhead would likely enjoy Jozey & The Corruption.

Finally closing out the evening was The Lion Within. This is a three piece band from Detroit, Michigan. They are built from Guitar/Vocals, Bass and Drums. I would describe their sound as being Hard Rock or Alternative if I had to put a label on it. The played good, fast paced Rock with great stage energy. The Guitarist was seen dancing, spinning and jumping around all while holding down his duties on the six strings. My notes breakdown the whole affair as “catchy, danceable, sing along, feel good, Hard rock with sick solos.” I think that about sums up The Lion Within in a nut shell. They came down from the Motor City and brought with them heart, soul and passion. They played hard and delivered their set with power. In the end they earned a healthy dose of applause from the fans at the Maple Grove. If you like Alternative Rock with an electric charge, and solos that will scorch your ear canals, then you should check out The Lion Within.

And then the night was at a close. I headed out into the night and drove home. It had been a solid evening. Frameshifter had been really good. I enjoyed their Progressive Nu Metal Sci Fi sound. Jozey & The Corruption was killer. They had a dirty Rock N’ Roll Style that I particularly dug. Finally The Lion Within came in with high energy and high end Guitar work; that’s two things I can always get behind. Before I go, I would like to thank the Maple Grove Tavern for being a gracious host. As always their lights and sound were on point and their presentation was impeccable. It remains one of my favorite spots to check out live music. With that I believe I will leave you to your glorious existences. Keep your horns up, your heads banging and your ears plugged. Thank you for reading.

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Rustbeltrockreview.com

6/9/2024

Links:

The Lion Within

https://www.reverbnation.com/thelionwithin

https://www.facebook.com/TheLionWithinMusic/

Jozey & The Corruption

https://www.facebook.com/jozeyandthecorruption/

https://www.thecorruptionakron.com/