Rustbelt Rock Review

By: Z.M. Delgado

Rustbeltrockreview.com

Volume #171: Punching Moses, Axioma & Nuclae

January 3rd 2025

Grog Shop 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106

Welcome back my friends and Heavy New Year to you! It is I, Z.M. Delgado, returning to you in the year of the snake to reprise my role as your narrator. I am happy to report that little has changed since we last talked. I am still heading out every chance I get to experience this wonderful thing that we call Cleveland Metal. This weekend was no exception and I managed to find myself a real banger to attend. I do proclaim: this show had a line up so stacked it should have be illegal. The scene of the crime was the legendary Grog Shop. The perpetrators were Punching Moses along with their accomplices Axioma and Nuclae. I was flying solo for this one. I arrived on Coventry some time after 8pm and made the frigid trek to the club. My thin hoodie and battlevest did little along the way of warmth as I fought the urge to break into a run toward the Grog. Once inside it’s blessed warmth, I was reminded that it was FREE WEEKEND at the Grog Shop and I accepted my wristband with gratitude. From here on I just sort of drifted around the club, inspected the merch spread and eventually sat my ass on the stage and waited for the music to begin.

All in good time, a trio of musicians took to the stage. With Guitar/Vocals, Bass and Drums under their command, they introduced themselves as Nuclae. On their Bandcamp page they describe themselves as “Scifi Shoegaze Heavy HC.” I would categorize them somewhere in the Sludge/Stoner realm. They opened with a song called “Dead Weight.” The intro was slow and methodical, with a fat low end that had the room rumbling. The Vocalist laid out an echoing growl and followed with a wicked Guitar solo. The opening number trudged along at a nice slow pace and I found it to be and excellent way to begin the show. On “Hell Hollow” they got even sludgier and their Bass player showed off some solid stage presence. “Dark Visions” exhibited a hammering kick drum and a Guitar Riff that cut like an ax. I didn’t catch the name of their closing number, but it was beast. It opened up with some nasty Bass action and hard driving drums. The music came heavy and fast as the vocals continued to roar. With some nice slow downs, a chugging riff and another sickening Guitar solo, Nuclae tore up the stage as they threw down on their final track. The crowd let loose a mighty cheer acknowledging the bands obvious greatness. Being a group I knew very little about going into the show, they managed to make a severe impression on me. In short: I was extremely impressed. Nuclae was phenomenal. They took their final bow and tore down their gear. The crowd dispersed and I returned to my perch on the front edge of the stage. There I puffed on my vape and waited patiently for the next performance.

Second to the stage was Axioma. This is a four man band made up of Bass/Vocals, two Guitars and Drums. On Bandcamp they are described as “Purveyors of dark, apocalyptic Metal.” I didn’t know what that meant going into the set, but, man was I going to find out. They opened with “Dakhma” beginning with dark melodic notes followed by heavy, sludgy chords. These then developed into calamitous waves of sound that broke against the fans without relent. The Drummer hammered like a mad blacksmith destroying his own anvil while constantly layering the rhythms with intricate fills. As things would progress the complexity of the Drumwork would continue to really wow me. In due time the Vocals joined the fray and they did so with utter nastiness as huge roars and terrifying snarls emerged from the Bassists lips. Next they moved into “Divine Ruin” which began in epic fashion. It was steeped in fantastic groove hidden beneath shattering Metal. Droning notes hypnotized listeners then shocked them awake with explosions of heaviness. On “The Tower” menacing notes crept slowly like a serpent. The melody laid coiled and ready, just waiting for the right drum hit to trigger the strike. And of course it did. “Intensity,” “Wrath,” “Ferocity” are the words I use in my notes to describe the way this song evolves. Their fourth track, which I believe was entitled “Sacred Killing Machine,” was true to it’s name. It rolled out of the speakers and across the fans like a bulldozer. Closing out the set they brought forth “Fellowship of the Serpent.” This was nothing short of ripping, rumbling, crushing, bad ass shit. It hit me like an avalanche of sound and buried me deep beneath the heaviness. The crowd let out a mighty howl of approval. Axioma had killed it. Without a doubt, they had slaughtered. I was amazed; I really and truly was. I had heard this bands name around town, but before now I had never had the opportunity to check them out. Boy, am I glad I did. With unquestionable musicianship, top notch song writing and furious performance skills Axioma’s live show is an experience not to be missed. With our second band finished it was once again time to hit hit my vape and relax stage side. So I did exactly that.

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

Soon enough it was time for the main event. Our headliner was coming to the stage and I was understandably pumped. After all, it was time for Punching Moses. This is an act I have seen just once before, back in RBRR #122 and as I recollect they were pretty bad ass. However that was nearly a year ago and I for one needed a refresher. So here are their stats, Punching Moses is a five piece act made up of Vocals, two Guitars, Bass and Drums. They play a hyper aggressive style that is an amalgam of Punk, Hardcore and Metal. They took to the stage and stared down the crowd. Then as the house music faded and the amps began to hum… Explosion!!! Without hesitation Punching Moses began an onslaught of pure energy.

Opening up with “In the Gutter” they let loose with some great stage presence. The Drums blazed on “Gore Bazaar” which was a ripping fast Punk Metal hybrid. On “Vile Maximum” the frontman was seen jumping around and rocking out, even dropping to his knees while screaming with fire. “Rage on the Road” was a hard charging assault on the senses. The crowd was really getting into it, headbanging and cheering, by the time we hit “Humanity Pandemic.” But Punching Moses wasn’t done. “Mastro Titta” held a devastating, romping rhythm. And they continued to unleash a torrent of sound, both savage and vicious on “Mental Mirrors.” Next they delved out another monstrous dose of Metal magnificence with “Escape the Mausoleum.” Finally they closed out their set with, what I believe was, a cover of Celtic Frost’s “Into the Crypts of Rays.” This final offering was solid and energetic and left the crowd calling for more.

Alas, there was no more and my fantastic evening of Metal had come to a close. I bore down and headed out into the cold, freezing night. With teeth chattering made my way to my car and began the long trek from Coventry to the freeway and then to all points East. Once the engine warmed up and the car was toasty I was finally able to focus on more important matters, like what a ripping good time I had just had. As always the Grog Shop was a courteous host. The lights and sound were agreeable and the staff was pleasant. Nuclae was incredible. They opened up the show with thunder and really impressed me with their Doomy, Sludgy brand of Metal. Axioma simply amazed me. Their performance went above and beyond what I expected and it really impacted me. Without a doubt they are a band that I want to hear more from in the future. On the other hand, I got no surprises from Punching Moses, and that is exactly what I wanted. They are a band that has a sound that comes out swinging and their live show matches perfectly. I wanted a set of intense focused aggression and that is precisely what I got. On that note I will sign out for this week. Bang your head, hoist your horns and always wear your earplugs.

Until next time... Rock on, Rustbelt,

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Rustbeltrockreview.com

1/5-1/6/2025

Links:

Punching Moses

https://www.facebook.com/PunchingMoses/

Axioma

https://www.facebook.com/AxiomaSound/

Nuclae

https://nuclae.bandcamp.com/album/bringing-out-the-beast