Rustbelt Rock Review

By: Z.M. Delgado

Rustbeltrockreview.com

Volume #226: The Jotunn, Years of Fire, Sterilizing the Deceased, Lower 13 & Chalked

January 23rd, 2026

The Foundry Concert Club 4256 Pearl Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109

Good evening my friends and welcome back to the Rustbelt Rock Review. This week I ventured out into a frozen hellscape, braving the most frigid of temperatures in order to fulfill my obligations to The Review. Yes, the evening was miserably cold; A fact I will try not to beat to death, but alas it is part of the story. Anyway, I left my house shortly after 4, and pointed my car west. I was on my way to the first annual Jotunn Winternights which was also serving as The Jotunn’s release party for the “Summoner” EP. Doors weren’t until 6:30, but I had to be there early. You see, this was the night when we were filming the fifth episode of Heavy on Cleveland. I arrived and found a parking spot about a block from the club. Making my way as quickly as the icy roads would allow, I hurried to enter The Foundry. Once inside I shook off the cold and immediately located my contact, Jotunn frontman Paul. I said hello, but didn’t want to take up too much of his time as he was clearly busy. So I posted up and waited for the rest of the Heavy on Cleveland team to arrive, which they soon did. With me of course was my Co-Host and cohort Jimmy “The Dook” Fedor of Roxxxstarradio. Behind the camera for the evenings venture was Kelly Funk of Funky Photos capturing images and shooting our interviews. Together the three of us explored the new Foundry, scouting our interview locations and collecting preliminary footage. The bands loaded in, the bartenders set up and we waited. Eventually, once soundchecks were complete we got some time with The Jotunn and we conducted our interview. We kicked back in The Unhinged Lounge and did our thing. I feel like it went well, but of course, as of now I have not seen any of the footage... so who knows? Anyway, with the interview in the bag, we realized it was nearly show time. We weaved through a rapidly growing crowd to reach the foot of the stage and prepared for the first band.

Jump starting the evening’s festivities was Chalked. This is a five member band made from a Vocalist, two Guitars, Bass and Drums. From the first notes of “Sock Check” they came out heavy and high energy. Their singer, sporting some seriously spiky hair, was a whirlwind of activity. He jumped around, headbanged and punched the air with fury. The Bass player, wearing a ski mask, threw down as well with intensity. The riffs were chuggy, the Vocals roared and the crowd loved it. By the third song many fans had begun two stepping, while others had started up some light moshing. Chalked was dishing out songs of back breaking heaviness, and the crowd was responding in kind. As the set progressed so did the crowd become emboldened. Soon knuckles and fists began to fly and arms flailed with little concern. The floor was all action as they rolled into “Guns and Butter” and “Severance.” They played a total of seven songs, finally closing out with “Genesee.” This song inspired some mosh pit karate, as some maniac went running through across the floor doing spin kicks. This gave way to a traditional mosh pit which rolled on until the end of the song. The crowd let loose a mighty cheer; clearly thrilled by what they had just seen Chalked do. I thought they were great, delivering a lively and entertaining set loaded with crushing riffs and brutal breakdowns.

Next up was Lower 13. This is a three man band made up of Guitar/Vocals, Bass/Vocals and Drums. Opening up with their monster track “Parasite” Lower 13 took off like a rocket. Unleashing a brutal two part Vocal attack the alternated between demonic roars and high end melodic cleans. I was wowed immediately by the intricacy of the Bass work and the intensity of the Drums. The floor was alive with people dancing and headbanging with fervor. Next they served up a new song, “Giving up the Pain.” This one started out slow and plodding but then exploded into a track of devastating heaviness. Three songs in they provided a cover of System of a Downs “BYOB” which went over really well. The crowd was dancing and singing along word for word to the familiar jam. Following that we got a second new track, this one called “Reside” which proved to be yet another excellent addition to the Lower 13 arsenal. For their fifth and final song they chose “Your Love is a Curse.” The crowd went nuts, screaming their collective lungs out in solid approval of all they had just witnessed. In one foul swoop Lower 13 had utterly pulverized The Foundry and impressed the hell out of me yet again.

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

Sterilizing the Deceased was third in our play order for the night. I was excited to see this band as I am a big fan of their most recent release, “Nothing.” They are a five member band made up of Vocals, two Guitars, Bass and Drums and they perform a sort of Melodic Deathcore. Before the first song even kicked off the singer called out the crowd demanding action and telling all the “pussy’s” to move to the back. He also mentioned something about being “fueled by hatred” before they burst into their opening track. When they finally did begin, it was some heavy ass shit, no question. Bottomless bass and deep, dark guttural Vocals were the hallmarks of the sound from the get go. The sound was brutal and the stage presence was outstanding. The movements of the Bass player and the singer in particular grabbed my attention. A pit began almost immediately sending bodies flying in all directions. From somewhere a big inflatable blue tube appeared and people began to bludgeon each other with it. It was comically savage. Speaking of comical, how about the frontman trying to perform and eat a turkey leg simultaneously? Now that was funny to witness. But it was not all fun and games. No, it was not. The pit was deadly serious by now and the music was only intensifying. On what I believe was their fifth song, “Recovery,” I saw the singer become visibly shaken by the performance. He was overcome with emotion and seemed to just barely hold it together as he brought the powerful song to a close. It was a resonant moment. The set raged on for two more songs after that, unleashing a tidal wave of snarls and roars, which broke over the eager fans at The Foundry. On the seventh and final track the singer left the stage and rushed the crowd, causing a massive moshpit to form. It raged on until the song ended, giving way to huge applause. Sterilizing the Deceased had killed it undoubtedly and the crowd reaction reflected that without question.

Our fourth performers of the night was Years of Fire. This is another five man band formed from Vocals, two Guitars, Bass and Drums. They opened with “Wallarian 2” unleashing some epic notes, but unfortunately there was a problem with the microphone and the lead Vocals weren’t coming across. The sound engineers scrambled to solve the silent riddle but failed to do so before some time had elapsed. Meanwhile, the music came thundering like war embodied; strong and relentless. Eventually, on “Metastatic” the Vocals were restored and when they were they came through heavy as stone. The crowd got involved, people started rocking out and a pit opened up as well. The Guitar work was nice and I was particularly impressed with the hammering Drums. On their fifth song, “Eyes of God,” we got some guest Vocals from Paul of The Jotunn. The two frontmen went back and forth serving up a savage whirlwind of Vox. Finally closing out their set they dropped “Reign of Freyja” which was utterly devastating. Down on the floor fists flew in all directions as the crowd came to life once again. The fans screamed their praises to the rafters. Years of Fire ruled and, despite the early sound issues, delivered a set worth moshing to. It was fabulous.

Now closing out our evening was out hosts and organizers of the event The Jotunn. This is a five man Death Metal band constructed from Vocals, two Guitars, Bass and Drums. The lights fell and the room was silent, but soon that silence was broken with samples of keys playing. Then the room blew its top as the band dropped in with their new single “The Departure.” Paul rushed the front of the stage, his arms loaded with inflatable swords. He cast these into the crowd where they were immediately taken up by the fans. All out war broke out as the fans beat upon each other. Up on the stage the band was in peak form, rocking out and throwing down. “Isolation Piece” was next and it was intensity incarnate. With passion every note was delivered in a hurricane of sound. “Leechling” brought the crowd further to life, as they moshed and danced, violence and elation overlapping. The Drums were like a storm on “This Life must End in Fear.” Meanwhile a snow machine began roll, coating the stage in manufactured precipitation. “Summoner” was all intensity and focus, screams and sweat.

Following that they delivered an At The Gates cover of “Suicide Nation” which roused the pit to new levels of madness. For “Infinite Stalker” we received guest Vocals from Years of Fire frontman Kris. Then on “Lessons in Reviving the Dead” Paul from Chalked joined the assault. The moshing continued throughout these songs and carried forward. “Ulceration” was preceded by a bold proclamation of “FUCK ICE!!!” which roused a mighty roar of approval from the fans. The pit that followed was one of profound size and force. As Paul roared “Onward we March, Forward the fight!” the fans went nuclear. Finally closing out the night they brought “Blood Flower” which kept the pit and the snow machine rolling in sync. When it ended the crowd roared triumphantly. The applauded long and loud and with good reason. The Jotunn had certifiably slaughtered. They had massacred. They had destroyed. Without doubt they had conquered. I have seen The Jotunn before, but never like this. They had never put on such a powerful and complete performance. This was The Jotunn at their best.

Then it was done. The lights came up. The house music came on. The fans dissipated. Though I was tired, my night was not quite at a close. We still had our Heavy on Cleveland post set questions to ask, and for that we needed the band. A band that had just rocked their set and was getting mobbed by friends and fans alike. A band that had to tear down equipment, clear the stage and load their cars. In short, a band that was busy. So we waited. Patiently. Professionally. Exhaustively, we waited. Eventually, The Jotunn did make time for us and we knocked out our final five without issue. Then we filmed our exit footage and at long last, said goodnight. Once that was complete I was finally able to climb into my frosty ride and drive back across that frozen hellscape and home. I was beat, yet I felt good about the whole endeavor. I dragged my ass into bed and passed out with that certain feeling of satisfaction that comes with a job well done. Which is about where I am right now. I have finished my nights toil and I am ready for rest. So I suppose this is where I will leave you. Thank you for reading, for Rocking and for supporting the Scene. Bang your heads, hoist your horns and always wear you earplugs.

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Rustbeltrockreview.com

1/24/2026

Links:

The Jotunn

https://www.facebook.com/TheJotunnBand/

Years of Fire

https://www.facebook.com/yearsoffire.official/

Sterilizing The Deceased

https://www.facebook.com/SterilizingTheDeceased/