Photo/Graphic Design Credit: Matt Moser
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Volume #263: Olathia (in support of The Iron Maidens)
October 29th
Beachland Ballroom
Hello, my friend. It is I, Z.M. Delgado. I return to you now with another tale of Heavy Metal Majesty to tell. It is a brief tale, yet a tale worth telling none the less. It all went down on a Thursday night in the dying days of October. For me, I arrived on the Scene shortly before doors, expecting to waltz right in. Low and behold, I was not the only one with that plan. As I drove passed the club, in search of a parking spot, I saw a line stretching from the door down the sidewalk and around the building. Amazed, I parked and hiked over to the club, where I met with my friend and Heavy on Cleveland team member, award winning photographer, Kelly Funk of Funky Photos. We chatted and said hello to many familiar faces as we waited for the doors to open. Eventually the rest of the Heavy on Cleveland team arrived; ace photographer Jessica Mowrer of Stargazer Studios and my Co-host Jimmy “The Dook” Fedor of Roxxxstarradio. Now that the whole team was assembled we fell back and waited for the line to start moving. Eventually we made it inside and wandered the club greeting many a friend. Most important among these good people was my homie, Dylan Andras (Guitar/Olathia, Mutilation Barbecue, Assault, Iron Bitch and the list goes on...) who just happened to be celebrating his birthday! We wished the birthday boy well and then continued our wanderings leading us outside, then back in again, in the perpetual cycle of mind enhancement and socialization. Eventually all these shenanigans came to an end when the clock on the wall told us it was time to migrate toward the stage. I made my way to the center of the floor and was amazed by how many people had turned out early to see the opening act on a Thursday night. However, this was no mere opening act, this was the indestructible juggernaut of Cleveland Metal, the unstoppable Olathia!
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For those of you who are new to the RbRR, I’ll lay it out for ya. Olathia is a four piece super group. Their sound lands them somewhere in the vicinity of Power Thrash. Led by the undisputed siren of our Scene, Chris is a Vocalist of the highest octane. Beside her, on Guitar, is the birthday boy himself: Dylan. This young shredder has already built a significant legend surrounding his skills. Be it in Olathia or one of his various other projects, he is a powerhouse of Heavy Metal. Opposite him, across the stage is Terry “The Bull” on Bass. He is one of the most skilled a musicians on the Northcoast and a phenomenal performer to boot. This man’s prowess on the low end is rivaled only by his over the top stage presence. Last, but far from least, is Joe behind the Drum kit. This man is precision personified and thunder incarnate. He wields his sticks like the hammers of the gods, working at the forges of eternity.
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So when Olathia took to the stage, the house was loaded with fans, and the anticipation was high. The crowd cheered as the band came into view and horns were raised as the opening Drum roll erupted. The first riffs came, a brutal scream followed and we were off and running. Opening with “Who’s the Devil?,” one of their heaviest cuts, Olathia went straight for the throat. Led by The Bull’s example the entire band was a flurry of activity and stage presence. Moving into “Feel the Earth,” I watched in awe as the band threw down and Rocked hard. My teammates, Jessica and Kelly, were working furiously. Both on the stage and in the crowd, They clicked away with their cameras; capturing every moment.
Olathia
Meanwhile, Olathia, broke out our scene’s party anthem: “Shotgun.” Fists pumped and heads banged as this ripper Rocked the room. Cranking things up a few more notches, next came “Seven Deadly Sins.” The crowd hoisted their horns in the air as Chris sang out the line “Show me your hands!” Olathia exploded with new song “Beast in Black” before jumping back to and old favorite: “Snake Charmer.” They followed that with “Insatiable,” another song of incredible heaviness. At this point the band paused, brought out a cake and we all sang “Heavy Birthday!” to Dylan. Once the festivities were done, we got back to the business of Rocking. Olathia helped us along the way, by providing a little inspiration. Specifically by debuting a brand new song, entitled “Scream in the Night.” This shit was heavy, melodic and fully Olathia. It held that tried and true sound that we know and love, but with a fresh new set of chords for us to bang our heads to. And bang our heads we did. The new song was extremely well received, as was the announcement that we can expect a new Olathia album in 2027.
Olathia
After the big news was delivered, the quartet decided to give us one more tidbit to chew on before calling it a night. They treated us to one of the many stellar covers they keep tucked in their back pockets. On the menu for this particular evening: “Over the Mountain” by Ozzy. Olathia provided us with a tasteful rendition, paying due respect to the Prince of Darkness. Taking a big bow, they said goodnight. The crowd roared in approval, and deservedly so. It had been a fantastic set. All I can say is this: The old fans were satisfied and the new comers were mystified. All were blown away by the unquestioned fire and strength of the band they had just seen. A band that reigns over a kingdom which exists right in our own back yards. To those in attendance who were seeing Olathia for the first time… welcome to the Scene.
Olathia
The crowd dispersed. Some drifted to the bar, other outside to smoke, still others to the Olathia merch table to scoop up some new apparel. I had a pow-wow with my team and we chatted up many of our friends in the Scene along the way. Olathia’s members appeared and we naturally congratulated them on a set well played. The night was young, the vibe was high and all was well in Cleveland. Up next was The Iron Maidens but, you all know my position on cover bands… specifically, I don’t cover them. (Nothing against cover bands, but to me… well, there is plenty original music in the world for me to focus on.) So just for fun we hung out for a few songs, then, as a team we headed out. Saying farewell to the homies, I slid down the block to my ride and headed East. Then it was off into the night and toward my bed. So there you have it Cleveland and beyond. A Thursday night with Olathia. It was a show well worth taking in. I want to thank Olathia for listing me and for playing such a asskicker of a set. Both things are greatly appreciated.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
11/4/2026
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