Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Volume #264: Darkest Hour, The Jotunn & Druparia
November 10th , 2026
No Class, 11213 Detroit Ave, Cleveland Ohio,
Hello to all you Metal maniacs, both here in Cleveland and beyond. I welcome you back to the RbRR with open arms and a fresh tale to tell. Last night I attended a banger of a show. First of all it was a Tuesday, so it was a considerable effort to get my ass off the couch and out to a gig. However the bill was utterly stacked with talent and something about the whole affair just felt… necessary. So I hit up old boy Joha, and we got ourselves a pair of advanced tickets. When last night finally rolled around, he scooped me up at 6:30 and we headed west toward No Class.
Heavy on Cleveland: Northeast Ohio’s #1 Entertainment Podcast! Catch up on what’s Hot in the Scene!!!
Nestled on Detroit Avenue, No Class is a Cleveland Heavy Music haven. I love this club. Great vibes, reasonable prices and loaded lineups are what it is known for. And fair warning, from a moshpit perspective, this is probably the wildest club in Cleveland. At first glance, it looks every bit the part. Beneath the layers of stickers and graffiti, is an atmosphere which could seem forbidding to the casual attendee. But please don’t run, screaming into the street. Instead come in, sit down and order a drink. You see, once you peel back the aesthetic of Heavy Music culture you’ll find yourself in a place that is welcoming and warm. The crowd is… a bit rough around the edges. Yet I, as a frequent attendee, can attest that beyond our forbidding exteriors, we the miscreants of the Metal Scene flock to No Class because it is a place that is so open everyone and accepting of all. It is the proverbial “safe space.”
Eric Stevenson: The Official Tattoo Artist of the Rustbelt Rock Review
So after navigating the highways of Northeast Ohio, and securing a surprisingly good parking space, Joha and I arrived at No Class. We ran our way about the room, scoping out the merch and inspecting the Scene. We eventually retired to the rear patio, where we passed the time and enjoyed the brisk night air. In due time 8pm arrived and we shuffled into the club for the start of the music. The crowd had shown up early and the room was already packed with eager Metal heads. It would have been a very nice crowd for a weekend gig, but for a Tuesday night it was an impressive turn out. Settling at mid floor, we watched as the band took their places.
(Note: All three bands tonight utilize the same configuration of five members: Vocalist, two Guitars, Bass and Drums. I don’t want to type it three times, and I doubt you want to read it over and over again.)
Druparia
First to the stage was a group I am a big fan of: Druparia. This is a Melodic Death Metal band from Cleveland. They have a ruthless style that is equal parts brutality and beauty. They are known for their crushing chords, savage Vocals and all around exceptional musicianship. What I enjoy most about Druparia is their amazingly musical Guitar work. Their twin ax attack is an inferno of six string fury. They opened up instrumentally with melodic chords and wicked lead licks. If my memory serves me correctly the name of the name of this track is “Of Firmament… And the Renewal.” This is a musical journey that unfolds, growing and building to a climax. That climax comes when their front man takes to the stage. Picking up his mic he unleashes a voice that is nothing short of monstrous. This raging snarl pushes the song over the top and sends fans in to cheering fits of headbanging. Soon the Bass player joined in, adding his own voice (both clean and roaring) to the din, and the song rolled on like an avalanche. The set progressed with thunder and force driven by the man behind the kit. The Drumwork was fantastic, as the rhythms pounded technical ferocity. I believe they played five songs, including a new one, titled “Suzerain.” They closed out with “When Cranes Return” their bonafide Melodic Death Metal masterpiece. The fans cheered enthusiastically, and hoisted their horns in appreciation for the powerful set Druparia had opened the show with. With the first band finished Joha and I returned to the patio to relax and enhance our minds.
The Jotunn
Next to perform is another Cleveland area powerhouse: The Jotunn. This is a band that I am also quite enamored with. With frightening themes, and dark atmospheres, The Jotunn is the stuff of nightmares. Their style is devastation. It is merciless. It is relentless and punishing. Musically they are known for their demonic Vocals, their meat grinder chords and their earthshaking low end. In short they are one of Northeast Ohio’s most horrifying and most brutal bands. They came out heavy as stone and immediately began to fill the crowd with fury. The movement started up quickly, with a few guys headbanging vigorously. Then they began to pogo in place. By the second song, the fury boiled over and the first of the evenings moshpits started. From this point on, their would be an explosion of violence for each and every song The Jotunn produced. Bodies collided and flew as the fans circled and struck. The set included “Summoner,” “Ulceration,” and “Lessons in Reviving the Dead.” The Jotunn also treated us to some previously unreleased material, yet another backbreaking track to add to their repertoire. The crowd responded to this one as vigorously as they had the rest of the set, with unchecked moshing. I believe The Jotunn played a total of 7 songs, closing out with “Blood Flower.” The fans howled for more as they finished up and said good night. As the cleared the stage Joha and I returned to the patio to repeat our ritual.
Darkest Hour
Finally it was time for our headlining performer, Darkest Hour. This Washington DC band has been around for 31 years, and yet was in Cleveland launching a tour for a brand new album. “Suffer Divine” was just released on October 30th and it has already made quite an impression. I am new to Darkest Hour. While I am well acquainted with both the openers, our headliner was largely a mystery to me. Leading up to this show I have listened to the new album thoroughly and dug into their back catalog quite a bit as well. Here’s what I’ve come to understand. They are some kind of Frankenstein's monster of a band. They don’t have a clear genre and are sewn together from pieces of a lot of different styles. There’s Metal there for sure, but also Punk and Hardcore influences as well. They have vicious snarling Vocals, that are unforgiving to say the least, but also quite melodious at times, when played off the notes of the Guitars. Their music is hard fast and driving. Their Guitars are hard hitting but also us a lot melodic chords to add undeniable heart to the sound. So yeah, I dig what I've heard so far... and while that is true, seeing a band live has always been the real test for me.
Darkest Hour
So there I was, midfloor at No Class and Darkest Hour was taking the stage. The room was packed, the energy was tangible and all present were ready to rock. The band emerged, fought their way to the stage and… Exploded! I don’t know what they opened with, but it was bad ass! The band was all stage presence, Rocking out and throwing down while they poured out their fury upon us. Down on the floor the energy surged. The pit immediately began to churn, rapidly becoming a maelstrom of rolling bodies. On the second song, everyone had their hands in the air, clapping in time. By the third a spinning circle pit had begun. The show was bedlam, the fans were rabid and the vibration was unbridled wildness. I watched in awe. The crowd went bat shit crazy as Darkest Hour beast after crushing beast. Song by song they pummeled us and drove the crowd mad with Metal magic. They played “Warrior,” “With A Thousand Words to Say But One,” “Suffer Divide” and I think I heard “DEMON(S)” in there as well. They even threw in an amazing cover of the Dead Kennedy’s Classic “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” for good measure. I’m pretty sure they played a total of 15 songs before calling it a night. They threw out setlists, Guitar picks and Drumsticks to their loyal fans and slowly the room emptied.
Joha and I headed out into the night, with our heads full of Metal majesty. We rode home listening to Punching Moses and chatting about what a great show it had been. All three bands had been incredible. The Heavy Metal flowed and satiated my soul. No Class, as always, was an accommodating host. I will always look forward to my next gig in this most hallowed of locations. Joha dropped me off and I headed to bed, loving the night and dreading the morning… and that brings us to now. When and where I will now leave you, to your day, to your duties and hopefully on your way to your next doobie… or brewski… or whatever it is that brings you joy and peace in this mad, mad world. Thanks for reading, for rocking and for supporting the Scene. Don’t forget to wear your earplugs.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
11/11/2026
