Rustbelt Rock Review

By: Z.M. Delgado

Rustbeltrockreview.com

Volume #104: Olathia “The Forest Witch” Album Release Party featuring Dyspläcer & Wrath Icon

October 20th, 2023

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

Good evening, my friends, and welcome back to the Rustbelt Rock Review. This week I was able to partake in one of my favorite things about doing this job: attending an album release party. I go to a lot of concerts and one thing I can tell you is this: No average show has the kind of energy you get at an album release. Everyone involved: the bands, the fans, even your humble narrator, tend to get a little extra amped when it comes time for a record drop. It’s unavoidable. There is just too many emotions all coming fruition at once to keep the vibe from hitting electric levels. Musicians and subsequently their fans wait months, if not years, for a new album to manifest. When that time finally comes everyone has a lot of backlogged feelings just waiting to come to the surface. The concerts that follow are almost always bangers.

That was certainly the case this past Friday, when I found myself once again at the Maple Grove Tavern. I was there for the much anticipated party to celebrate the arrival of Olathia’s newest offering: “The Forest Witch.” The bands first full length since 2019’s “Snake Charmer,” “The Forest Witch” is an album that our scene has been holding its breath waiting for. I arrived about an hour before doors and made my way inside. Once there I found the room already humming with activity. Band members and staff buzzed around the room in preparation for the show. I quickly located the Queen Bee of the bustling hive, Olathia’s Chris E.. We caught up for a while, yet I could see she was busy, and so I tried not to eat up too much of her time. Moving along I introduced myself to Dyspläcer and also Wrath Icon. (All of which were really nice guys who were more than happy to take some time to chat with yours truly.) In due time Olathia put out their new merch spread and I went shopping. I picked up the newest T-shirt and Chris also gifted me a CD, some patches for my vest and a set of Olathia tarot cards; which was really cool of her. I asked for her signature on the album and she happily obliged me. Then I was off to track down Dylan, Terry and Joe, to do the same. Eventually completing this task, I stowed my merch in my car and returned to the club. Inside I found my friend James “The Dook” Fedor from Roxxxstarradio and together we prowled the room talking up musicians and fans alike. In what felt like the blink of an eye the next hour passed. The room began to really fill up and before we knew it, the first band was gearing up to start.

Kicking things off was Cleveland area Metal vets Wrath Icon. This is a five man outfit built from two Guitars, Bass, Drums and a Vocalist. They play a Heavy Metal style that I would categorize as a blend of Traditional and Thrash. The fog machine rolled and a thick layer of mist began to enshroud the stage. The crowd was packed in shoulder to shoulder and gathered tightly around in dire anticipation. Opening with a number called “Church of Blood” they hit fans of Maple Grove like a runaway truck. Immediately heads started banging and many horns were thrown into the air as Wrath Icon instantly snagged our undivided attention. Right off the bat I was taken with the drum sound. Sporting a double bass drum set up, the percussionist had a huge and thunderous presence. Pumping their fists the crowd began chanting “AY! AY! AY!” in time with the beat. I noted early that the band had good stage energy, particularly the Bassist. The frontman also stood large before the crowd with big time charisma and a huge voice. And let’s not forget the Guitar work, which also left an early impression with a cutting solo. On the intro to “Hypocrisy” the crowd began chanting again with greater enthusiasm. Wild headbanging went down at the foot of the stage as the Guitarist manifested a simply nasty riff and another monster solo. The room held a tangible energy as fans from the front to the back of the room screamed for more. The band took some time to talk with the crowd and eventually asked: “What’s our name?” to which the crowd shouted: “Wrath Icon!” This went on I believe three times, with each successive yell outmatching the volume of it’s predecessor. Their third song, “Testament,” opened with a ripping solo and then exploded. Here my notes read things like: “Shredding riffs,” “Hammering Drums” and “Sick Guitar work.” Next they broke into “Time” followed by “Killing Game” both of which continued to impress me. I wasn’t alone either. The room was full of hand clapping, cheers and, of course, banging heads. For their sixth song they chose to do a spot on cover of Testament’s “Electric Crown,” which I have to say went over really well. Following that they broke out “Architects of Life.” This one had a slower beginning with some grooving Bass. It then built and built gain inedtensity before breaking into a pretty serious jam. The Bass and Drums absolutely rumbled the whole club as they let loose “Murder of Crows.” Another excellent Guitar solo belted us across the face and naturally elicited a huge cheer from the fans. Finally, closing out the set, Wrath Icon dropped Anthrax’s “Antisocial.” The room went nuts and we got a sing along with the fans. (With local Metalhead “Wild Bill” getting up on stage to provide some backing vocals.) The room blew it’s top with cheers as Wrath Icon finished up. They had undoubtedly kicked the shit out of Maple Grove Tavern and with gusto. Wrath Icon was phenomenal. They came into a cold room and turned the thermostat up to about 1000 degrees. High tempos, higher energy and a killer sound led to one hell of a performance. So if you’re a fan of old school Thrash like Testament or Kreator, then I highly recommend you check out Wrath Icon right away. I did and I can tell you that they have made a believer out of me.

After a brief interlude I found myself back before the stage, awaiting our second act of the night. In from Rochester, NY, Dyspläcer is a five man band made up of two Guitars, Bass, Drums and a Vocalist. They play a style that is somewhere in the Traditional Heavy Metal/ Power Metal realm. They are however a self described “Kung Fu Metal band,” which means that they have a sort of Kung Fu Movie/Martial arts themed concept to their lyrics, art work and stage attire. They opened up with a song called “Lightning Fury Fist” and were off and running. The vocals were high end and operatic as one would expect in the genre. They had a very “Iron Maiden-esc” galloping cadence that I particularly enjoyed. The Guitarist established himself as a force to be reckoned with early on, exhibiting tight solos. Their frontman was a blur of activity, rocking out and mimicking martial arts maneuvers while the band played on around him. On their second track, I formed a personal connection to the band, when they sent out a song to all the Godzilla fans in the room. “Kuma Kaiju” was pure thunder and it was on this track that I took notice of the fantastic Bass work. The Bassist, who’s instrument was completely clear and had LED’s running down the neck, had a powerful attack and an intricate style. He played pickless and his fingers moved in a rubbery blur up and down the frets of his Guitar. Meanwhile, the Guitarist administered another slick solo and as he did the singer left the stage and stalked the club. “Blood Sport” had a nice intro riff that had the crowd chanting “AY! AY! AY!” along with the meter. This song had some incredibly tight play, with frequent tempo changes and abrupt starts and stops. The Vocalist let loose some enormous “Whoas!” and many in the crowd joined in to sing along. Fourth in their set, they broke out a cover of Iron Maiden’s “Phantom of the Opera.” A significantly complex piece of music to be sure, Dyspläcer delivered it with pure precision. I didn’t detect a single note out of place as the ran through the beast of a composition. The crowd clapped along and let loose more “AY’s!” before the song played out. Next they performed their tribute to the Drunken Master entitled “Forgotten Victories.” The crowd enthusiasm continued to rise and the chanting persevered. Down in front the leading edge of the stage was packed with Metalheads all breaking their necks with glee. “Dyspläcer vs Dyspläcer” was a sonic blast. High speed, high energy; with solid riffs and another shredding solo, it was a hit. For a second time the singer left the stage and wailed as he crept among the fans. Closing out the set, they performed “Way of the Ninja.” Telling the crowd to “Do the impossible, break the unbreakable,” the band fired up another charging riff with a romping cadence. Here a man clad in armor and a Japanese demon mask took to the stage, and began headbanging among the band members. More chanting came from the floor and more solos on the stage. Fans stomped, danced and Rocked out in every conceivable way. The club was on fire as Dyspläcer finished up with all the power of a Taekwondo kick. The crowd cheered with pure enthusiasm as the band took their final bows. They had performed a masterful set of “Kung Fu Metal.” With extreme levels of both energy and musicianship Dyspläcer showed themselves to be an elite band. Their stage presence was off the charts, as every member performed with intensity. They had a classic sound that could be reasonably compared to Iron Maiden, Helloween or Judas Priest just to name a few. If you are a fan of any of those bands, then I suggest you check our Dyspläcer today. They are a sight to behold.

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

With the opening acts now behind us, we were ready for our headliner. There was a palpable sense of anticipation circulating the room as die hard fans congregated before the stage. Here I detected an impending crisis as I noticed Guitarist, Dylan, having some difficulty with one of his pedals. I watched in fascination as he removed the back plate and performed emergency surgery right there on the stage. In time he was apparently satisfied with his work and he returned the pedal to his pedal board and continued to setup. I crossed my fingers in hopes that the procedure had been a success, but only time would tell. The crowd cheered enthusiastically as the band ran through a quick sound check. You know the energy of a room is high when even a few notes is enough to make the people scream. Soon enough, the entire band was assembled, the gear was hot and they were given the green light to begin. Olathia was finally ready to start.

Now Olathia is a band that surely needs no preamble to you, my regular readers. But for those of you who are behind on your homework, lets do a quick breakdown. Olathia is a four piece Metal band comprised of Drums (Joe), Bass, (Terry), Guitar (Dylan) and Vocals (Chris). They perform a blend of Traditional Heavy Metal, combined with Thrash and Power Metal to create a sound that undeniably their own. They assembled, they plugged in and then they began. Opening with a devastating riff, they broke into “Insatiable” and thus started their full run through of the new album. This song is nasty and profoundly heavy with a riff that is like a saw chewing through bone. Over laying this is the crooning voice of Chris. Her vocals drifted softly to begin, then in time with the music, leapt to brutal levels. The song punched up the intensity and when it did, the crowd howled in approval. I immediately made a note about stage presence, specifically about Bass man, Terry. This dude throws down hard… I mean really hard. He headbangs and thrusts his Bass wildly while he plucks the four strings with expert technique; all while lending backing vocals to the mix. It is surely impressive to see. Next came the title track from the record, “The Forest Witch.” With a ripping tempo the song exploded and sent the room into fits of madness. This track is incredibly driving and packs some serious groove. With lead licks in plenitude and a shredding solo to boot “The Forest Witch” established Dylan’s mammoth presence early. With four cymbal hits Joe ushered in fan favorite, “Shotgun.” The first single from the new album, this one has become an anthem to our Scene. This undeniably catchy tune is contagious. From it’s first note it had the whole room dancing and singing along at the tops of our voices. “Fight” was next in line, and I have tell you this one was great. It began smooth and quite melodic, with light Guitar work and soft Vocals. This played out for a few bars before the song abruptly erupted into a firestorm of Heavy Metal magnificence. The chorus on this one is huge and Chris delivered it in an animated and emotional way. Another blistering solo flew from Dylan’s fingers eliciting cheers from onlookers. The crowd volume absolutely roared for “Fight,” and it looks to be well on it’s way to becoming a beloved addition to the setlist. On “Who’s the Devil?” Chris snarled and took on the visage of a demoness through the verses. This song had a truly crushing breakdown that had the fans at the foot of the stage Headbanging in unison. Through another blazing solo the energy continued to rise, and the boys from Dyspläcer were inspired to start up a moshpit.

The epic 8 minute “Last Breath” was next. It’s grinding riff inspired even more action on the floor. Dancing and headbanging was all around me, while on the stage Olathia continued to astound. Chris swayed and rocked to the music, and looked like a mad priestess channeling spirits. Dylan produced even more face melting solos, leaving concertgoers in a state of shock and awe. “Last Breath” finished up with some very big “Whoas” placed over chugging chords. The fans screamed in appreciation, and the band looked almost humbled by the response. After a brief band introduction, they broke into “Satan on my Mind.” The drums on this one really grabbed me. The tempo is like automatic gunfire and the sound is that of aerial bombardment… It is explosive. At times like these I am reminded, in no uncertain terms, that Joe is undoubtedly one of the greatest drummers in our scene. You can quote me on that. Anyway, packed with even more excellent lead guitar work, and dark lyrical vibes “Satan on my Mind” is a hard, fast ripper of a track. Closing out the evening, Olathia produced their fantastic cover of Savatage’s “Hall of the Mountain King.” This one is a show stopper. It is pure Heavy Metal perfection and every time I see Olathia perform it I am blown away. The rest of the club seemed to agree with me, as the song devolved into a crazed, fist pumping, sing along. To ear splitting applause Olathia finished strong. The set concluded, Chris and the boys said good night and predictably the stage was mobbed by appreciative fans. The room was again buzzing with activity. Everyone present seemed to be ecstatic with the set. I, for one, couldn’t have been more satisfied. Olathia had once again completely rocked my world. With power and authority they had seized control of the Maple Grove stage and blasted through an outstanding set of fiery Heavy Metal. Our introduction to the new album couldn’t’ have gone any better. (Based on what I heard Friday night, I can’t wait to do my review and break down the whole thing for all of you.)

With the show at a close, I made my rounds and said goodnight to the many awesome friends I had shared the show with. I headed out into the wet October night and… you guessed it, fired up my “The Forest Witch” CD. Rocking the new album, I drove home exhausted but satiated. I had received my weekly dose of Heavy Metal and I was ready for a much deserved rest. It had been one hell of a night. Maple Grove Tavern as always was an outstanding host. With a great atmosphere and stellar lights and sound, it is one of my favorite places to take in a show. Wrath Icon was excellent. I can’t type that loud enough to even convey how much I mean it. As a band I had never previously heard, they really impressed me with their performance... which was nothing short of bad ass. Dyspläcer was great. They brought their “Kung Fu Metal” attack with unquestioned precision and excitement. Their stage energy was off the charts and their musicianship left me in awe. Finally Olathia was… well, they were Olathia. That is to say they were powerful, dynamic, emotional and action packed. The Drums beat like a hammer and anvil. The Bass shook the foundation. The Guitar devastated and the Vocals stole the show. It was surely a performance to remember. For those of you who missed the gig, fear not! Soon enough you too will have your chance to pick up this new collection of songs. Mark your calendars because “The Forest Witch” will become available digitally on November 17th. With that, I will bring this edition to a close. As always, thank you so much for reading. Hoist your horns, bang your heads and wear your earplugs!

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Rustbeltrockreview.com

10/22-10/23/2023

Links:

Olathia

https://olathia.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/olathiametal/

Dysplacer

https://linktr.ee/dysplacer

https://www.facebook.com/Dysplacer123/