9/13/2023

TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic 3615 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115

Well, well, well. Another week has come and gone. Another show has passed me by and as such I am back at my keyboard with another tale to tell. This one was a good one. I mean really good. Now as you know, I get to see a lot of shows. From the new bands in the humblest of clubs, to international monsters in massive amphitheaters, I see them all. That being said, it is not often I get to type these words: This week I got to see my favorite band. Not a band I like a lot. Not a band I simply love, but my one and only, numero uno, top of my list favorite: Danzig. With them they had a stacked line up including Behemoth, Twin Temple and Cleveland’s own MIDNIGHT. Chen and I bought our tickets for this one the very second they went on sale. We shelled out the cash for Pit passes and sat in dire anticipation waiting for this day to finally come.

The whole affair began with a bit of stress. I had seen all tour that the show started promptly at 6:30. Chen had to work, so we knew we would be up against it trying to make it on time. Not wanting to miss a second of MIDNIGHT’s set, we raced west toward TempleLive trying to burn up many miles in few minutes. When we finally reached our destination, we circled the venue looking for parking. As we did we were dismayed to see the line for entry stretching out and wrapping around the building. My mind went into a bit of minor panic mode. I began to calculate random nonsense variables in my head, trying to factor out a scenario where this massive line would be cleared in time for the show to start. I was worried. Eventually the line began to move. Soon enough we had cleared security and we raced to find our way to the floor. This was a bit of a problem, you see, Chen and I had never been to TempleLive before and consequently had no idea where we were going. I wandered the lobby confused for a while before Chen found the entrance. We secured our wrist bands and made it to the floor with mere minutes to spare. And then we waited. And waited. And we waited some more. I watched as 6:30 came and went and still the show did not begin. Eventually I asked a security guard what was happening and he explained that the show didn’t start until… 7:30. Now either the show had been pushed back, or the internet lied to me. (For my constant readers, you’ll know this isn’t the first time I’ve been throw for a loop by a start time.) Whatever the cause of the confusion, we found ourselves with 30-45 minutes until MIDNIGHT began. We spent that time in the merch line, picking up some sweet new Danzig swag. That line was also long and by the time we finished with it, we were back to rushing to the floor. We made it. With our gear tucked away, and our earplugs in place, we settled in just as the lights turned out.

Up first was Cleveland’s hometown heroes: MIDNIGHT. This would be my first time seeing the band and I was excited. Ever since I first reviewed them, back in RbRR #6, I have been itching to check them out. Now I was finally getting the opportunity and in fantastic fashion. The venue was packed to the gills and I could just sense that the anticipation was high. Adorned in their trademark black masks they took to the stage. Opening with a shout of “Fucking Speed and Darkness,” they exploded into the set fast and hard. I noticed the sound was quite good right off the bat and MIDNIGHT’s play was spot on. The energy surged and immediately a moshpit formed. Moving into “Rebirth by Blasphemy” the crowd howled as the Guitarist produced a ripping solo. “Devil’s Excrement” came next, followed by “Szex Witchery.” This song is exceedingly Rockin’ and has a killer closing riff.

Here I made a note about the bands excellent stage presence, particularly that of the Guitarist, who never seemed to stop moving. Up next they played one of my favorites from the newest album, “More Torment.” This one has a slower, more plodding tempo that was a nice change of pace mid-set. Picking up the speed again they broke into “Telepathic Nightmare” and then pounded us with “Lust, Filth and Sleaze.” On “You Can’t Stop Steel” we saw the frontman leap from the drum riser while playing his Bass. Their stage energy was off the charts as the busted out “Who Gives a Fuck?” and they carried in forward into their closing track “Unholy and Rotten.” MIDNIGHT went off with a bang and for sure the hometown crowd ate it up. The fans roared in approval as they finished up and said goodnight. Without a doubt MIDNIGHT had been impressive. Hard edged, fast and ultra aggressive, they brought their blasphemous Black Speed barrage to TempleLive and unleashed hell upon all who stood witness. Yet this was only the first wave. The evening was just getting started and there was plenty more evil Rock N’ Roll still in store for us.

We settled in for the next performance and to be honest I didn’t know what to expect. The upcoming band was one I have heard a bit about, but I had never listened to prior to the evening in question. Second on the agenda was Twin Temple a six piece, female fronted, Satanic Doo-Wop group. They consist of a Vocals, Guitar, Saxophone, Keyboards, Bass and Drums. They began the set with a highly ritualized entrance. Beginning with the band and ending with the singer, the members entered the stage a piece at a time. They began a sort of ceremony involving candles, swords and some sort of water blessing of the crowd. The leading lady was adorned with an old fashioned beehive hairdo and a sequined jacked which read “God is Dead.” They proceeded to break into some music that sounded like the golden era of Rock N’ Roll but with completely Satanic lyrics. Their following song, “Let’s Have a Satanic Orgy,” was pretty hilarious. I found the whole thing to be utterly ridiculous yet somehow absolutely awesome. There was this odd contradiction at hand, with music that had such a wholesome sound to be accompanied by such deviant lyrics, was fully bizarre. Their third song they told us was a new one, and was “a love song about burning bodies.” Around this time the band acknowledged that the Guitarist and Vocalist are in fact a married couple. As it turned out, that very night was their anniversary. The crowd offered up a cheer of congratulations and the music continued into the fun loving “Be a Slut (Do What You Want).” They slowed things down next with what sounded to me like the quintessential 1950’s love song: “Lucifer, My Love.” I noted here what a truly powerful voice the lady on the stage was sporting. Smooth, sweet and Satanic, she wowed us and earned a big cheer when her voice peaked on this song. “Lucifer, My Love” also had a big sax solo that was sadly tucked too far back in the mix to be fully appreciated. The next number was more upbeat and had the sound of swinging classic. Closing out the evening they broke out what I considered to be the best song of the set, “I’m Wicked.” This song was dark and brooding with a really cool riff and an abundance of groove. It was a very solid ending number and the crowd seemed to be really into it. This one also had a Sax solo, which wasn’t stepped on by the soundman. As such, it went over really well and I have to acknowledge the talent here. The band finished their time with a closing ritual similar to the one that began the set. The singer drank from a chalice and after, blood spilled down her chin. She and the Guitarist then shared a passionate, bloody kiss as the band jammed on in the background. It was quite a thing to behold. Without a doubt Twin Temple was one of the strangest and most interesting bands I have ever seen. Not a Metal band by any stretch of the term, they seemed sonically out of place with the remainder of the acts. However, they certainly met the criteria from a demonic point of view. All the other acts on the bill are well known for their sacrilege, so from that perspective they fit right in. All that being said… they were a really good band. Twin Temple played a very tight and unique set and I am glad I got to check them out.

Eric Stevenson: The Official Tattoo Artist of the RbRR

With Twin Temple now behind us, it was time for a moment I have been waiting for, Behemoth’s return to Cleveland. This Polish Blackened Death Metal band is a four headed beast comprised of Guitar/Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Drums. This is a band I have seen only once and it was at Blossom, during the day. Consequently I don’t feel like I got the full experience that time around and I was excited at the prospect of finally checking them out in a more intimate setting. The set began with candles and darkness before the music began to “Post-God Nirvana.” This brought frontman, Nergal, lunging out of the shadows clutching a bright light in his hand. He stalked about raving the lyrics as the cacophony of sounds surrounded us all. Nergal disappeared momentarily and soon the entire band took to the stage. Behemoth was adorned in Corpse Paint, and some sort of medieval looking garb. Nergal’s face was partially obscured by a hood that he wore. All in all, the band put forward a terrifying mystique, bringing an element of fear to the stage with their mere presence. Opening “Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer” they absolutely exploded into the set without mercy. They sounded every bit of perfect as they hammered through the track. The drums were absolutely thunderous, shaking the room as they moved into “Malaria Vvlgata.” The room was filled with light and smoke as Nergal roared out the lyrics. The crowd chanted “Ay! Ay!” along with the music as Behemoth began “Conquer All” and a Mosh Pit soon formed. Next they brought “The Deathless Sun,” one of my favorites from the new album. This song has enormous backing vox, killer solo’s and went over especially well live. The moshing continued here and carried on into “Once Upon a Pale Horse.” Here the fists were pumping and the heads were banging as the epic song unfolded.

Behemoth, Photo credit Tim Novak

On “Versvs Christvs” we were cast into darkness again and incense burned. Slowly the intensity built and built until the lights eventually came up coinciding with the percussion. Nergal began to tear up a book (presumably a bible), and hurled the pages around. This song has a fantastic solo and ends on an utterly cataclysmic note with pounding double Bass drums. Then it was time to really break some spines. Next they conjured what is possibly my favorite Behemoth song, “Ov Fire and the Void.” The crowd chants started up again and the Pit raged. My notes here read, “this song is pure power,” and I remember being blown away by how intense it was live. They slowed things down for “Bartzabel.” The drums during the intro were earth shaking and as the song played out I could only note: “Amazing live.” The crowd chanted further for the closing number “Chant for Eschaton 2000,” and predictably the Moshing began again with renewed fury. Behemoth closed out their set raining fire and brimstone down upon the crowd like the apocalypse itself. They had played pure heresy from front to back and brought devastation in every note. With their theatrical costumes and over the top light show they put on a performance that dazzled all in attendance. I have to say that seeing Behemoth up close in a midsized venue was everything I had hoped it would be. If the night would have ended then, it would have been well worth the price of admission. Behemoth’s set was just that good… However, the night was not over yet, and the concert was far from through. The Blackest of the Black was about to show all the younger bands how it was done. It was time. Danzig was taking to the stage.

So we finally come down to it: Danzig. For those of you who don’t know, Danzig is a four man band built of Guitar, Bass, Drums and the legendary Vocalist, Glenn Danzig. The band was celebrating the 35th anniversary of their debut album, affectionately referred to as “Danzig 1.” As such, Danzig would be performing the entirety of the album for us, a treat that few fans ever thought they would receive. Now, we were informed upon entering the floor that there was strict ban on photography in effect for the set. (Glenn hates cell phones at shows.) So once it was Danzig time, security was cracking down on anyone taking pics. This is a policy that Glenn usually has in place, but I have never seen it enforced so… enthusiastically as I did at TempleLive. More about this later, for now let’s get on to the show. Beginning with a piped in instrumental, the band took to the stage. (It may have been something from one of the Black Aria albums. I couldn’t quite place it.) Opening with “Twist of Cain” the crowd roared, and then roared even louder when Glenn came into view. Danzig sounded nothing short of epic, and the crowd fed off of it. Singing along to every word, they echoed him note for note. Jumping into “Not of This World” the intensity rose. Horns were hoisted, heads banged and the sing along continued. Next the band lit the room on fire, when they belted out the beloved chords to “Am I Demon?” Glenn was in absolute peak form as he wailed the lyrics in his unmistakable voice. During this one I caught sight of a lone crowdsurfer cruising across the room. With pounding drums and an undeniable groove, they pulled out “She Rides.” “End of Time” followed and I have to tell you this one blew me away. Glenn’s voice was huge, simply shaking our skulls with his incredibly executed notes. I could tell he was really feeling it, and he was in full command of the venue as the broke into “Possession.” I noted here that the band sounded spot on, album perfect and while that was true of the entire set, I have to say “Possession” was especially tight. “The Hunter” rocked so damned hard, I can’t even put it into words. What I can tell you is that the whole room was losing its shit while it went down, that’s for sure. Next was the moment I was personally waiting for. The one song of Danzig 1 that I wanted to see performed live more than any other: “Soul on Fire.” The sing along that transpired for the intro of this song was amazing in its power. So many voices all raised along with Glenn was an awe inspiring thing to be a part of. The climax of this song hit so hard, it was a truly memorable experience to have finally had. “Evil Thing” popped up next and with it the many tempo shifts and constant drum changes that accompany them. This was another one that I was thrilled to see performed, largely due to how huge the percussion came through as it was hammered home. Finally, closing out the “Danzig 1” play through, we finally got “Mother.” A huge pit broke out as rabid fans went bananas for the classic hit song. Here I saw a brazen cell phone photographer filming while taunting security from across the divider. They jumped to wall to go after him and he deftly vanished into the pit, eluding capture. While that drama unfolded Danzig concluded “Mother” and we were left wondering… what would come next? Well Danzig put it to a vote. He asked if we wanted to hear something from Danzig 2 or 3 next. The crowd response leaned to the side of 3 and we were treated to the title track from that album, “How the Gods Kill.” Now for those of you who have never seen Danzig live, I have to say this is one of his showcase pieces. There are few songs that I have ever seen performed, by anyone, that packs the punch of “HTGK.” Again the crowd sang along at deafening levels through the intro. Then the room exploded when the song finally broke. At its climax, Glenn spiked his mic in a moment of pure passion. He then picked it up and led the crowd in singing the outro of the track. Next he broke out “Dirty Black Summer” which had the whole room Rockin’. Following that we got something really special, after another crowd vote, Danzig chose to perform “Blood and Tears,” a song that I have seen on only one prior occasion. This song is gorgeous. Bluesy and smooth, it is melancholy and steeped in longing. It is the kind of ballad that only a vocalist of Danzig’s caliber could possibly bring to life, with lyrics so dark that only his twisted heart could have penned them. “Blood and Tears” brought down the house, but Danzig was far from finished. Next he played one of my all time favorites, “Her Black Wings.” The crowd chanted “Ay! Ay!” along with the riffs as the song began and when the chorus hit, the “Whoa’s!” were ear splitting. Around this time that brazen cell phone photographer returned to my view and his antics continued to play out. He filmed shamelessly while security screamed at him from across the divider. He waved at them and blew them kisses in pure mockery of their authority. Well this time they’d had enough. A guard who was especially fanatical about the policy, leapt the barrier and charged the man. He had an insane look of rage in his eyes as he rushed him. This time there was no moshpit to escape into and they caught him. He was, quite forcefully, dragged from the floor by the furious guard and was never heard from again. Anyway, after “Her Black Wings” Danzig announced that they had gone over time. This discouraged us, because we feared that the show was going to be cut short. Quite to the contrary, as it turns out. Glenn laughed and said they were going to be pissed at him then, because we were still not quite finished. Busting into the hammering drums of “Long Way Back from Hell” they closed out the set on a profoundly heavy note. Another moshpit formed as dedicated fans sacrificed their bodies for the love of the music. The band left the stage and we all waited in dire anticipation. With the time overage still hanging over our heads, we were honestly not sure if we’d get an encore or not, but Danzig did not disappoint. Returning to the stage the band performed one last, bad ass, banger: “Do You Wear the Mark?” This rocker had the fans going wild one last time before the night was finished. With a final farewell, Glenn and the boys left the stage and we all said goodnight.

We made our way out of the venue, returned to the car and drove home ecstatic. It had been one hell of a show, and I cannot type that hard enough. It is rare that you get to see your favorite band, and when you do, how often do you get to say there were three stellar supporting acts to boot? MIDNIGHT was outstanding. They opened up to a cold room, and by the time they had finished the crowd was on fire. They played hard and fast and with a hell of a lot of passion and in the process did the hometown crowd proud. Twin Temple was an act unlike any I have ever seen. Their Satanic Doo-Wop sound is strange, silly and a HELL of a lot of fun. I think everyone out there should give them a listen, because its honestly pretty cool stuff. Behemoth was everything their name entails. They were an enormous unholy monster and they played accordingly. Their time was pure devastation and it was a set I won’t soon forget. Finally Danzig was in peak form. Seeing the debut album played through was something special, and the song choices for the remainder of the set were magnificent. The play of the band and in particular the vocals of Glenn were a marvel. I have seen Danzig many, many times and I have to say this set was by far among the best. I am happy to report that even after 35 years, Danzig is still a force to be reckoned with. On that note I will say goodnight. As always wear your earplugs, hoist your horns and thank you for reading.

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Zackolantern.com

9/16-9/17/2023

LINKS

Danzig

www.danzig-verotik.com

Behemoth

www.behemoth.pl

Twin Temple

www.twintemple.com