Rustbelt Rock Review

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"After another introduction from Big Bri, we got our headlining performers, Bittersweet Revenge. This is a five piece Hard Rock act made up of two Guitars, Bass, Drums and a Vocalist.  They started out with a song entitled “11” which brought with it heavily distorted guitars, clean Vocals and a lot of energy. The whole band had great stage presence stomping and headbanging as they played. The Vocals quickly drifted towards snarls and screams as the song progressed, producing a sound that was a lot heavier than I’d expected.  They have a vibe with a touch of blues and a twinge of Southern Metal.  (I found a passing musical resemblance to the bands Down, as well as Crobot.) This sound continued throughout the songs “12” and “Hair of the Dog.” When they got to “Borrowed Time” the Rhythm Guitarist left the stage, beer in hand, and cheers’ed everyone in the room holding a drink. Next the Lead Guitarist followed suit and played a killer solo on the floor amongst the fans. “Thrill,” which was sort of a ballad, still turned out pretty heavy, the Vox starting clean and then growing into screams. Another scorcher of a solo popped up here, to the delight of all in attendance. On “14” they delivered an up tempo Rockin’ beat. Here I noted that the “Bass player is really getting down.” The crowd danced and cheered, singing along. There was a group of diehard fans congregated to one side of the stage that absolutely lost their shit around this point.  

 “Trump Face” brought some serious groove and my notes read “Fucking great song.” On the guitar solo here, the guitarist moved to the front of the stage and shredded with his face turned up toward the ceiling, eyes shut tight. They closed out with “Black Out” which had a fat bass sound. They really threw down for this one and the fans went ape shit in response. Fists were pumping and heads were banging. People dancing and singing along could be seen from wall to wall, stage to soundboard. Let me put it to you short and sweet: Bittersweet Revenge Rocks! What they served up Saturday night was outstanding. Hard and passionate, they brought absolute fire to the Maple Grove stage. It is never an easy task to have to follow a band of Olathia’s intensity, but I have to say Bittersweet Revenge lived up to the job. They played with such energy and ingrained heaviness that they had me banging my head. Yet simultaneously they deliver a very fun and danceable sound. If you’re looking for some serious Hard Rock with impressive vocals and unquestionable chops on the guitar then check out Bittersweet Revenge today. They hope to release a new EP in August, so keep your eyes peeled for that.  

 And just like that the evening was at an end. Brian gave some closing remarks and thanked everyone for coming. In my opinion the inaugural Level Up Cleveland concert had been a resounding success. Without a doubt this is one of the most fun shows I have covered in a while. With a party atmosphere, good friends and incredible talent, it will surely be a night to remember. Craig Martini kicked things off in a very cool way. His funk based, Bass driven, one man band was a really great way to open up the show. Olathia upped the intensity dramatically and gave us one hell of a set. With their unparalleled talent they once again reminded me of why they are among the best in our scene. And lastly, Bittersweet Revenge brought down the house with their tremendous energy. Like machines of perpetual motion their power cells never seemed to slacken. Add that to their big vocal presence and spectacular guitar work and you’ve got yourself a must see performer. You wrap that all up together and it's a recipe for one great night of music. I left the Maple Grove and drove home, tired but satisfied. After nearly six hours in the club, I was spent. I hit the sack with a slight ringing in my ears and dreams of guitar solos dancing in my head... and that's how it should be.  I would like to thank my friends at Level Up Cleveland and the Maple Grove Tavern for putting on this awesome event and for getting me involved. As always, thanks for reading.   

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!"

 Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Zackolantern.com

6/12/2023