Review & Photos: Dark Angel, Sacred Reich, Hirax, Interceptor in Cleveland, Ohio

By David Desin, OOTB Publications

If you needed proof that Cleveland still bleeds metal, the night of Thursday, Oct. 2 delivered.

What might have been a logistical headache—a venue change from House Of Blues Cleveland to The Foundry—instead set the stage for an even more intense, intimate, unrelenting evening of thrash.

The lineup alone was cause for anticipation, but every band rose to the occasion. They all exceeded my expectations.

Venue & Atmosphere

The Foundry isn’t a massive arena, but its raw walls, tight sight lines, and proximity to the stage make it ideal for a night of pure headbanging and pit mayhem.

The crowd was thick from front to back, fans packed shoulder to shoulder, bodies swaying, fists up, and the energy crackled like static.

The switch from House Of Blues (announced on original listings) to The Foundry didn’t seem to deter turnout; if anything, it intensified it.

Inside, sound crews did solid work. The bass and guitar cut through with punch, drums were tight and present, and vocals remained clear (no loss in the mix), even as the night ratcheted up.

Lighting was straightforward—stark white beams, red backlights, strobes—nothing fancy, but effective. No distractions. The focus was on the music and the mosh.

Interceptor (opening act)

Kicking things off, Interceptor laid down a raw, savage assault that immediately won over skeptics.

Drawing heavily from first-wave black metal influences (notably Venom) blended with thrash ferocity, they churned through blistering riffs, fast tempos, and snarling vocals.

Given their studio output’s occasionally muddy production, live they managed to tighten things up and deliver a visceral performance embodying their raw aesthetic.

There look was awesome and brought back the old school metal look with leather and studded arm bands and other accessories.

Hirax

Next, Hirax came out with feral energy. Frontman Katon W. DePena prowled the stage, commanding the crowd with savage charisma.

The band mixed old-school thrash speed with

hardcore aggression; songs flying off at breakneck pace and then punching back with mid-tempo

grooves.

Their set included both vintage anthems and newer cuts, and each one landed with authority.

Their performance came across as tight, but wild—the kind of set where you could see a guitar string snap mid‑riff and the guitarist just kept shredding without missing a beat. Definitely a high point early in the night.

Sacred Reich

Sacred Reich brought a different flavor—socially conscious lyrics, strong melodies, and heavy

grooves that balanced aggression with accessibility.

Their stage presence was confident, the

musicianship sharp, and they paced their set well.

They started with a bang, hit some deep cuts,

and sprinkled in fan favorites to keep the crowd locked in. The pit calmed and then re-ignited

during heavier passages; when the tempo hit, so did the force.

They carried momentum beautifully into Death Angel’s slot, giving the audience short chance to

cool off.

Thank you for the guitar pick, Wiley.

Dark Angel (headliner)

Closing the night, Dark Angel demolished any doubts about their place among thrash royalty.

From the first chord, they summoned a dark, frenetic power. Tracks swung from aggressive assaults to technical interludes and back.

Their lead work was precise, drums thundered, and

vocalist, lyricist, well, their frontman Ron, drew the audience into shared fury.

Through their set fists were raised. The band crushed it on stage with their powerful tunes and headbanging.

The encore saw the crowd clamor for more, and the band obliged with an extended, punishing closer that left everyone ecstatic.

Highlights & Memorable Moments

• Venue change victory: The move to The Foundry might have been seen as risky, but it created a more visceral, up-close experience. The crowd felt compressed, the energy more palpable.

• Pit chaos: The floor looked battered, bodies sweat-drenched, but no serious incidents—just the kind of controlled chaos metal fans live for.

• Fan communion: Between sets, the crowd didn’t disperse. Metalheads swapped stories. Strangers became allies in neck‑jerking solidarity. The shared experience of devouring thrash in a room full of like-minded maniacs was palpable.

• Sound consistency: It’s rare that every act in a multi‑band bill hears well and delivers with clarity. But here, sound techs nailed it—guitars didn’t drown vocals, drums had presence without overpowering, and transitions were smooth.

Cleveland got exactly what it signed up for: A full-blown night of thrash metal ecstasy. From Interceptor’s opening salvo to Dark Angel’s final closing scream, not a note was wasted. Every

band brought their A-Game.

Fans showed up in force and the energy didn’t fade. This was a night to remind everyone that every one needs a little thrash in their life.

Cleveland rocks—and in the mosh and roar of October 2, that was made unmistakably clear.

Dark Angel Setlist

1. TIME DOES NOT HEAL

2. THE BURNING OF SODOM

3. NO ONE ANSWERS

4. EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT

5. NEVER TO RISE AGAIN

6. APEX PREDATOR

7. MERCILESS DEATH

8. SEA OF HEADS