​Lakewood is known as a hub of local talent in Northeast Ohio, a reputation reinforced by a local group gaining traction in Cleveland’s alternative metal scene. This group, consisting of five Lakewood High School seniors, is breaking onto the scene with a new sound that is making a big splash in Cleveland.

“Our sound [is] a very complex sort of sound,” said lead vocalist Phoenix Reavis. “We have never tried to sound like something specific. For example, everyone in this band has completely different music tastes, but we all sort of kind of collectively agree on one thing: we want to be metal.”

The band calls itself Archangel and consists of five members. Reavis is the frontman and lead singer, Reece McQuay plays lead guitar, Johnny Kapferer plays rhythm guitar, Nyle Donaldson plays bass, and Matt Schlatzer plays drums. After performing live for the first time at Mahall’s, the band has put itself on the map.

Archangel got its start at Lakewood High School when Phoenix first conceived the idea of starting a band.

​“I just randomly thought, ‘What if I just started a band?’” Reavis said. “And so one day, I talked to Johnny, and Johnny went up to me and was like, ‘We could actually do this.’”

Following Reavis’s idea, the band formed with Reavis, Kapferer, and a few other rotating members, initially calling themselves the ‘Olive Avenue Guys’. Over time, the Olive Avenue Guys released a couple of singles and an album, using the period to evolve their sound, mature, and gather the right members. After about 18 months and with new additions, the band transitioned into its current lineup and took on the name Archangel.

“We picked up Reece and Nyle, and with those two characters joining the band, we have now been on a grind I’ve never seen before,” Reavis said.

The band members draw influences from multiple genres, ranging from progressive rock to gothic metal to jazz. This wide range of inspiration has allowed their sound to evolve into something unique.

“Nyles’ biggest inspirations are Marcus Miller and Louie Johnson. Matt’s are Rush and Dream Theater. Johnny loves John Lennon from The Beatles, Black Sabbath, and Smashing Pumpkins, and his guitar tone was even inspired by Matt Pike from the Doom Metal band Sleep,” said Reavis. “And Reece, his biggest sort of influences, to my knowledge, are System of a Down, Title Fight, and Limp Bizkit. And for me personally, Alice in Chains, Acid Bath, and Type O Negative have been my biggest inspirations.”

With all of these genres, the group unanimously decided that, as Reavis said, “We like Tool!”

While writing songs, the band makes sure every voice is heard and every idea is considered. Each song includes contributions from every member. They often start with a riff written by Kapferer or McQuay, and from there, the entire band experiments and tinkers to create a melody and eventually form a whole song.

“We finished our first original song, which was a lot of fun because it was the first time we had created something from scratch, and we all got to add our own little thing to it. It was cool because it felt like everyone was kind of like an equal piece of the puzzle to create a cool sound,” said Donaldson.

Before their first show, Archangel practiced, wrote songs, and rehearsed multiple times a week to prepare. On Oct 28, Archangel headlined at Mahall’s for a Halloween show. Their performance there brought them into the spotlight.

“I went on there and I just saw everyone moshing, cheering, doing [the] craziest things I’ve ever seen for a band’s first show. And I think it just clicked to me then that, like, this is something I really want to pursue,” said Reavis.​

After their first concert, Archangel’s notoriety and popularity increased. Many described their sound as unique and energetic, giving the band the opportunity to book more live shows. The band has scheduled multiple shows over the next few months and continues writing new songs and practicing in preparation.

“Every minute since our last show, we’ve written three new songs, and there will probably be more,” said McQuay.

Their upcoming concerts are on Nov. 22 at The Brothers Lounge, opening for Rusted Hearts; Nov. 23 at Mahall’s, co-headlining with Esoteria; Nov. 29 at Mercury Music Lounge, where they are opening for Killer Confession; and Dec. 17 at Mahall’s, opening for Samsara.

For this Lakewood metal sensation, every show is an opportunity not just to go on stage and perform for a crowd, but to showcase what they are truly passionate about. For Archangel, every step forward requires coordination, teamwork, and skill — qualities the band has proven time and again. It will be a long time before anyone forgets Archangel or the legacy it is set to leave.

“With us, every opportunity to go do something, we would hop on the wagon to do it, because this is one of those bands where the passion overplays everything else. We don’t do this for money. We do this for the love of the music,” Reavis said.