Wrathchild America — Climbin' the Walls & 3-D

Here’s a double-disc CD set bringing together two albums released by Wrathchild America during the late 80s/ early 90s- Climbin' the Walls and 3-D. With the sound shifting from heavy/ power/ speed metal, to Thrash metal with touches of prog/ funk rock. 

The release appears on Dissonance Productions, which is the metal sub-label of Cherry Red. The two CDs come presented in a glossy six-panel digipack, with the original album artwork found under each CD. The set also includes a glossy/ colour inlay booklet- this runs at sixteen pages, taking in a new twelve-page write-up about the band/ these two albums- with a great selection of band pics, poster art, and publicity shots.

Wrathchild America (originally Wrathchild) where formed in Martinsburg, West Virginia, in 1979. Bringing together high school friends  Carter- guitar, backing and lead vocals, banjo. Shannon Larkin-drums, backing and lead vocals, Kevin Keller- bass, backing vocals, guitar and Terry. During the 1980’s they played across the USA- putting out three demos- Danger-Us (1983), Days of Thunder (1987), and Demo '89 (1989). The band signed to a major label, Atlantic Records, in 1989, releasing the two albums featured here. The band were dropped from the label in 1992. They then changed their name to Souls at Zero, moving towards a blend of Groove/ thrash/alternative metal sound, winding down in 1996. Though between 2016 & 2017, they regrouped…I’m guessing for live shows.

So first up, we have 1989’s Climbin' the Walls- originally released in 1989, this took in eight original tracks, and a metal-up cover of Pink Floyd’s "Time".  The album is a fairly varied/ largely entertaining ride. We have the title track, which mixes bounding/solo scorched traditional heavy metal meets jiving, blues-tinged metal.  There’s the instrumental track “Hernia” which moves between galloping Iron Maiden workouts, head-spinning speed metal runs, and funk bass breakdowns. Though to “London After Midnight” which starts off all brooding, with a sinister bass line and eerie guitar swirls. Before dropping into steady chugging metallics, to an early Iron Maiden meets Metallica chorus.  Onto “Silent Darkness (Smothered Life)”, with its buried alive lyrics, and blends urgent riffing, call & response choruses, and blues rock/ funk licks.  As late 80’s debuts go Climbin' the Walls is pretty good- with a rewarding blending/ blurring of metal genres.

Onto the second disc in the set, and we have 1991’s 3-D. This takes in eleven new tracks, and another cover- a playful take on Albert Collins “I Ain t Drunk, I’m Just Drinking”. This album has a more Thrash metal leanings- though there are still darts/ detours into other metal/ beyond sub-genres.  We have the bounding bass/cool swinging noir metal (is that such a thing?) of “Spy”. There’s urgent chugging verses and more moody choruses of “Forever Alone” with lead singer/ Bass player vocals sounding very Hetfield-like. We have the galloping Anthrax-like riffing of “What’s Your Pleasure” with its Hellraiser-themed lyrics, scorching solos, and neat breakdowns. There’s the meaty Thrash/ metal crossbreed of “Another Nameless Face” which sounds like it could have appeared on either the Load or Reload albums, but there’s a bit more funk bass detail here and there. As follow-ups/ second albums go, 3-D is fine…. though the Metallica mimicking does go a little too far in places.

I very vaguely recall the Wrathchild America name back in the 80’s, but never checked them out, so it’s great this double disc release has come along. If you enjoy heavy metal/ Thrash with the odd more creative genre mixing/ light playful edges, I’d give this double set a go.