 Heavy metal pathetique
Wrathchild
Worcester
Recently, I received an appeal from a group called Saracen who reckon that Geoff Barton's taste in HM has degenerated into a single- minded interest in combos "noted only for their ability out of ten to set fire to the places in which they play" and bands who "spend hours thumbing through Avon catalogues." Apparently, yours truly is deemed far more iikely to listen to the music. But hell! I don't see why Barton should have allthe fun so here's a reviewette to inform you of Wrathchild — a sure-fire Deaf delight and probably the best known singin', struttin', kerrangin' metal merchants to pace the wastes of wild 'n' woolly Worcestershire.
Wrathchild are Rocky Shades (vocals, white satin cloak and whip), Phil Wrathchild (two-tone Flying V guitar and downmarket chic), Mark Angel (bass, pout and special effect trousers) and Brian Thunderburst (drums and near normality). Wrathchiid possess an ear-piercing siren which screeches away until they've discovered their appropriate stage positions, a plethora of fashbombs and costume changes that see Mr Shades re-emerging half-way through the show in the sort of ironmongery guaranteed to give Rob Halford goosebumps.
(They also specialise in blinding strobe lights and flaming axes but since this gig was originally intended to provide entertainment for the local Italian community's beano, it was considered unwise to wield them.)
Surprisingly enough though, Wrathchild are rather adept on the musical front, Phil's guitar breaks showing an encouraging range of variety and imagination while Shades' voice spans a wide area without resorting to the dreaded yodel. And, discounting the occasional mundane number distorted by foggy sound, they've some worthwhile songs.
'Shotgun' is a cohesive hard pop song while 'Innocent' has enough quirks and twists to lift it out of the ordinary. 'Stay Cool', despite its appallingly hippyesque title, turns out to be a bombastic bundle of ball-breaking boogie and 'Machostrutt'... ahem, the title says it a1l rea1ly.
Problems? Obviously, Wrathchild need to aim for more togetherness and they'd do well to work on their marginally weaker rhythm area — too far forward in the mix on this occasion — which isn't as solid as it could be. At the risk of being a spoilsport, I'd also suggest that, in the interests of self-preservation, they spend a little more time on the aurals and a little less on the visuals.
Nevertheless, as (cliched) assaults on the senses go, Wrathchild are well worth checking out. I imagine that if the Goodies ever decided to make an excursion into heavy rock, they'd not be dissimilar to this lot which is either a good sign or a bad sign depending on your taste for HMP. That's Heavy Metal Pathetique, by the way.
(Robbi Millar, Sounds, 13/06/81)
|
 Wrathchild, who describe themselves
as 'shitshot strutters in stackheels',
continue their Lipstick Killers Tour with dates at;
Oxford Pennyfarthing July 8
Bradford University 27.
(Sounds, 03/07/82) |
Wrathchild, self-styled Brit glam gods, issue their first 45 for Heavy Metal's FM label on August 31, A cover of Gal Glitter's 'Alrite with the boyz', it's backed with 'Sweet surender' and is sure to boost sales of chestwigs everywhere.
(Sounds, 11/08/84) |
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