I was sat in a biker bar in Worcester on a Saturday afternoon, must have been around 1982/83, it was packed with local gangs mingling over pints and discussing the latest bikes. When in walked ‘Wrathchild’ in stack heels and full stage gear, they’d just finished a signing session or something near by. The room fell silent as we stared towards the band, all big hair, platform boots and lycra. They were out of place and looked uneasy. After the initial shock from both sides eased and us bikers being a friendly bunch, they were soon welcomed and were sharing drinks and talking music, with long haired, oil stained denim and leather clad, grebo’s. That sight of clashing personalities and outfits, hanging at the bar, is one I’ll never forget.
Described as the ‘First ever hair metal band in the country’, ‘Wrathchild’ certainly made headlines when they emerged from deepest Worcestershire. They were our ‘Mötley Crüe’, our pretty boys, who could play as loud as any other rock band around. Over the years, they took the flack from the media, they fell out, split up, reformed, changed name, starting wars and emerged again. Band members came and went and came back, the bands history is longer than ‘War and Peace’ and just as colourful. However, one thing that’s indisputable is the perseverance of Rob Barclay aka Rocky Shades, who still leads his version of ‘Wrathchild’, with a new line up and more enthusiasm than ever.
The latest offering is a four track EP ’Still Here In The Freakshow’ which features a cover of ‘Come Over’ by the ‘New Generation Superstars’. Sounded interesting, so I grabbed a copy to review.
‘STILL HERE IN THE FREAKSHOW’ the title track, is the first up and we are plunged into platform stomping rock from the off. It’s catchy, it’s electrically charged and with a huge chorus, they’re definitely smashing a groove. There are added harmonies, sleazy lyrics and divine chaos. I can smell the pyro all the way from my sofa !
Photo Credit Simon Dunkerley – SD Photography
‘SAD ENUFF 2 CARE’ carries the flag for the mix of glam and metal. Brilliant intro from ‘Gaz’ on drums, that’s followed by a rush of low strung bass from ‘Jonny’ and ‘heys’ abound from the frontman and his crew. The guitars get a look in with gutter hovering chords and it’s a bloody riot ! Mixing punk with slapping metal and shoving in another singalong chorus, how many bands can rock it up like this these days ? Not many. ‘CALL OF THE WILD’ chants with ‘whoas’ and charming backing vocals. Slick guitar and outpouring hooks, raise the roof with unruly noise, it’s a party gone insanely over the top and a wondrous song. As I mentioned they’ve added ‘COME OVER’ a cover, however, bassist ‘Jonny’ is in NGS, so there’s the link. It sticks to the path of the original that was on ‘Crash Course’ back in 2007 and slightly clearer due to the latest production techniques. A wild piece that suits the vocal style of Rocky and they deliver the goods 100%.
‘ALWAYS BE TOO GLAM TO GIVE A DAMN’ is taken from the bands website and it’s a fitting sentence. This is an EP overflowing with attitude and rocking brashness. Take it or leave it, Mr Shades has done it again, he’s given us four works of untamed brilliance and the incredible story of ‘Wrathchild’ continues.
‘An EP overflowing with attitude and rocking brashness’
Get your copy of the EP from the bands BANDCAMP page
Socials – FACEBOOK WEBSITE
Next Live show is at the legendary Dublin Castle in Camden – TICKETS HERE
LINE UP –
ROCKY SHADES- Vox vandal space cowboy
GAZ WILDE – Trash can skinslammer
JONNY SUICIDE – Four String Shotgun
OZ PAUL – Six string razor
GENTLEMAN JAY PEGG – Sonic Chainsaw
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Produced by Jon Priestley at Abatis Studios
Mastered by Red Shift Mastering
Special Thanks to Rocky
