Wrathchild America: Climbin' The Walls / 3-D, 2CD

• 22 track double CD from underground US metal heroes Wratchild America, featuring both of the band’s albums, originally released via Atlantic Records.

• CD 1 features their 1989 debut studio album ‘Climbin’ The Walls’; CD 2 features the cult, and hard to find, follow up from 1991, ‘3-D’, with two bonus tracks.

Formed in 1978 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the band went through several incarnations, before initially hitting their stride under the name Wrathchild and becoming a well-known and highly regarded live act touring relentlessly around the US in the early 80s. Signed to Atlantic in 1988, the band added the ‘America’ to their name after a legal dispute with the UK glam act Wrathchild. Their debut ‘Climbin’ The Walls’ was eventually released in 1989 and drew favourable reviews for its hybrid sound blending thrash and traditional metal, and included a sterling cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Time’.

‘3-D’ followed in 1991 but confused critics with its stylistic approach which kept the metal, but added progressive and even jazz elements to further confound expectations. A powerful live act, Wrathchild America toured with the likes of Metallica, Pantera, Exodus, Slayer, Gang Green and more.

After being dropped by Atlantic, the band morphed into Souls At Zero, once again blending styles and pushing boundaries. Singer/ guitarist Brad Divens forged a notable career as a live sound engineer for the likes of Disturbed, Linkin Park and Motley Crue, while drummer Shannon Larkin played in Amen, Godsmack and Ugly Kid Joe among others.

This release features extensive liner notes from respected journalist Darren Sadler, who spoke at length to both Divens and Larkin for this release.

Taking a retrospective look back at Wrathchild America, Decibel Magazine stated: “They loved to flirt with different sounds from song to song, which was the reason they never caught on more than they did, but also the reason they ruled. It’s basically like listening to a rad, fun, 80s metal compilation where nothing sucks.”

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