Wretch - Reborn |
Published Nov. 10 2006
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Mental Wars |
| Genre | Classic Metal |
Colin Watson
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Vocals
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| Tracks | 11 |
Nick Giannakos
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Guitar
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| Runningtime | 49 Min. |
Dave Hayes
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Guitar
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| Label | Auburn Records |
Dennis Hayes
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Bass
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| Release | 04 Nov. 2006 |
Jeff Curenton
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Drums
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| Country | USA |
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Keyboards
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| Similar artists | Paul Di'Anno, Metal Church, Overkill | ||
Once major contenders in the Cleveland metal underground, Wretch reconcile and recoil, releasing their first CD after recording demos for almost 20 years. They first earned respect and garnered a steady fan base in the mid-80's. They gained a considerable following after recording the track Life for the 1990 Auburn Records compilation - Heavy Artillery, under the expertise and tutelage of Bill Peters. Soon, Wretch were distributing quality music and enjoying the success of their fellow bretheren Breaker, Shok Paris, and Purgatory. Somehow, though, they never managed to release an official album - that is until now! Colin Watson and Nick Giannakos finally agreed to write a full-length CD while laying down the Eyes Of Fate cut for the then planned sequel to Heavy Artillery. Having recently replaced over half the studio lineup, when lucrative opportunities presented themselves in other bands like Seven Witches or Beyond Fear, Wretch return unscathed. They are no longer recalcitrant; rather reborn anew as they rise as the winners - now nothing will stop them!
I recently winessed Wretch perform at their album release party with their metal companions- Eternal Legacy, Cellbound, Necessary Evil, and Lick The Blade. I was quite impressed, because Wretch embrace their metal roots, playing malleable music in the vein of vintage Priest, Accept, and Maiden - my three favorite bands! They exude the energy and alacrity of the sinful attendants of the Metal Church awaiting absolution. Their refined sound is what I prefer, without too much overkill. Breaker guitarist Don Depew has a touch like thunder when it comes to turning knobs and producing. Colin Watson may look like an angry, menacing, impish battle dwarf of Middle Earth clad in his wretched metal armour, but he can definitely sing. He has such an amazing vocal range. Imagine Paul Di'Anno, Bruce Dickinson, Russ Anderson, and David Wayne all sharing the same leather skin. Generally speaking, Colin's powerful vocal chords echo the personage of all these prolific frontmen. I defy anyone who differs. Colin can hit high octaves; yet still maintain his own discernable tone and perspective. Nick is akin to a torrential prime storm guitarist. His stellar solos match the flawless string strums of Dave Hayes. Dennis Hayes' invokes the galloping bass frenetics, which are then accompanied by the solid drumming of Jeff Currenton. I watched Jeff play live with Seven Witches earlier this summer, and I understand why Jack Frost recruited him. I also watched Dennis perform for Tim 'Ripper' Owen's Beyond Fear release party. These men exhibit true talent and a taciturn fluidity.
Eyes Of Fate evokes Iron Maiden's sonic lucubration and itself serves as a reflective offering; while aggressive antics like I Am Storm and 'Till Death Do Us Part embody the charisma and force of thrash tendencies. Just wait until you hear Colin's robust cry on The Winners, it is quite surmounting. Wretch have such ambition and their musical ability and limitless integrity allow them to advance and vanquish. This epic conjuration seen in The Eyes Of Fate is so inspired with emotional content and passionate playing; that the listener instantly becomes mesmerized and hypnotized by the rhythm. Life, Reborn, Mental Wars, and Cry For The Young are essential 80's metal mandatories. The lyrics to Life so speak and minister to me in my current malaise: "Life - live it free, while you can - You've got to take life for just what it is...". Reborn underscores Colin's own metal triumph, his personal journey on the road back to metal - now his way of life. Wretch also do justice to the Breaker standard - Touch Like Thunder; expecially given that both Breaker guitarists get tough and give their own personal pounding metal touch to it.
Skin To Skin is excellent musically, but the commonplace lyrical content does not fit the Wretch editorial scheme or motif. This keeps the CD from receiving a slightly higher rating. Thankfully, I had the priviledge of hearing one new song and a reworked classic in a live setting. These two killer cuts - Never Too Late (2006) and I Defy consistently prove that Wretch know their metal and are riding the winds of fury, and tied to the tracks. If you yearn for the metal made famous in the 80's with today's production values, then Wretch will serve your sole desires. If you are an avid fan of the bands on the Auburn Records roster like Aftershok, Destructor, Breaker and Black Death; and if you value true metal endurance - Hello Cleveland! Wretch rip it up, rise to power, go for the throat, and gouge out those eyes of hate, by declaring war on your senses and mental frame, heed the battle cry for the strong 'til death do you part!
See
also: Song
By Commentary »»
See also: interview
with Colin Watson »»
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Production
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Vocals
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Compositions
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Summary
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8 chalices of 10 - Michael the MettleAngel |
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