I'm having a really hard time trying to figure out what to say about WRATHSKELLER, a now defunct heavy metal band out of Dayton, Ohio. The band formed in 1985, and went through massive line-up changes in the short four years that they existed as a band, with the only mainstay being guitarist and founder Randy Davis. "Eve Of The End" is not really an album as such, but more a collection of the various demos recorded by the band, and as such seems rather messy and poorly constructed.

It spans the entire four years that the band were together and includes all ten people who were at some point members of WRATHSKELLER. For the most part you really can't tell when one member has left and another has joined as there are only really two parts that stand out. First of all the guitar work by Randy Davis is fantastic and he certainly shows that he's a good song writer. The songs themselves are well done and well played. The second part that stands out are the vocals. When the first track started up my initial thoughts were very positive with the instrumentals being so good, however when the vocals started I instantly changed my mind. They sound extremely weak and poorly placed among such powerful and talented musicians, however when it came to tracks 13, and 14, we are suddenly introduced to vocalist Dwight Borden. He brings a rougher and stronger quality to the band that, despite his energy, Dan Turner just didn't have. It's unfortunate the Borden was only with them for the two songs, but he made it more obvious that below the surface there is actually a decent band there.

Randy Davis really was the heart, soul, and driving force behind this band, and he has proven his worth, not just with WRATHSKELLER, but with his other bands such as SHADOWCAST, and ONLINE CRIME, both of which have other members of WRATHSKELLER attached to them.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that WRATHSKELLER were for the most part a decent band. It was full of great musicians, and one fantastic songwriter. However they were let down by weak vocals and possibly an inability to really pick up some steam and stick with a line-up. It's understood that sometimes a band just isn't meant to be, whether for person issues between band members, a lack of exposure, or many other reasons, and it seems a shame that WRATHSKELLER couldn't make more of what they had. It's nice for old fans to get this little collection of songs from a band they may have seen play live decades ago, but unfortunately "Eve Of The End" just doesn't stand up as an album by itself.

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