Charred Walls of The Damned – Charred Walls of the Damned
released February 2, 2010 on Metal Blade
Charred Walls of The Damned is a perfect example of a supergroup unable to deliver on its promise. With one of the least memorable band names in Metal history, this album is destined for obscurity. Helmed and assembled by Richard Christy, the once-unknown drummer on Death‘s The Sound of Perseverance has also made a name for himself in the comedy world alongside Howard Stern; but he always kept a foot in music. Iced Earth is really Christy’s crux reference point, as he first worked with bassist Steve DiGorgio on Horror Show, and then vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens on The Glorious Burden.
Owens is the epitome of a two-sided coin. On one is his power and impressive range; on the other is his similar execution and histrionic character. His interplay with double-duty guitarist/producer Jason Suecof reaches full potential on barely half the album. Tracks like “Creating Our Machine” feel unfinished, between its short length and fadeout at song’s end. We finally hear some presence from the criminally-buried DiGorgio on the ends of a few tracks midalbum, but “Manifestations” is where you really hear his clear punchiness jab through the din: a vigorous hard charger with Christy’s most blistering performance here, and an infectious, mid-paced chorus at the peak of Ripper’s pipes. It matches – if not surpasses – the might of opener/lead single “Ghost Town”.
Most of the album suffers from the worst kind of autobiographical lyrics. Without getting into it, phrases like ‘becoming one with you as I grow’, ‘you were always there for me’, ‘building our trust, building our strength, believing in ourselves’, ‘lessons learned from my mistakes/my soul it will not break’, and more trite banalities are inescapable. It helps to consciously tune out the words themselves and just listen to the harmonies.
The problem with Charred Walls of The Damned is that it feels rushed and unfinished, from the songwriting to the artwork. The band would have been wiser to construct a vicious, intriguing EP rather than reel in this nine-pound flounderer.
FCC OK
Try 1, 4, 6, 8
01. Ghost Town
02. From The Abyss
03. Creating Our Machine
04. Blood on Wood
05. In a World So Cruel
06. Manifestations
07. Voices Within the Walls
08. The Darkest Eyes
09. Fear in the Sky
Rating: 
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