METAL CHURCH

Heavy Metal / US Power Metal / Rap Metal • United States

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Metal Church was an American heavy metal band from Aberdeen, Washington, USA. They were formed as Shrapnel in 1980 at the San Fransisco Bay Area by band leader guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof. Initially playing an abrasive and fast rendition of the NWOBHM sound, they released a few demos which sounded not too dissimilar to what Metallica will later popularize as thrash metal (Lars Ulrich even played several rehearsals with Metal Church before he formed Metallica, but was never a real member of the band). However, nothing came out except for a few demos (which in hindsight were groundbreaking material at the time).

Kurdt dissolved the band and moved to Washington, where he found a lineup that would record the first few Metal Church albums. Along with the move from the Bay Area, the band's sound also changed to a more melodic, power metal sound, although retaining many thrash elements. Their read more...

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Metal Church "Pick A God and Prey" Official Lyric Video
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METAL CHURCH "NO TOMORROW" / OFFICIAL VIDEO / 2016
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METAL CHURCH "FAKE HEALER" / 2017 / FT: QUEENSRŸCHE's TODD LA TORRE (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
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Metal Church - Date With Poverty online metal music video by METAL CHURCH

Metal Church - Date With Poverty
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Metal Church - In Harms Way online metal music video by METAL CHURCH

Metal Church - In Harms Way
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METAL CHURCH Discography

METAL CHURCH albums / top albums

4.27 | 51 ratings

Metal Church
US Power Metal 1984

4.29 | 53 ratings

The Dark
US Power Metal 1986

METAL CHURCH Blessing in Disguise album cover

3.81 | 38 ratings

Blessing in Disguise
US Power Metal 1989

METAL CHURCH The Human Factor album cover

3.70 | 29 ratings

The Human Factor
Heavy Metal 1991

METAL CHURCH Hanging in the Balance album cover

3.87 | 27 ratings

Hanging in the Balance
Heavy Metal 1993

3.27 | 20 ratings

Masterpeace
Heavy Metal 1999

METAL CHURCH The Weight of the World album cover

3.59 | 18 ratings

The Weight of the World
Heavy Metal 2004

METAL CHURCH A Light in the Dark album cover

3.52 | 21 ratings

A Light in the Dark
Heavy Metal 2006

METAL CHURCH This Present Wasteland album cover

3.39 | 18 ratings

This Present Wasteland
Heavy Metal 2008

METAL CHURCH Generation Nothing album cover

3.58 | 14 ratings

Generation Nothing
Heavy Metal 2013

4.00 | 19 ratings

XI
Heavy Metal 2016

METAL CHURCH Damned If You Do album cover

4.05 | 15 ratings

Damned If You Do
Heavy Metal 2018

METAL CHURCH Congregation of Annihilation album cover

3.42 | 6 ratings

Congregation of Annihilation
Heavy Metal 2023

METAL CHURCH EPs & splits

METAL CHURCH Iron Man (With Sir Mix-a-Lot) album cover

0.00 | 0 ratings

Iron Man (With Sir Mix-a-Lot)
Rap Metal 1989

METAL CHURCH live albums

4.25 | 4 ratings

Live
Heavy Metal 1998

3.50 | 2 ratings

Classic Live
US Power Metal 2017

METAL CHURCH demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

3.00 | 1 ratings

Red Skies
US Power Metal 1981

2.00 | 1 ratings

Hitman
US Power Metal 1982

3.00 | 1 ratings

Four Hymns
US Power Metal 1982

METAL CHURCH re-issues & compilations

3.50 | 2 ratings

From The Vault
Heavy Metal 2020

METAL CHURCH singles (0)

METAL CHURCH movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

METAL CHURCH Reviews

METAL CHURCH Generation Nothing

Album · 2013 · Heavy Metal

UMUR

"Generation Nothing" is the tenth full-length studio album by US power/heavy metal act Metal Church. The album was released through Body of Work Recordings in October 2013. It´s the successor to "This Present Wasteland" from September 2008. After touring in support of "This Present Wasteland" (2008), Metal Church split-up in July 2009 (their second split-up). The band however opted to reunite in October 2012 in the same quintet lineup who recorded the predecessor (although former guitarist Jay Reynolds was shortly a part of the reunited lineup, but was soon replaced by Rick Van Zandt). It would be the fourth and last Metal Church album to feature lead vocalist Ronny Munroe.

Stylistically "Generation Nothing" continues the US power/heavy metal style of the many preceding releases by Metal Church. Not much has happened with the band´s style and sound since they released their eponymously titled debut album back in 1984, although there have been many lineup changes along the way. Including three different lead vocalists. Metal Church have always stood for powerful, melodic, and at times relatively hard edged (meaning occasionally leaning on thrash) US power/heavy metal, and they continue that style and sound on "Generation Nothing". Artists like contemporary Metallica, the most hard rock influenced Iron Maiden, and Flotsam and Jetsam are valid references in my book.

Munroe is a skilled vocalist with a strong voice, able to sing both melodic and more raw. He sometimes sounds like a more rough and angry Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden). The remaining part of the band are exceptionally well playing too, and after so many years Metal Church can still hold their own and deliver their music with great passion and bite. The songwriting is decent to good, and a few of the tracks are even great, but that´s been the picture on most of the Munroe-led Metal Church releases. "Generation Nothing" features a powerful and well sounding production, so it´s a good quality US power/heavy metal release and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

17 days ago
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METAL CHURCH This Present Wasteland

Album · 2008 · Heavy Metal

UMUR

"This Present Wasteland" is the ninth full-length studio album by US power/heavy metal act Metal Church. The album was released through Steamhammer Records in September 2008. After touring in support of the album Metal Church disbanded in July 2009, which was their second split. They reunited in October 2012. "This Present Wasteland" is the successor to "A Light in the Dark" from 2006 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as guitarist Jay Reynolds has left and has been replaced by Rick Van Zandt.

Lineup changes never had much impact on the sound of Metal Church though, and the material on "This Present Wasteland" continues the US power/heavy metal style of the preceding releases as if the band haven´t noticed that almost 25 years have passed since the release of their debut album. Metal Church are incredibly consistent in the style and quality of their material, and while there have been minor fluctuations in quality over the years, they have been just that...minor.

So once again the listener is treated to hard rocking heavy metal riffs (and the occasional more thrashy riff), brilliant lead guitar work, an organic and powerful playing rhythm section, and lead vocalist Ronny Munroe delivering both rough and more melodic and higher pitched vocals (he sometimes sounds like the US power metal version of Bruce Dickinson). Pure class on all posts. "The Company of Sorrow" opens the album and sounds a little like contemporary Metallica. Heavy metal/US power metal with thrash metal leanings. And that´s more or less how the remainder of the album continues. It´s a consistent quality release in terms of memorable songwriting, a powerful and well sounding production job, and high level musical performances. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

39 days ago
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METAL CHURCH A Light in the Dark

Album · 2006 · Heavy Metal

UMUR

"A Light in the Dark" is the 8th full-length studio album by US power/heavy metal act Metal Church. The album was released through Steamhammer Records in June 2006. It´s the successor to "The Weight of the World" from 2004 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as drummer Kirk Arrington has been replaced by Jeff Plate (Savatage, Chris Caffery, Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Arrington had been a member of Metal Church since 1982, with only a few short breaks from the band in those years, but he had to leave Metal Church due to health complications from his diabetes. "A Light in the Dark" features a re-recorded version of "Watch the Children Pray" from "The Dark (1986)", which is dedicated to former Metal Church vocalist David Wayne, who died in 2005 from gangrene after being involved in an automobile accident.

"A Light in the Dark" is the second Metal Church album featuring lead vocalist Ronny Munroe, and although he is no David Wayne (Mike Howe isn´t either), he is still a skilled singer with the ability to sing both relatively high pitched and mid-range raw vocals. He predominantly performs the latter style. Stylistically there are very few surprises here if you are familiar with the preceding releases by Metal Church. US power/heavy metal with both traditional heavy metal riffs, harmonies, and guitar solos with the occasionally harder edged thrash metal moments. The rhythm section deliver a powerful and organic attack, the guitarists are well playing, and Munroe puts on a good performance too.

I´m not completely sure why but to my ears "A Light in the Dark" is a slightly less interesting release than "The Weight of the World (2004)". The melody lines are maybe a little less memorable, and the songwriting not quite as catchy and varied, but when that is said "A Light in the Dark" is still a good quality release by Metal Church, featuring a well sounding production job, strong musicianship, and professional songwriting. At 60 minutes it´s slightly too long for its own good, and it is to my ears an album featuring a few issues. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is still deserved though, and it speaks volumes of the generally high quality of Metal Church´s releases, that an album I consider a little sub par, is still an album I rate this high.

11 months ago
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METAL CHURCH The Weight of the World

Album · 2004 · Heavy Metal

UMUR

"The Weight of the World" is the 7th full-length studio album by US power/heavy metal act Metal Church. The album was released through Steamhammer Records in July 2004. After the failed reunion and the subsequent "Masterpeace (1999)" album release, Metal Church went on a hiatus and licked their wounds until they were able to assemble a new lineup. Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof and drummer Kirk Arrington are the only remaining members from the lineup who recorded "Masterpeace (1999)". New in the lineup are Ronny Munroe (vocals), Jay Reynolds (guitar), and Steve Unger (bass).

...and the new blood have definitely invigorated Metal Church. While I personally found "Masterpeace (1999)" an enjoyable listen, "The Weight of the World" does sound a little more fresh and more like a band enjoying themselves. Stylistically the material on "The Weight of the World" is unmistakably the sound of Metal Church. Powerful, melodic, and hard rocking US power/heavy metal, featuring raw and intricate heavy metal riffs, blistering guitar solos, great harmony work, a hard pounding rhythm section, and a strong and commanding vocalist in front. New lead singer Ronny Munroe has a perfect voice for Metal Church as he is both able to sing raw vocals and also sing more melodic.

The material alternate between heavy and faster paced US power/heavy metal tracks and a few power ballad type tracks. Metal Church include a couple of longer and more structurally complex tracks on "The Weight of the World" (especially "Madman's Overture" deserves a mention), and while they´ve done that on most of their releases, it works better here than usual. If I have to compare "The Weight of the World" to one of their preceding releases it would be to "Blessing in Disguise (1989)".

"The Weight of the World" features a raw, organic, and powerful sounding production job, which is an absolute joy to experience on a 2004 recording. It doesn´t sound like it´s created using digital recording techniques and if it is, producers Vanderhoof and Chris Jacobson have done a great job making the material sound as analogue authentic as possible. So upon conclusion "The Weight of the World" is another high quality US power/heavy metal release by Metal Church. Failed reunions, massive lineup changes...nothing can stop these guys from delivering great 80s influenced metal to the people. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

11 months ago
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METAL CHURCH Masterpeace

Album · 1999 · Heavy Metal

UMUR

"Masterpeace" is the 6th full-length studio album by US power/heavy metal act Metal Church. The album was released through Nuclear Blast America in July 1999. It´s the successor to "Hanging in the Balance" from 1993 and features a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof and lead vocalist David Wayne have returned to the fold replacing Craig Wells and Mike Howe respectively. Both returning musicians were part of the original incarnation of Metal Church, who recorded the first couple of albums.

While Howe is a strong vocalist in his own right, Wayne is just one of those singers who transcends being just technically skilled and having a strong voice. He has a personal sound and a rawness and authenticity to his performance that only the best are able to deliver. The return of Vanderhoof is also great, and it´s interesting to hear him use the mellotron on "Kiss for the Dead" a few years prior to his involvement with progressive rock act Presto Ballet. Stylistically the material on "Masterpeace" is not anything like Vanderhoof´s future act though (maybe except for the epic and semi-progressive "They Signed in Blood", which share some similar progressive traits), and the listener is treated to the trademark US power/heavy metal Metal Church sound. Not much has changed since the early- to mid 80s, but that´s not really necessary either, when you master your craft like Metal Church do.

They are an exceptionally well playing unit, and there is bite and passion behind the performances. Sure there are softer and more melodic moments on the album (like the melodic hard rocking "Into Dust" or the power balled "Kiss for the Dead"), but the softer moments are outnumbered by the energetic and aggressive (yet still melodic) US power/heavy metal tracks, so the balance is just right. One of the highlights of the album is the quite brilliant opening track "Sleeps With Thunder" (the Aerosmith cover "Toys in the Attic" is also a standout track, although not necessarily a highlight), but "Masterpeace" is a high quality release through and through. Strong and memorable songwriting, high level musical performances, and a powerful, detailed, and organic sounding production. The involved parties have often since called the album and the subsequent tour a disaster (Wayne had severe substance abuse issues and drummer Kirk Arrington had serious health issues which affected his playing while on tour), which led to the band breaking up again, but to my ears there´s nothing wrong with the quality of "Masterpeace" and a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is fully deserved.