Year : 2016 / 2026
Style : Heavy Metal , Power Metal , Hard Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 171 mb
Bio:
Born out of the West Coast Metal scene of the 80's, Metal Church quickly became one of the standout talents of the genre. After signing a deal with Elektra records, they released two critically acclaimed albums. Their self-titled release "Metal Church" postured the band as one of the pioneers of the thrash/metal scene. The All Music Guide had this to say about the debut: "The band's incredibly tight musicianship is a highlight all on it's own. This album remains an overlooked classic of straight-ahead American-bred heavy metal." With the heavy metal scene starting to rise in the U.S., Metal Church set out on a very successful tour with label mates Metallica.Next came "The Dark," the fury of its opening track, "Ton of Bricks" was championed as one of the premier metal releases of the 80's. The Dark also led to one of a few lineup changes with the departure of vocalist David Wayne. However, more success was yet to come. With the addition of former Heretic vocalist Mike Howe, and Metallica guitar tech extraordinaire John Marshall, the riffing became heavier and the subject matter deeper. They tackled political and social issues of the day with the releases of "Blessing In Disguise" and "The Human Factor." At a time when heavy metal bands moved from the underground and became part of the hair band/pop fad, Metal Church stayed true to their roots.During the mid 90's, the members of Metal Church headed in their own directions. Kurdt Vanderhoof worked on his namesake project, Vanderhoof, while Kirk Arrington was playing on various sessions including a recording with Sir Mix-A-Lot. 1999 led to a well-received reunion of the original Metal Church lineup with the release of "Masterpeace". The band went back to their classic sound and played several festivals overseas.2004 saw them back with new vocalist, Ronny Munroe, whose style has been described as "Rob Halford meets Dio", as well as Jay Reynolds (Malice) on guitar and Steve Unger on bass. With a new record "The Weight of the World" and some new blood, heavy metal legends Metal Church picked up where their aptly titled last release "Masterpeace" left off.In 2006, twenty years after their cult album "The Dark", Metal Church presented their brand new release, "A Light In The Dark", forging a creative arch that skillfully links the band's past with the present. Ten new tracks, (plus a new version of the classic "Watch The Children Pray", a tribute to original frontman David Wayne), document the development of a band that, despite all innovation, has never denied it's typical trademarks. The current lineup consists of Kurdt Vanderhoof, Ronny Munroe, Jay Reynolds, Steve Unger and new addition Jeff Plate on drums. "Jeff is an incredibly dynamic and professional drummer," Vanderhoof points out. "He has propelled us to a musical level that surprised even ourselves." Plate has replaced Kirk Arrington, who left the group for health reasons, and proves a real stroke of luck on "A Light In The Dark".In 2008, guitarist Jay Reynolds was replaced by Rottweiler guitar player Rick Van Zandt. This Present Wasteland, Metal Church's ninth release, is a return to their roots and contains some of their strongest material to date.In October 2012, the band announced resumption of activity around a lineup featuring Vanderhoof, Munroe, Unger, Reynolds (soon replaced by Van Zandt), and Plate. Their first performances came the following January during the 70,000 Tons of Metal event, a heavy metal cruise. During one of these two shows, the band played their debut album, Metal Church, in its entirety.Shortly thereafter, Vanderhoof told Music Life Radio that Metal Church has been working on a new album. In order to promote their new album, the band will be playing festivals in the summer of 2013.
Album:
With this live recording - released officially for the first time Metal Church captures a special moment in their long band history. Recorded at the renowned 2016 Rock Hard Festival at the Gelsenkirchen Amphitheater and filmed by WDR Rockpalast, this release showcases one of the leading U.S. heavy metal bands at their best in front of an enthusiastic festival crowd. Since their founding by Kurdt Vanderhoof in 1981, Metal Church has made a significant contribution to the development of heavy metal, speed metal, and early thrash influences, establishing themselves as a fixture on the international scene for more than four decades. The concert recording, now available, captures both the unique atmosphere of the Rock Hard Festival and the close bond between the band and their fans. An important historical document for the band’s longtime fans and an appealing live release for the classic heavy metal segment.
Line-Up:
Mike Howe (R.I.P. 2021) - Vocals (1988-1995, 2015-2021) - See also: ex-Heretic, ex-Snair
Kurdt Vanderhoof - Guitars (1982-1987, 1998-2009, 2012-present) - See also: Presto Ballet, ex-Vanderhoof, ex-Hall Aflame, ex-The Lewd
Rick van Zandt - Guitars (2008-2009, 2012-present) - See also: ex-Rottweiller
Steve Unger - Bass (2004-2009, 2012-2025) - See also: Garden of Eden, N.Y.C., Freakshow (live), ex-Killing Machine, ex-Chris Caffery (live), ex-Temple of Brutality (live), ex-Autograph, ex-Where Angels Suffer
Jeff Plate - Drums (2006-2009, 2012-2017) - See also: Alta Reign, Moonlit Masquerade, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ex-Machines of Grace, ex-Wicked Witch of Boston, Sunsonic, ex-Chris Caffery (live), ex-John West, ex-Doctor Butcher
Tracklist:
01. Fake Healer
02. In Mourning
03. Start the Fire
04. Reset
05. Gods of Second Chance
06. Date with Poverty
07. No Tomorrow
08. Watch the Children Pray
09. No Friend of Mine
10. Killing Your Time
11. Beyond the Black
12. Badlands
13. The Human Factor
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
