Metal Church
Biography
Formed Seattle in 1982, Metal Church consisted of vocalist David Wayne, guitarists Kurdt Vanderhoof and Craig Wells, bassist Duke Erickson, and drummer Kirk Arrington. Their 1985 self-titled debut album, recorded when the thrash/speed metal genre was still evolving, made a huge splash on the scene, as did its similar follow-up, The Dark. However, the band really hit its stride when Wayne left and was replaced by Mike Howe on 1989's Blessing In Disguise; Vanderhoof left after the album due to his dislike of touring and was replaced by Metallica guitar tech John Marshall. Vanderhoof remained the group's designated composer on 1991's The Human Factor, possibly the band's most socially conscious album. However, the advent of alternative rock and problems with their record label contributed to a loss of direction on 1993's Hanging in the Balance, and Metal Church ended up disbanding. In 1999, the group's original lineup -- Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells, Erickson, and Arrington -- reunited and released the album Masterpeace. Live appeared early the following year. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
This Present Wasteland
2008
A Light In The Dark
2006
Blessing In Disguise
1989
The Dark
1987
Metal Church
1985
Who hired you guys? Metal Church under David Wayne was Much better than the incarnetion that occured during Howe's tenure. Though I loved blessing in disguise, the 1st album and their Gold Record The Dark will forever remain groundbreake r s ! Want further proof of Wayne's Genious? Do the staff (and the fans) a favor and add some REVEREND (90's Outfit with Wayne).
You will never find a better rendition of Fortunate Son! And that is the method to my madness. |
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I would like to pick up more Metal Church discs, but many of the older realeses are out of print.
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I for one will truly miss Metal Church, I have been listening to them since I was like 6 yrs. old and have always had alot of respect for the way they just kept on going with no airplay or support. They will go down as everything real about metal and their legacy lives in their music and that speaks for itself. I wish these guys nothing but great things in their life after music but I will always cherish the memory of seeing them live with anthrax back in the late 80's, what a great performance.
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I can't tell you how upset I am to be the one to break the news that yesterday Metal Church announced that they are "calling it quits". Though their German based label(SVT) recently announced that they are going to have to close their doors indefinitly the band reassured everyone that the labels destruction has absolutly nothing to do with their demise. They made the remark that it has always been a struggle to keep the band up and going and now its time to just cut it loose and move on.
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Blessing in Disguise is a monster!!! Still love the riffs to this day!
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this Present Wasteland ... really good album it kicks a.s.s. worth getting.I know only Kurt is left from the originals, but good music is good music, and Ronny sings his a.ss. off. great voice Dickenson and the Symphony X singer Russell combined, throw in a little Halford and you got one great voice,
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Yeah, early Metal Church is just great for the era. Another one of those bands that never got the credit they deserved.
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Metal Church was awsome in the 80's. The Dark is still one of my favorite ablbums. However, don't be fooled, they tried selling out too and going commerical with Blessing In Disguise. All the great metal bands of the 80's Metal Chruch, Metallica, Megadeth, etc... did. Can you blame them? It's nice having fans and playing clubs but everyone wants to make money. More power to you if you can do it successfully . Not too many bands please their original fans when they hit the big time.
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GODS OF WRATH, I about had a Wargasm, when I heard that, Metal Church, man those days were fun, What a great band, I jam hard on this stuff CRANK IT MOTHEF**KER YEAH!
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Right on about the first 3 albums. Pure head-banging thrash classics on par with 80's Metallica, Testament, Slayer, Exodus, Megadeth, etc. They lost me starting with Human Factor though.
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Before Metallica sold their soul for $ Metal Church was in par with them (musically). The Dark still remains one of those albums that forever kept me enthralled into metal (Hitting me like a ton of Bricks-if you know what this means more power to you).
Reverend which was created out of the ashes of Metal church along with Wayne did one of the best renditions of Fortunate son you will ever hear.) RIP Wayne. |
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I got into Metal Church as a 6yr. old kid ,The first song I learned to play on my drum kit was 'Beyond the Black'. I still have immense respect for Metal Church and hope they tour in my area sometime they are one of the true metal bands from the 80's that never sold their soul by dressing in drag and getting involved in that whole shallow hair metal mentality and thats why their music is still relevant.
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The guide needs a bit of updating, as the band has since released additional albums with a different lineup. And, of course, David Wayne has since passed away after suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident.
After he left Metal Church, David Wayne went off and formed Reverend, along with Dennis O'Hara, who had been with Mike Howe in Heretic. |
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I still listen to these guys. The first 3 albums are over-the-top . Love 'em!
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Been a fan since the 1st album when I was 16. Finally in '05 met them when they came w/ W.A.S.P. & LA Guns. They were still magnificent. Not a huge fan of the new line-up (esp. the singer),My focus was on the drummer Kirk. Being a drummer Myself, he is in My mind one of the best in the genre. I was super-stoked 2 finally sit down & rap w/ him. He was incredibly cordial & a consumate professional . Not 2 mention a helluva nice guy! I was sorry 2 hear he will no longer b performing.
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A band that should have pushed Aerosmith out but they were to smart and gready.
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Metal Church is old school metal and I love it. The songs metal church and beyond the black are still metal classics today.
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Portions of content provided by All Music Guide © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC.