How did Cherry Red come up with the splendid idea of a three CD collection of Metal Church’s years at Elektra Records? They must have a Metal Guru on their payroll?
West coast metal veterans Metal Church will release From the Vault via Rat Pak Records on April 10, 2020. From the Vault is a special edition compilation album that features 14 previously unreleased tracks from the Mike Howe era, which include four newly recorded studio tracks including a redux of the band's fan favorite classic 'Conductor.' Description: Originally, Metal Church was formed in 1980 in San Francisco by Kurdt Vanderhoof and others. Several members passed through the band's line-up, and Lars Ulrich also played with them for a few rehearsals in 1981 before relocating to Los Angeles to form Metallica. He is not considered one of the official former members.
Metal Church Reaction Video
Metal Church: Elektra 1986: The Dark: Elektra 1989: Blessing in Disguise: Elektra 1991: The Human Factor: Epic 1993: Hanging in the Balance: Blackheart 1999: Masterpeace: Nuclear Blast 2000: Live: Nuclear Blast 2004: The Weight of the World. Metal Church (1984) The Dark (1986) Blessing In Disguise (1989) Human Factor (1991) Hanging In The Balance (1993) Live 91' (1998) Masterpeace (1999) The Weight Of The World (2004) A Light In The Dark (2006) This Present Wasteland (2008) Generation Nothing (2013) XI (2016). All Free New Music. Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God (The Deluxe Edition) (2020).
Disc one is Metal Church astonishing self-titled 1984 debut. Hugely influential, no less another Metal Guru than Fenriz of Darkthrone has stated emphatically that he would play the opening track of this album ‘Beyond the Black’ to anyone who wanted to know what heavy metal is and indeed should be. A splendid fellow: such is the way of the Metal Guru!
Every track on ‘Metal Church’ is a stone-cold classic, they even make Deep Purple’s highway Star’ their own.
All self-respecting metal fans should buy this collection for ‘Metal Church alone. Truer than true. Heavier than a very heavy thing. And hugely influential on the thrash metal genre.
Metal Church Reaction
Disc 2 is 1986’s ‘The Dark’. Now at the time, it suffered somewhat in comparison to bands Metal Church had influenced ironically, who had pushed the speed factor up. But time has been kind to ‘The Dark’, opener ‘Ton of Bricks’ is equal to anything on the debut. ‘Start the Fire’ shows the kind of groove Pantera would make famous, and ‘Watch the Children Pray’ is a superb ballad’.
Disc Three features 1989’s ‘Blessing in Disguise’, which, despite a change in vocalist from David Wayne to Mike Howe, is superb, displaying some truly mature song-writing, such as the savage ‘Fake Healer’ and the moving ‘Anthem to The Estranged’.
It would have been nice to have included their legendary ‘Four Hymns’ demo and some live performances (maybe on a separate ‘bootleg’ style release?), but overall this is a superb collection, essential for any Metal Head.