Metal Church (Metal Church album)

Metal Church
Studio album by Metal Church
Released 1984
Recorded 1983-1984 at Steve Lawson Productions, Seattle, Washington
Genre Thrash metal, heavy metal, speed metal, power metal
Length 42:00
Label Ground Zero (1984 version)
Elektra (1985 version)
Producer Metal Church, Terry Date
Metal Church chronology
Four Hymns (Demo)
(1982)		 Metal Church
(1984)		 The Dark
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Sputnikmusic [2]
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Metal Church is the self-titled debut album of the heavy metal band of the same name. Released in 1984 (and again in 1985), this album and its successor are considered metal classics. It was originally released independently by Ground Zero. Based on the success of the album, the band was signed to a recording contract by Elektra, who immediately reissued it. The cover art depicts a cruciform Gibson Explorer hidden in shadows and smoke.

Some of their most notable songs are the opener, "Beyond The Black"; their title track; the instrumental "Merciless Onslaught"; "Gods Of Wrath" (which is different from all the other songs, as it had clean vocals, clean rhythms, and fluent solos; and the Deep Purple cover "Highway Star". The first European vinyl edition also contained a bonus track, "Big Guns". This bonus track is now available to download from Metal Church's official website.[3]

Track listing

No. Title Lyrics Music Length
1. "Beyond the Black"   Kurdt Vanderhoof David Wayne, Vanderhoof, Craig Wells 6:23
2. "Metal Church"   Vanderhoof Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells 5:03
3. "Merciless Onslaught"   Vanderhoof Vanderhoof 2:54
4. "Gods of Wrath"   Vanderhoof Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells 6:41
5. "Hitman"   Vanderhoof Wayne, Vanderhoof 4:39
6. "In the Blood"   Vanderhoof Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells 3:31
7. "(My Favorite) Nightmare"   Vanderhoof Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells 3:12
8. "Battalions"   Wayne, Vanderhoof, Kirk Arrington Vanderhoof, Wells 4:53
9. "Highway Star"   Ian Gillan Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice 4:39
Bonus track on European edition
No. Title Lyrics Music Length
10. "Big Guns" (demo) Vanderhoof Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells 3:23

Personnel

Artwork by David Wayne.

References

  1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Metal Church Metal Church review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/metal-church-r12982/review. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
  2. ^ "Metal Church - Metal Church". Sputnikmusic. 8 October 2007. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/13783/Metal-Church-Metal-Church/. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
  3. ^ www.metalchurchmusic.com - Downloads.
Metal Church
Kurdt Vanderhoof · Rick Condrin · Ed Bull · Rick Wagner · Aaron Zimpel · Mike Murphy · Steve Holt · Carl Sacco · Craig Wells · David Wayne · Duke Erickson · Kirk Arrington · Mark Baker · John Marshall · Mike Howe · Jay Reynolds · William McKay · Ronny Munroe · Steve Unger · Jeff Plate · Rick Van Zandt
Studio albums
Live albums
Demo albums
Red Skies (1981 as Shrapnel) · Four Hymns · Hitman
Related articles
Portal:Heavy metal