The Dark (Metal Church album)

The Dark
Studio album by Metal Church
Released October 6, 1986
Recorded 1985-1986
Genre Thrash metal, power metal, speed metal
Length 43:00
Label Elektra Records, Asylum Records
Producer Mark Dodson
Metal Church chronology
Metal Church
(1984)Metal Church1984		 The Dark
(1986)		 Blessing in Disguise
(1989)Blessing in Disguise1989
Singles from The Dark
  1. "Start the Fire"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Watch the Children Pray"
    Released: 1986

The Dark is the second full-length album released by Metal Church. It was released on 6 October 1986 and was the last album featuring the group's classic lineup of David Wayne, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Kirk Arrington, Duke Erickson, and Craig Wells. 1999's Masterpeace album reunited the former four, with John Marshall replacing Wells.

Album information

The Dark talks of somber themes, such as assassination, death, struggle, rituals, and the supernatural: the lyrics from "Line of Death", for example, were based on Libyan hostilities in the Gulf of Sidra, while the band's title track involves the protagonist attempting to survive the night in an abandoned house with an evil, demonic entity stalking and attempting to drag him to hell. "Watch the Children Pray" became the band's first music video. The album was dedicated to the late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, who died nine days before its release. In order to promote The Dark, Metal Church supported Metallica and Anthrax on the Damage, Inc. Tour. They also opened for King Diamond.[1]

"Ton of Bricks" appears as the opening track in the Charlie Sheen movie No Man's Land.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Kerrang! [3]
Rock Hard (de)9/10[4]

Reviews for The Dark have been mostly positive. Allmusic's Eduardo Rivadavia awards the album two-and-a-half stars out of five, and states that it "contained some of the group's best material."[2] In 2005, the album was ranked number 389 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[5]

The Dark entered the Billboard 200 chart on January 24, 1987. The album itself peaked at number 92 and remained on the chart for 23 weeks.[6]

Track listing

All songs written by David Wayne, Kurdt Vanderhoof, and Craig Wells unless otherwise noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ton of Bricks"Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells, Duke Erickson, Kirk Arrington2:55
2."Start the Fire" 3:55
3."Method to Your Madness"Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells, Mark Dodson4:52
4."Watch the Children Pray" 5:57
5."Over My Dead Body" 3:36
6."The Dark" 4:11
7."Psycho"Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells, Arrington3:32
8."Line of Death"Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells, Erickson, Arrington4:42
9."Burial at Sea" 4:58
10."Western Alliance" 3:18

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Metal Church Tour Dates". metallipromo.com. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
  2. 1 2 Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Metal Church The Dark review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  3. ↑ Miller, Paul (30 October 1986). "Metal Church 'The Dark'". Kerrang!. 132. London, UK: United Magazines ltd. p. 25.
  4. ↑ Trojan, Frank. "Rock Hard review". issue 19. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  5. ↑ [...], Rock Hard (Hrsg.). [Red.: Michael Rensen. Mitarb.: Götz Kühnemund] (2005). Best of Rock & Metal die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. Königswinter: Heel. p. 53. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.
  6. ↑ "Metal Church Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
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