Origin: Seattle, WA, USA
Genres: Traditional Metal
official site MySpace

Metal Church  


Founded by guitarist Kurt Vanderhoof in the early eighties, Metal Church's underground popularity rose quickly, and their debut self-titled album was everything fans could have hoped for, a landmark cutting-edge crushing metal album featuring "Metal Church" and "Beyond The Black", still a BNR favorite. After the capable second release The Dark, vocalist David Wayne left, replaced by Mike Howe, formerly of Heretic (ironically, Wayne recruited two other Heretic members for his new band, Reverend). By the time of Hanging In The Balance (featuring that awful album cover) the band's popularity had waned somewhat, despite the fact that the three albums after The Dark were every bit as good as the those first two. Nonetheless, the band drifted apart and eventually broke up, until reforming with Wayne in 1999 and releasing Masterpeace, a capable reunion album. After another long period of inactivity (during which time both Vanderhoof and Wayne worked on solo projects), a largely new lineup got together and recorded 2003's The Weight Of The World, and since then recorded two more albums. After a lengthy run, they finally decided to break up in June 2009.

Current Members

Ronny Munroe

vocals (Rottweiller)

Kurdt Vanderhoof

guitars (Hall Aflame, Vanderhoof)

Rick Van Zandt

guitars (Rottweiller)

Steve Unger

bass

Jeff Plate

drums (Machines Of Grace, Savatage)

Former Members/Guests

David Wayne

vocals (Reverend, Wayne) RIP: May 10, 2005, died of injuries suffered in an automobi

Mike Howe

vocals (Heretic)

Craig Wells

guitars (Wayne)

John Marshall

guitars

Jay Reynolds

guitars (Malice)

Duke Erickson

bass

Kirk Arrington

drums (Vanderhoof)


Discography


Metal Church 
1984 independent
  1. Beyond The Black
  2. Metal Church
  3. Merciless Onslaught
  4. Gods Of Wrath
  5. Hitman
  6. In The Blood
  7. My Favourite
  8. Battalions
  9. Highway Star
  • David Wayne
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Craig Wells
  • Duke Erickson
  • Kirk Arrington
1984 BNR Top Ten album



The Dark 
1986 Elektra
  1. Ton Of Bricks
  2. Start The Fire
  3. Method To Your Madness
  4. Watch The Children Pray
  5. Over My Dead Body
  6. The Dark
  7. Psycho
  8. Line Of Death
  9. Burial At Sea
  10. Western Alliance
  • David Wayne
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Craig Wells
  • Duke Erickson
  • Kirk Arrington
1986 Internet Top Ten album

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Blessing In Disguise 
1989 Elektra
  1. Fake healer
  2. Rest in pieces (April 15, 1912)
  3. Of unsound mind
  4. Anthem to the estranged
  5. Badlands
  6. The spell can't be broken
  7. It's a secret
  8. Cannot tell a lie
  9. The powers that be
  • Mike Howe
  • Craig Wells
  • John Marshall
  • Duke Erickson
  • Kirk Arrington
1989 Internet Top Ten album



The Human Factor 
1991 Sony
  1. The Human Factor
  2. Date With Poverty
  3. The Final Word
  4. In Mourning
  5. In Harm's Way
  6. In Due Time
  7. Agent Green
  8. Free From Reality
  9. Betrayed
  10. The Fight Song
  • Mike Howe
  • Craig Wells
  • John Marshall
  • Duke Erickson
  • Kirk Arrington
1991 Internet Top Ten album



Hanging In The Balance 
1993 Blackheart
  1. Gods Of Second Chance
  2. Losers In The Game
  3. Hypnotized
  4. No Friend Of Mine
  5. Waiting For A Savior
  6. Conductor
  7. Little Boy
  8. Down To The River
  9. End Of A Age
  10. Lovers And Madman
  11. A Subtle War
  • Mike Howe
  • Craig Wells
  • John Marshall
  • Duke Erickson
  • Kirk Arrington

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Live  LIVE
1998
  1. Ton Of Bricks
  2. Hitman
  3. Start The Fire
  4. Gods Of Wrath
  5. The Dark
  6. Psycho
  7. Watch The Children Pray
  8. Beyond The Black
  9. Metal Church
  10. Highway Star
  • David Wayne
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Craig Wells
  • Duke Erickson
  • Kirk Arrington



Masterpeace 
1999 Nuclear Blast
  1. Sleeps With Thunder
  2. Falldown
  3. Into Dust
  4. Kiss For The Dead
  5. Lb. Of Cure
  6. Faster Than Life
  7. All Your Sorrows
  8. They Signed In BLood
  9. Toys In The Attic
  10. Sand Kings
  • David Wayne
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • John Marshall
  • Duke Erickson
  • Kirk Arrington



The Weight Of The World 
2004 Nuclear Blast
  1. Leave Them Behind
  2. Weight Of The World
  3. Hero's Soul
  4. Madman's Overture
  5. Sunless Sky
  6. Cradle To Grave
  7. Wings Of Tomorrow
  8. Time Will Tell
  9. Bomb To Drop
  10. Blood Money
  • Ronny Munroe
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Jay Reynolds
  • Steve Unger
  • Kirk Arrington

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


A Light In The Dark 
2006 Steamhammer/SPV
  1. A Light In The Dark
  2. Beyond All Reason
  3. Mirror Of Lies
  4. Disappear
  5. The Believer
  6. Temple Of The Sea
  7. Pill For The Kill
  8. Son Of The Son
  9. More Than Your Master
  10. Blinded By Life
  11. Watch The Children Pray 2006
  • Ronny Munroe
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Jay Reynolds
  • Steve Unger
  • Jeff Plate

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


Dynamo Classic Concerts 1991 
2007 Escapi



This Present Wasteland 
2008 Steamhammer/SPV
  1. In The Company Of Sorrow
  2. Perfect Crime
  3. Deeds Of A Dead Soul
  4. Meet Your Maker
  5. Monster
  6. Crawling To Extinction
  7. War Never Won
  8. Mass Hysteria
  9. Breathe Again
  10. Congregation
  • Ronny Munroe
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Rick Van Zandt
  • Steve Unger
  • Jeff Plate

Reviews:   Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Underground  Metal Observer 

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