Origin: Seattle, Washington, USA  
Genres: Traditional Metal
DISBANDED
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Last update/review: June 8, 2023

Metal Church

Founded by guitarist Kurdt 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", both still BNR favorites. After the capable second release The Dark, vocalist David Wayne left, replaced by Mike Howe, formerly of (ironically, Wayne recruited two other Heretic members for his new band, Reverend), and in fact Vanderhoof himself was soon out of the band, leading to a string of albums released with no current members. By the time of Hanging In The Balance (featuring that awful album cover) the band's popularity had waned somewhat, and the band drifted apart and eventually broke up around 1995. Vanderhoof returned, eventually bringing Wayne with him, and and released Masterpeace in 1999, a capable reunion album. Wayne departed again but the band persevered with vocalist Ronny Munroe at the helm, surviving until 2009. Again Vanderhoof brought the band back to life, with a largely new lineup, and eventually Mike Howe returned to the mic, where he remained until his unfortunated passing in 2021. But with the band's fourth vocalist in place in 2023, Metal Church survives. Throughout the years the band has remained remarkably consistent both in style (thrash-tinged American power metal) and quality, evidenced by their numerous Readers' Album showings.

Last Lineup

Marc Lopes

vocals (ex-Meliah Rage, Ross The Boss)

Kurdt Vanderhoof

guitars (ex-Hall Aflame, ex-Vanderhoof)

Rick Van Zandt

guitars (ex-Rottweiller)

Steve Unger

bass

Stet Howland

drums (ex-Killing Machine, Temple Of Brutality, ex-W.A.S.P.)

Former Members/Guests

David Wayne

vocals (ex-Reverend, ex-Wayne) RIP: May 10, 2005, automobile accident, age 47

Mike Howe

vocals (ex-Heretic) RIP: July 26, 2021, suicide, age 55

Ronny Munroe

vocals (One Machine, ex-Rottweiller, ex-Vicious Rumors)

Craig Wells

guitars (ex-Wayne)

John Marshall

guitars (ex-Typhus)

Jay Reynolds

guitars (Malice)

Duke Erickson

bass

Kirk Arrington

drums (ex-Vanderhoof) RIP: May 22, 2023, age 61

Jeff Plate

drums (Machines Of Grace, Savatage)



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




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 Readers' Album #9




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 Readers' Album #8




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 Readers' Album #10




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
1993 Readers' Album #13




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
1999 Readers' Album #84




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
2004 Readers' Album #52




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
2006 Readers' Album #41




Dynamo Classic Concerts 1991  VIDEO
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
2008 Readers' Album #80




Generation Nothing  
2013 Body Of Work
  1. Bullet Proof
  2. Dead City
  3. Generation Nothing
  4. Noises In The Wall
  5. Jump The Gun
  6. Suiciety
  7. Scream
  8. Hits Keep Comin'
  9. Close To The Bone
  10. The Media Horse
  • Ronny Munroe
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Rick Van Zandt
  • Steve Unger
  • Jeff Plate
2013 Readers' Album #7




XI  
2016 Rat Pak
  1. Reset
  2. Killing Your Time
  3. No Tomorrow
  4. Signal Path
  5. Sky Falls In
  6. Needle & Suture
  7. Shadow
  8. Blow Your Mind
  9. Soul Eating Machine
  10. It Waits
  11. Suffer Fools
  • Mike Howe
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Rick Van Zandt
  • Steve Unger
  • Jeff Plate
2016 Readers' Album #5




Classic Live  LIVE
2017 Rat Pak
  1. Beyond the Black
  2. Date with Poverty
  3. Gods of a Second Chance
  4. In Mourning
  5. Watch the Children Pray
  6. Start the Fire
  7. No Friend of Mine
  8. Badlands
  9. The Human Factor
  10. Fake Healer
  • Mike Howe
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Rick Van Zandt
  • Steve Unger
  • Jeff Plate



Damned If You Do  
2018 Nuclear Blast
  1. Damned If You Do
  2. The Black Things
  3. By the Numbers
  4. Revolution Underway
  5. Guillotine
  6. Rot Away
  7. Into the Fold
  8. Monkey Finger
  9. Out of Balance
  10. The War Electric
  • Mike Howe
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Rick Van Zandt
  • Steve Unger
  • Stet Howland
2018 Readers' Album #4




Congregation Of Annihilation  
2023 Rat Pak
  1. Another Judgement Day
  2. Congregation of Annihilation
  3. Pick a God and Prey
  4. Children of the Lie
  5. Me the Nothing
  6. Making Monsters
  7. Say a Prayer with 7 Bullets
  8. These Violent Thrills
  9. All That We Destroy
  10. My Favorite Sin
  11. Salvation
  • Marc Lopes
  • Kurdt Vanderhoof
  • Rick Van Zandt
  • Steve Unger
  • Stet Howland




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