METAL CHURCH
"This Present
Wasteland" (SPV / Steamhammer; 2008)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
I didn't really discover Metal Church until way late in the game and by "way late" I mean around 2004's "The Weight of the World." I know, I know -- it's embarrassing. The band's self-titled album has been considered a metal classic since its original release and that was almost 25 years ago. I'd heard of the band over the years, of course, but for whatever reason never started listening to them until 2004. Suffice to say, I've been making up for lost time, gathering up all their back catalog to listen to as well as keeping track of the band as they release new recordings.
"This Present Wasteland," the band's newest CD, shows no sign of them slowing down. The CD is ten tracks of incredibly well-written songs, packed to the gills with crunchy guitar, barbed wire leads, a pounding rhythm section and the hypnotizing voice of Ronny Munroe. If you're a fan of classic metal, this album will suck you in and hold you in its teeth for its entire running time, and you'll be thrilled that it did.
From the staccato opening of "The Company of Sorrow" to the haunting "Congregation," "This Present Wasteland" is yet another great Metal Church album. The band may have changed, personnel-wise, over the years, but the style and attitude have not. Here's to many more years of going to this particular Church!
Metal Church: Ronny Munroe - vocals; Kurdt Vanderhoof - guitars; Rick Van Zandt - guitars; Steve Unger - bass; Jeff Plate - drums.
For more information, check out http://www.metalchurch.com.
"A
Light in the Dark" (SPV / Steamhammer; 2006)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"A Light in the Dark" begins with its title track and you know things are going to be good from that point on. And, for the most part, you're dead right.
The trademark guitars of Kurdt Vanderhoof are the driving force behind most Metal Church CDs and they don't disappoint here. Kurdt finds hard and heavy riffs that draw you into the song instantly and hold you there throughout. Just try and resist the opening of the title track, "Mirror of Lies," "Son of the Son" or virtually any other song on the CD. And his leads are straight and to the point. No flashy look-how-good-a-guitar-player-I-am nonsense here, just exactly what the songs needs to soar. (And, by the way, Vanderhoof is a really good guitarist).
Vocalist Ronny Munroe has the misfortune to always be compared to the band's original vocalist, the late David Wayne, but we're not going to do that here. Suffice to say that Munroe's voice fits the modern Metal Church flawlessly, hitting the highs when necessary and staying strong at all others. And if you've ever seen this version of Metal Church live, you know that Munroe can handle the band's early stuff as well.
If I had to choose between "A Light in the Dark" and the band's previous "Weight of the World," I'd probably give a slight edge to the latter. But it'd be a really slight edge and I imagine both CDs will get equal airplay in the future.
"A Light in the Dark" features a new recording of the band's classic "Watch the Children Play" as a tribute to David Wayne.
It's great to have Metal Church back in action.
Metal Church: Ronny Munroe - vocals; Kurdt Vanderhoof - guitar, keyboards; Jay Reynolds - guitar; Steve Unger - bass, backing vocals; Jeff Plate - drums.
For more information, check out http://www.metalchurch.com.
"The
Weight of the World" (SPV / Steamhammer; 2004)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Metal Church know how to celebrate in style. Their new CD, "The Weight of the World," marks the band's 20th Anniversary and, despite a number of line-up changes over the years, Metal Church still deliver hard rock with style.
There's no thrash or speed metal on "The Weight of the World" and that's how Metal Church fans want it. Instead, the new CD brings to mind the work of such legendary bands as UFO and the harder-edged stuff of The Scorpions. The fretwork of founding member Kurdt Vanderhoof (who also produces here) is sharp and focused, delivering the necessary edge and keeping things solid throughout. Vocalist Ronny Munroe has an even, strong voice in the style of Jeff Scott Soto or Glenn Hughes and can still get raw and rough when required.
The songwriting here is melodic without going soft. The tracks will rock you hard but also have your toe tapping and your head banging. And don't misinterpret my "no thrash or speed metal" comment above either; the songs on "The Weight of the World" are all fast-paced and energetic.
Highlights include the simmering title track, the contagious beat and soaring verses of "Bomb To Drop," and "Blood Money," a rolling rocker with an irresistible chorus and a great guitar solo running throughout.
Metal Church reformed in 1999 and this is their second CD since then. Thankfully, even today, the band shows no signs of wearing down.
Metal Church: Kurdt Vanderhoof - guitars; Kirk Arrington - drums; Ronny Munroe - vocals; Jay Reynolds - guitars; Steve Unger - bass.
For more information, check out http://www.metalchurch.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2008 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised:
15 May 2012 00:50:03 -0500.
