METAL CHURCH „The Weight of the World”

Music: Heavy Metal
Website: www.metalchurch.com
Duration: 56.36 (10 songs)


Cool songs: Leave Them Behind, Weight of the World, Hero’s Soul, Wings of Tomorrow, Time Will Tell

In 1984, Seattle band Metal Church wrote and released a definitive piece of metal history. Their self titled debut is without doubt one of the greatest debut albums ever made by a metal band. It clearly remember the first time I heard it – late night metal radio in 1985, the host played the opening two tracks – Metal Church (along with Metallica) pretty much changed my life and set me on the path to seeking out heavier underground metal music. NO metal collection is complete with Metal Church’s classic debut.

As this band is a revered metal act that most of you kiddies don’t have a clue about – some history is warranted: This year, of course, marks the 20th anniversary for Metal Church. And there have been many highs and lows experienced along the way. The debut aside, Metal Church released four other worthy follow up albums – (86’s ‘The Dark’, 89’s ‘Blessing In Disguise’, 91’s ‘The Human Factor’ and 93’s ‘Hanging in the Balance’). Line up changes occurred – vocalist extraordinaire David Wayne left after ‘The Dark’ only to be replaced by the excellent Mike Howe. To make matter worse main song-writer and guitarist Kurt Vanderhoof opted out of the ‘touring’ lifestyle after the ‘Blessing’ album and worked with band in the studio only for the following two albums. Then, with the metal climate in decline, the band called it quits after ‘Hanging in the Balance’.

In 1999 the metal world was ecstatic at the reformation of Metal Church with both Vanderhoof and Wayne back in the fold fulltime (unfortunately original guitarist Craig Wells didn’t join them). The result was ‘Masterpeace’, now unlovingly referred to by Vanderhoof, as ‘Disasterpiece’ such was the disappointment it turned out to be. The whole ship then folded like a deck of cards. Then, one of the more bizarre Spinal Tap moments occurred – in response to the direction of ‘Masterpeace’, David Wayne up and released an album using the ‘Wayne’ moniker and entitled it….wait for it…’METAL CHURCH’. He even used the classic iconic graveyard guitar that graced the original album of 1984. Incredible, but true! Needless to say, the original MC line up won’t be getting together again anytime soon.

Resigned to the fact that MC was finished completely, I was quite surprised to hear this year that the band was to continue. Five years on from the ill-conceived reformation, only two original members remain. Joining mainstays Kurt Vanderhoof and drummer Kirk Arrington is former Malice guitarist Jay Reynolds, bassist Steve Unger and new vocalist Ronnie Munroe (ex-Rotwieller). Without belittling the importance of Jay and Steve, it is the addition of Munroe that most MC fans will be most interested in. As a replacement for the David Wayne and the underrated Mike Howe, Munroe has a lot to live up to on this, his first outing. As it happens Ronnie has the perfect combination of MC’s former vocalists – the Wayne high pitch screams and Howe’s authentic mid range tones. Ronnie may not be as charismatic, but overall he puts in a super performance on WOTW.

As for the musical direction of WOTW, there are no surprises here punters. This is fucking Metal Church ferchristsakes! It is very much in keeping with the traditional metal sound that they forged during the period between 1984-1991. As Kurt would go on to say in a recent interview: “We didn't want to try to update the sound, we didn't want to be Nu Metal, or anything we weren't known for, try to be anything that we weren't,….we wanted to keep it very old school, melodic metal”. And whilst any new Metal Church material suffers in comparison to those first two albums (particularly the debut), WOTW is still recognizable as a Metal Church album. As a point of reference it reminds of the somewhat polished and refined sound they were able to achieve on 1991’s ‘The Human Factor’. This is the period where Kurt’s song writing ideas became more mature and his playing was more concerned with technique and melody rather that straight up thrashers. Sure, his best days are behind him, and WOTW probably ranks as NO.5 or 6 out their seven studio efforts, yet it’s still stands up as a worthy enough metal album and one I think they should be proud of.

WOTW will appeal anyone who enjoys the 80’s metal tradition. I doubt whether ‘WOTW’ exists to attract a new crowd. Metal Church still have a massive following, but it’s safe to say the majority of their audience are veteran metal heads (like myself) who still have a penchant for good old school traditional metal. As far as I am concerned this shit will always bury the modern metal/nu metal clowns no matter how hard they try. Kurt Vanderhoof still knows how to write a catchy metal riff, and while they’ll never reach the dizzy heights of past glories, I am stoked they’re still around and flying the metal flag.

note: 8.0/10

Tracklist

01. Leave Them Behind
02.Weight Of The World
03.Hero's Soul
04.Madman's Overture
05.Sunless Sky
06.Cradle To Grave
07.Wings Of Tomorrow
08.Time Will Tell
09.Bomb To Drop
10.Blood Money