Metal Church


Metal Church is an American heavy metal band formed in 1980. Originally based in San Francisco, California, they relocated to Aberdeen, Washington the following year and briefly called themselves Shrapnel. Led by guitarist and songwriter Kurdt Vanderhoof, the band has released thirteen studio albums and is considered to be an integral part of the then-emerging Seattle heavy metal music scene of the 1980s, as well as pioneers of the thrash metal, speed metal and power metal genres. They achieved considerable popularity that decade, with two of their first three albums entering the Top 100 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The band's early lyrical topics, such as conflict and paranoia, later expanded into philosophical, political and social commentary.
Metal Church has had a revolving lineup of vocalists, guitarists, bassists and drummers throughout its -year career, and Vanderhoof remains the group's sole consistent creative force, despite reducing his role strictly to composition in 1986 after tiring of performing live. The "classic" lineup of Vanderhoof, vocalist David Wayne, guitarist Craig Wells, bassist Duke Erickson, and drummer Kirk Arrington recorded the band's first two studio albums, Metal Church and their major breakthrough The Dark. By the end of the 1980s, Vanderhoof and Wayne had parted ways with the band and were replaced by guitarist John Marshall and vocalist Mike Howe, respectively. Metal Church's popularity continued with its third album Blessing in Disguise, which spawned one of their best-known songs "Badlands". After releasing two more studio albums with Howe, The Human Factor and Hanging in the Balance, the band first broke up in 1996.
Metal Church reformed in 1998 with most of their "classic" lineup, including Vanderhoof's return to performance, resulting in the band's sixth studio album Masterpeace ; however, internal conflicts and Wayne's second departure from the band in 2001 resulted in a second hiatus. Metal Church resurfaced in 2003, with Ronny Munroe replacing Wayne, and the band underwent a few lineup changes within the next six years, leaving Vanderhoof as the only remaining original member. Following their third disbandment in July 2009, the group reunited for the third time in October 2012, and released their tenth studio album Generation Nothing a year later. Following Munroe's departure in the fall of 2014, Metal Church considered disbanding for the third time before Howe was rehired in April 2015 as their lead singer. He recorded two more albums with the band, which had enjoyed a renewed popularity during the mid-to-late 2010s, before his death on July 26, 2021. Howe was replaced by Marc Lopes, who made his only appearance with Metal Church on their thirteenth studio album Congregation of Annihilation. Another lineup change occurred in 2025, with Brian Allen replacing Lopes, and original Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and drummer Ken Mary of Fifth Angel and Flotsam and Jetsam joining the fold.

History

Formative years (1980–1984)

Then-based in San Francisco, guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof formed Metal Church in 1980 with various musicians. This era included a brief audition period with future Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. The three-song, instrumental Red Skies demo, was released in 1981, and featured Vanderhoof, guitarist Rick Condrin, bassist Steve Hott, and drummer Aaron Zimpel.
Vanderhoof relocated to his hometown of Aberdeen in 1981 and began the new group Shrapnel with Craig Wells, Duke Erickson, drummer Tom Weber, and vocalist Mike Murphy. Murphy departed before their next demo, which was recorded without vocals, and Weber departed shortly thereafter. The enlistment of drummer Kirk Arrington and vocalist David Wayne completed the group's classic lineup. They released the demo Four Hymns and spent following years touring and accruing material, readopting the Metal Church moniker in 1983. The song "Death Wish" is featured on the compilation album Northwest Metalfest.

First two records and commercial success (1984–1988)

In July 1984, Metal Church released its self-titled debut album, which included three songs from the Four Hymns demo and a cover version of Deep Purple's "Highway Star". They sold 70,000 copies of the album independently before signing to Elektra. According to Wayne, Ulrich and Metallica bandmate James Hetfield urged Elektra to sign the band before another label could.
By the time Metal Church released its second studio album, The Dark, in October 1986, they were touring with high-profile acts including Metallica. The Dark was a commercial success, helped by the fact that the band's first music video, "Watch the Children Pray", received frequent airplay on MTV. As a result, the album managed to enter the US Billboard 200, and saw Metal Church support the album with a world tour that lasted from October 1986 to July 1987, playing with bands such as King Diamond, Celtic Frost, Testament, Overkill, D.R.I., Trouble and, individually, with all of the "Big Four" of thrash metal.
Shortly after the album's release, however, they were plagued by lineup changes: Vanderhoof ceased performing live with the group in 1986, to be replaced briefly by Mark Baker and more permanently by former Metallica roadie John Marshall. Vanderhoof nonetheless continued to work with the group in composing thereafter, co-writing much of their subsequent material. Wayne also departed shortly thereafter and was replaced by former Heretic singer Mike Howe. Wayne teamed up with the remaining members of Heretic to form Reverend.

Further albums and first breakup (1989–1996)

With Howe and Marshall, Metal Church released their third studio album, Blessing in Disguise, in 1989. Critics responded favorably to the album, including some assertions that it was the band's strongest effort. Blessing in Disguise was even more successful than its predecessors, peaking at number 75 on the Billboard 200; this was Metal Church's highest chart position, until it was surpassed 27 years later by XI. The album's success was attributed to the music video for "Badlands" getting airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball, and its opening track "Fake Healer" receiving some attention from mainstream radio stations, most notably KNAC and Z Rock; unlike "Badlands", however, there was no music video for "Fake Healer". After spending most of 1989 and 1990 touring heavily behind Blessing in Disguise, the band had switched labels from Elektra to Epic.
Metal Church released its fourth studio album, and only album on Epic, The Human Factor, in 1991. Critics applauded the group for transitioning to a major label and successfully retaining the vitality of their sound, while also releasing a record with conceptual accessibility beyond the heavy metal genre. While The Human Factor failed to chart on the Billboard 200, it was supported by two successful North American tours, one of which saw Metal Church appear on the Operation Rock & Roll tour, and the band also supported Metallica on select dates of their Wherever We May Roam Tour.
The band followed with their fifth studio album, 1993's Hanging in the Balance, on Mercury Records. After touring almost non-stop in support of that album for about two years, Metal Church officially disbanded for the first time in 1996, citing management problems and poor record sales as factors.

Reunion of classic lineup and ''Masterpeace'' (1998–2001)

The members of Metal Church began compiling their first live album in 1998, Live, which featured songs from their first two records performed by their classic lineup. During the production of Live, Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells, Arrington, and Erickson decided to reform the band and began work on a new studio album. Wells was forced to depart the band due to familial obligations, however, and was replaced by the returning Marshall. The live album Live in Japan was also released in 1998, only in Japan.
The resulting album, Masterpeace, was released in 1999 on Nuclear Blast Records. Critics responded positively, hailing it as a focused product that increased the energy over previous releases, despite it ultimately failing to break new ground. Arrington and Erickson were unable to tour behind the album, so the band enlisted members of Vanderhoof's side projects, bassist Brian Lake and drummer Jeff Wade, for live performances later that year.
Wayne expressed regret regarding Masterpeace, which influenced his musical output that followed. He departed from the band once again in June 2001, due to personal and creative differences, forming the group Wayne with Wells and releasing the curiously titled debut album Metal Church thereafter. Vanderhoof objected to the album's name and cover art; according to Wayne, the purpose of the album's name was to alert the audience of his involvement. Erickson and Marshall also ceased involvement with Metal Church after Wayne's departure, leading to the band's second hiatus.

Munroe-led lineup, Wayne's death, and second breakup (2002–2009)

Vanderhoof's eponymous band released A Blur in Time in 2002, and he began working on new material for Metal Church's next album thereafter. In 2003, he and Arrington recruited singer Ronny Munroe, former Malice guitarist Jay Reynolds, and bassist Steve Unger to form a new lineup of Metal Church. The band's seventh studio album, The Weight of the World, was released in the following year. Critics generally reacted to the record with a lukewarm response, recognizing its accomplishments while noting its lack of consistency and innovation.
On May 10, 2005, former Metal Church singer David Wayne died of complications from injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred months before. He was 47 years old.
In 2006, Arrington left the band due to health complications with diabetes. His replacement was Jeff Plate from Savatage, Chris Caffery and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Later that year, the band released their eighth studio album, A Light in the Dark, which featured a re-recording of "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to Wayne. Vanderhoof said that the tribute was a way of showing fans that he harbored no ill will towards Wayne despite the contentious situation that existed between them before his death.
Reynolds left the group in 2008 and was replaced by Rick Van Zandt. The band's ninth studio album, This Present Wasteland, released that September, which was hailed generally as an effective release consistent with their previous material. After subsequent touring, the band took a hiatus from performing due to Vanderhoof's back problems. They nonetheless continued studio work, while Munroe and Vanderhoof also completed the former's solo album.
After Vanderhoof's health improved, they returned to performing and composing new material. On July 7, 2009, however, the band announced unexpectedly that they were disbanding following a final performance at Rocklahoma two days later, cancelling numerous further live dates. They cited industry frustrations as a major factor influencing the decision. Several former members remained musically active, including Munroe and Vanderhoof in Presto Ballet and Plate in Machines of Grace.