Metal Church (Metal Church album)

Metal Church
Studio album by Metal Church
Released	1984 (original) 1985 (reissue)
Recorded	1983-1984 at Steve Lawson Productions, Seattle, Washington
Genre	Thrash metal, heavy metal, speed metal, power metal
Length	42:00
Label	Ground Zero (1984 version) Elektra (1985 version)
Producer	Metal Church, Terry Date
Metal Church chronology
Four Hymns (Demo) (1982) Metal Church (1984) The Dark (1986)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Sputnikmusic	[2]
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Metal Church is the self-titled debut album of the heavy metal band of the same name. Released in 1984 (and again in 1985), this album and its successor are considered metal classics. It was originally released independently by Ground Zero. Based on the success of the album, the band was signed to a recording contract by Elektra, who immediately reissued it. The cover art depicts a cruciform Gibson Explorer hidden in shadows and smoke.

Some of their most notable songs are the opener, "Beyond The Black"; their title track; the instrumental "Merciless Onslaught"; "Gods Of Wrath" (which is different from all the other songs, as it had clean vocals, clean rhythms, and fluent solos; and the Deep Purple cover "Highway Star". The first European vinyl edition also contained a bonus track, "Big Guns". This bonus track is now available to download from Metal Church's official website.^[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Beyond the Black"	Kurdt Vanderhoof	David Wayne, Vanderhoof, Craig Wells	6:23
2.	"Metal Church"	Vanderhoof	Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells	5:03
3.	"Merciless Onslaught"	Vanderhoof	Vanderhoof	2:54
4.	"Gods of Wrath"	Vanderhoof	Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells	6:41
5.	"Hitman"	Vanderhoof	Wayne, Vanderhoof	4:39
6.	"In the Blood"	Vanderhoof	Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells	3:31
7.	"(My Favorite) Nightmare"	Vanderhoof	Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells	3:12
8.	"Battalions"	Wayne, Vanderhoof, Kirk Arrington	Vanderhoof, Wells	4:53
9.	"Highway Star"	Ian Gillan	Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice	4:39

Bonus track on European edition
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
10.	"Big Guns" (demo)	Vanderhoof	Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells	3:23

Personnel

• David Wayne - vocals
• Kurdt Vanderhoof - guitar
• Craig Wells - guitar
• Duke Erickson - bass guitar
• Kirk Arrington - drums

Artwork by David Wayne.

References

1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Metal Church Metal Church review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/metal-church-r12982/review. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
2. ^ "Metal Church - Metal Church". Sputnikmusic. 8 October 2007. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/13783/Metal-Church-Metal-Church/. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
3. ^ www.metalchurchmusic.com - Downloads.