Metal Church (album)

Metal Church
Studio album by Metal Church
Released	July 1984
Recorded	1984
Studio	Steve Lawson Productions, Seattle, Washington
Genre	Thrash metal heavy metal speed metal power metal
Length	41:51
Label	Ground Zero
Producer	Metal Church Terry Date
Metal Church chronology
Four Hymns (Demo) (1983) Metal Church (1984) The Dark (1986)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	7/10 [2]
Rock Hard	10/10 [3]

Metal Church is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Metal Church. The album was originally released by the independent record label Ground Zero in 1984. Based on the success of the album, the band was signed to a recording contract by Elektra Records, who reissued it in 1985. The cover art depicts a cruciform Gibson Explorer hidden in shadows and smoke.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Kurdt Vanderhoof, except where noted; all music is composed by Vanderhoof, David Wayne and Craig Wells, except where noted

Side one

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Beyond the Black"		6:23
2.	"Metal Church"		5:03
3.	"Merciless Onslaught" (instrumental)	Vanderhoof	2:54
4.	"Gods of Wrath"		6:41

Side two

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
5.	"Hitman"		Wayne, Vanderhoof	4:39
6.	"In the Blood"			3:31
7.	"(My Favorite) Nightmare"			3:12
8.	"Battalions"	Wayne, Vanderhoof, Kirk Arrington	Vanderhoof, Wells	4:53
9.	"Highway Star" (Deep Purple cover)	Ian Gillan	Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice	4:39

European edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
10.	"Big Guns" (demo)	3:23

Notes

• The first vinyl pressing includes a t-shirt
• The vinyl release by Steamhammer contains a bonus track titled "Big Guns"

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. ^[4]

Metal Church

• David Wayne – vocals
• Craig Wells – lead guitar
• Kurdt Vanderhoof – rhythm guitar
• Duke Erickson – bass
• Kirk Arrington – drums

Production

• Terry Date – producer, engineer
• Jack Skinner – mastering
• Saulius Pempe – photography
• Willie Mackay – executive producer
• Kurdt Vanderhoof – logo design
• Ground Zero Entertainment – management

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Metal Church - Metal Church review". AllMusic . Retrieved September 20, 2011.
2. Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 221. ISBN   978-1894959315.
3. Trojan, Frank (1984). "Review Album: Metal Church - Metal Church". Rock Hard (in German). No. 9. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
4. Metal Church (LP sleeve). Metal Church. Elektra Records. 1985. 60471-1.

External links

• Review of Metal Church at Play It Loud!