Metal Church (album)
Metal Church is the self-titled debut album by the American heavy metal band of the same name. 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.
Metal Church | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 1984 | |||
Recorded | 1984 | |||
Studio | Steve Lawson Productions, Seattle, Washington | |||
Genre | Thrash metal, heavy metal, speed metal, power metal | |||
Length | 42:00 | |||
Label | Ground Zero | |||
Producer | Metal Church, Terry Date, Willie Mackay | |||
Metal Church chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10[2] |
Rock Hard | 10.0/10[3] |
The album contains a cover of Deep Purple's "Highway Star". The cassette edition and first European vinyl edition contained the bonus track "Big Guns". The Metal Blade Records compilation Metal Massacre V of 1984 features the song "The Brave", which is not included in this album. The first press release included a coupon to order a t-shirt and other merchandise.
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.
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 |
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 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
10. | "Big Guns" (demo) | 3:23 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the LP liner notes.[4]
- Metal Church
- David Wayne - vocals
- Kurdt Vanderhoof - guitar
- Craig Wells - guitar
- Duke Erickson - bass guitar
- Kirk Arrington - drums
- Production
- Terry Date - producer, engineer
- Jack Skinner - mastering
- Saulius Pempe - photography
- Kurdt Vanderhoof - logo
- Willie Mackay - executive producer
References
- Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Metal Church - Metal Church review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- 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.
- Trojan, Frank (1984). "Review Album: Metal Church - Metal Church". Rock Hard (in German). No. 9. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- Metal Church (LP sleeve). Metal Church. US: Elektra Records. 1985. 60471-1.CS1 maint: others (link)