Metal Church

This article is about the heavy metal band. For their self-titled album, see Metal Church (album).

Metal Church
Metal Church performing at Wacken Open Air in 2016
Metal Church performing at Wacken Open Air in 2016
Background information
Also known asShrapnel (1980–1981)
OriginSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1980–1996
  • 1998–2001
  • 2003–2009
  • 2012–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Members
Past members
Websitemetalchurchofficial.com

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.[1] 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.[2][3][4][5][6] They achieved considerable popularity that decade, with two of their first three albums entering the Top 100 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[7] 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 44-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 (1984) and their major breakthrough The Dark (1986). By the end of the 1980s, Vanderhoof and Wayne had parted ways with the band and were replaced by vocalist Mike Howe and guitarist John Marshall, respectively. Metal Church's popularity continued with their third album Blessing in Disguise (1989), which spawned one of their best-known songs "Badlands".[7] After releasing two more studio albums with Howe, The Human Factor (1991) and Hanging in the Balance (1993), the band first broke up in 1996.[8]

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 (1999); 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 the band's lead singer.[9][10] He recorded two more albums with the group, which had enjoyed a renewed popularity during the mid-to-late 2010s, before his death on July 26, 2021.[11] Howe has since been replaced by Marc Lopes, who debuted on the band's thirteenth studio album Congregation of Annihilation (2023).[12]

  1. ^ Staff, A. O. L. "Metal Church singer Mike Howe dead at 55". www.nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Seattle Metal Scene". KNAC.com. March 7, 2002. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "Culprit - Biography & History". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Unofficial SG Homepage: Articles: Faces, December 1989". web.stargate.net. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  5. ^ ""LOUDER THAN HECK: THE NORTHWEST NOW," DISCoveries Magazine (1990)". nw-music-archives.blogspot.com. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  6. ^ "FIFTH ANGEL Return With First Album In 30 Years". KNAC.COM. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Metal Church - Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "NEWSTUFF". themusiczone.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 1996. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Metal Church Rejoined By Singer Mike Howe". Blabbermouth.net. April 30, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  10. ^ "Mike Howe talks return". Spotlight Report. May 12, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  11. ^ "Metal Church Singer Mike Howe Dead At 55". Blabbermouth.net. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Metal Church Announces Congregation of Annihilation Album, Shares 'Pick a God and Prey' Single". Blabbermouth.net. March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.