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
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	42:00
Label	Ground Zero
Producer	Metal Church, Terry Date, Willie Mackay
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	10.0/10[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.

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

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

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Metal Church - Metal Church review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. 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. US: Elektra Records. 1985. 60471-1.CS1 maint: others (link)

External links

• Review of "Metal Church" at PLAY IT LOUD!