[2020-02-28] Metal Church "The Elektra Years 1984-1989" 3CD set (HNE UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Thu Dec 26, 2019 12:13 am

Description
When it comes to the most influential thrash metal bands of the 1980s, most focus on “the big four”; Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. But one important, and often overlooked pioneer in the genre was Seattle’s power metal heroes, Metal Church.

Metal Church were originally formed by Kurdt Vanderhoof in 1980 in San Francisco, before relocating to Vanderhoof’s hometown of Aberdeen in Washington (possibly more famous for giving the world Kurt Cobain and Nirvana), going by the name of Shrapnel. Switching back to Metal Church in 1983, guitarist Vanderhoof was joined by Kirk Arrington on drums, Craig Wells on guitar, Duke Erickson on bass and the late David Wayne on vocals, which many consider to be Metal Church’s classic line-up. Recording independently, they made demo tapes as well as appearing on influential compilations “Northwest Metalfest” and Metal Blade’s ground-breaking “Metal Massacre”. Taking plenty of influences from across the Atlantic, particularly the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, as well as groups such as Accept and Judas Priest, Metal Church would also have a significant influence on the fledging US thrash metal scene, signing to a major label before many of their ’80s contemporaries.

Releasing their self-titled debut in 1984 on the independent Ground Zero Records, their first record shifted in excess of 70,000 copies, a sufficient number of units for them to be snapped up by Elektra Records who reissued the album in 1985. Including ‘Gods Of Wrath’ and ‘Battalions’ from their “Four Hymns” demo, plus a high-speed take of Deep Purple’s classic ‘Highway Star’, the “Metal Church” album is also notable for its production by Terry Date, who would go on to work with Soundgarden, Slipknot, Pantera and Dream Theater, among many others.

Follow up “The Dark” in 1986 featured the same line-up as their debut, but was co-produced with Mark Dodson, known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest and Ugly Kid Joe. The album made a significant dent on the Billboard Top 100 charts, aided by the video for ‘Watch The Children Pray’ plus the single ‘Start The Fire’. This release features the single edit of ‘Watch The Children Pray’ as a bonus track. This album is respectfully dedicated to Cliff Burton, the Metallica bassist who had tragically died earlier that year.

Third release “Blessing In Disguise” saw the return of Terry Date as producer, as well as a shake-up in the band’s ranks, as Vanderhoof stepped down from touring to focus on songwriting, with John Marshall taking his place on guitar, and Mike Howe taking over on vocals. Bonus tracks for the 1989 album are the single edits of ‘Badlands’ and ‘Fake Healer’.

Metal Church would split and reform on a number of occasions, recording more albums for a variety of labels, and continue to tour and issue new albums, releasing their 12th album, “Damned If You Do”, at the end of 2018.

Tracklist
[CD1: Metal Church (1984)]
1. Beyond The Black
2. Metal Church
3. Merciless Onslaught
4. Gods Of Wrath
5. Hitman
6. In The Blood
7. (My Favorite) Nightmare
8. Battalions
9. Highway Star

[CD2: The Dark (1986)]
1. Ton Of Bricks
2. Start The Fire
3. Method To Your Madness
4. Watch The Children Pray
5. Over My Dead Body
6. The Dark
7. Psycho
8. Line Of Death
9. Burial At Sea
10. Western Alliance
Bonus Track:
11. Watch The Children Pray (Single Edit)

[CD3: Blessing In Disguise (1989)]
1. Fake Healer
2. Rest In Pieces (April 15, 1912)
3. Of Unsound Mind
4. Anthem To The Estranged
5. Badlands
6. The Spell Can’t Be Broken
7. It’s A Secret
8. Cannot Tell A Lie
9. The Powers That Be
Bonus Tracks:
10. Badlands (Single Edit)
11. Fake Healer (Single Edit)

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082PPKCH5/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082PPKCH5/?tag=imwan-21

JosephC · **Joined:** 27 Jan 2011 **Posts:** 2656

The first album is an absolute classic and the other two albums in this package are also very good. Highly recommended for people who have thought about checking this band out.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

JosephC wrote:

The first album is an absolute classic and the other two albums in this package are also very good. Highly recommended for people who have thought about checking this band out.

The first one was a monster. The second was hit and miss. The good songs on the 2nd are damn good. The third was the same. Some very good stuff with some middle-of-the-road stuff. Mike Howe was hard to get used to, but once that happened, he was (and is) a good fit.

I'll get this because none of these have been remastered before.

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

By the way, the fourth album, The Human Factor, was on Epic Records. That's one I would like to have a remaster. I saw them on that tour.... Operation Rock 'N' Roll. The other bands were Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Motorhead, Dangerous Toys with Metal Church opening the days music.

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:22 pm

Both of the pre-order links for The Elektra Years 3CD set are now active:

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082PPKCH5/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082PPKCH5/?tag=imwan-21

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

Preordered. :yay:

Mark MN · 13 Aug 2012

Extremely disappointed in this. These sound no better than my original discs. There's no "oomph" to them. The sound levels are quiet. The separation isn't there either. The booklet says "Mastering by Tony Dixon." HNE's page at Cherry Red says "remastered."

I'm thinking that the source tapes may not be the best. HNE usually does a stand-up job (The REO early years come to mind).

[2020-02-28] Metal Church "The Elektra Years 1984-1989" 3CD set (HNE UK)

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