New Metal Church album (XI) album cover and track listing revealed

Metal Church have announced the tracklisting and unveiled the cover for their latest album, XI, slated for release on March 25th via Rat Pak Records. The band’s 11th studio release also marks the return of legendary vocalist and front man Mike Howe.

The new album is available for pre-order in various exclusive bundles at this location. A limited number of the Deluxe International Version are available on the website and features a bonus disc of 8 extra songs. Other bundles include guitar picks, stickers, a special edition behind the scenes photo book, t-shirts and even a limited number of personal phone calls from Mike Howe himself.

The album is also available for pre-order on Amazon (link below), Google Play and via iTunes, and fans that order the digital version will receive an instant download of “Killing Your Time” from the new album. XI was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and co-produced by Chris “The Wizard” Collier.

From the first guitar riff of album opener “Reset” through the driving outro of album closer “Suffer Fools”, it is clear Metal Church is back and better than ever. “Needle And Suture” and “Soul Eating Machine” showcase the songwriting that made the early Mike Howe albums The Human Factor, Blessing In Disguise and Hanging In The Balance such fan favorites. Musical opuses “Signal Path” and “Sky Falls In” clock in at over 7-minutes each and put the musicianship that Metal Church was known for on full display in 2016.



1. Reset
2. Killing Your Time
3. No Tomorrow
4. Signal Path
5. Sky Falls In
6. Needle & Suture
7. Shadow
8. Blow Your Mind
9. Soul Eating Machine
10. It Waits
11. Suffer Fools

^^To pair with that, history has been made as the band recently played their first live gig with Mike in over 20 years. A fan posted a video of their Watch the Children Pray number and it's a sight to behold. Sorry there's no YouTube link, this is all I can post:

https://www.facebook.com/jon.carpenter.1447/videos/949223218486568/

EDIT: A YouTube clip of Beyond the Black has surfaced:

They are really pimpin' the whole Mike Howe thing. Mike Howe t-shirts, stickers, phone call....

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

They are really pimpin' the whole Mike Howe thing.  Mike Howe t-shirts, stickers, phone call....

I ordered that Mike Howe Ultimate Fan bundle.

The one where he calls you right?

Gilbert wrote:

The one where he calls you right?

Yeah, they already emailed me for my phone number and are going to get back to me with day and time. Hopefully it will be convenient. Not sure how it's going to go.

Bummer, I might have driven to Aberdeen to see this, oh well. Even though I saw the Howe version of MC the most back in the 90's. Matter of fact the only version of MC I never did see live was the Monroe version...

Will still get the album eventually as I am a fanboy for neighborhood brethren.

80s Metal Lady wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

The one where he calls you right?

Yeah, they already emailed me for my phone number and are going to get back to me with day and time. Hopefully it will be convenient. Not sure how it's going to go.

Let us know how it goes.

007 wrote:

80s Metal Lady wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

The one where he calls you right?

Yeah, they already emailed me for my phone number and are going to get back to me with day and time. Hopefully it will be convenient. Not sure how it's going to go.

Let us know how it goes.

Sure thing.

80s Metal Lady wrote:

007 wrote:

80s Metal Lady wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

The one where he calls you right?

Yeah, they already emailed me for my phone number and are going to get back to me with day and time. Hopefully it will be convenient. Not sure how it's going to go.

Let us know how it goes.

Sure thing.

What would be so very rad--and take light years of courage--is if you could record the actual call. I'm so very curious about how these things go down haha.

In any case, I think it's very cool.

corplhicks wrote:

80s Metal Lady wrote:

007 wrote:

80s Metal Lady wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

The one where he calls you right?

Yeah, they already emailed me for my phone number and are going to get back to me with day and time. Hopefully it will be convenient. Not sure how it's going to go.

Let us know how it goes.

Sure thing.

What would be so very rad--and take light years of courage--is if you could record the actual call. I'm so very curious about how these things go down haha.

In any case, I think it's very cool.

I am considering setting my phone on speaker and recording it.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/video-metal-church-plays-first-show-with-singer-mike-howe-in-more-than-20-years/

Band sounds good!

I am really looking forward to the new album and show !

I am more excited about this album now...love Mike Howe.

Watching the YouTube clips of the WA show is getting my blood boiling. Apparently they only premiered one song from the new album. Mike is a bit restrained compared to, say, Dynamo, but he's still got the energy and the skills. It's a damn shame no CA shows have been announced, but their roster is on TBA status so hopefully I'll get something close to home.

corplhicks wrote:

Watching the YouTube clips of the WA show is getting my blood boiling. Apparently they only premiered one song from the new album. Mike is a bit restrained compared to, say, Dynamo, but he's still got the energy and the skills. It's a damn shame no CA shows have been announced, but their roster is on TBA status so hopefully I'll get something close to home.

I'm hoping for SoCal/Arizona shows. I would definitely travel to a city like Riverside or San Diego to see them if they don't stop in AZ. It's the only concert I'm looking to see this year (unless the rumors are true and Catherine Wheel get back together).

80s Metal Lady wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Watching the YouTube clips of the WA show is getting my blood boiling. Apparently they only premiered one song from the new album. Mike is a bit restrained compared to, say, Dynamo, but he's still got the energy and the skills. It's a damn shame no CA shows have been announced, but their roster is on TBA status so hopefully I'll get something close to home.

It's the only concert I'm looking to see this year

Exactly how I feel. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There's a good chance this is the only remaining stint Mike will relive in the band.

This will be the only show I see this year.

Just got another email about the Mike Howe phone call. It is set for Sunday, March 13. I'll have to request the day off from work because I always work Sundays and the call will be sometime between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM PST. I'm not sure when they'll continue offering the bundle, but this gives an idea if anyone is interested in it.

80s Metal Lady wrote:

Just got another email about the Mike Howe phone call. It is set for Sunday, March 13. I'll have to request the day off from work because I always work Sundays and the call will be sometime between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM PST. I'm not sure when they'll continue offering the bundle, but this gives an idea if anyone is interested in it.

I can just see you on Sunday:

corplhicks wrote:

I can just see you on Sunday:

Pretty much. Bathroom breaks will be stressful.

Monsters of Rock Cruise footage. I know I sound like a broken record, but DAMN Mike sounds good!

I ordered the international version of the cd with the bonus disc and band autographs. I'm really stoked for it.

Figured I'd post this in case some haven't seen it.

I just got an update from Rat Pak Records. Sounds like I will be able to speak with Mike Howe for a few minutes as part of the Ultimate Fan bundle. Are there any questions you have? I might have time to ask 2 or 3.