Metal Church: new album teaser

Can't wait for my copy. Gonna have to wait until Christmas holidays probably 😡.

I am at my second listen already. The album is very good but won't top my best of 2018 list.

While some songs like Guillotine are excellent, others seemed as leftovers from the XI recording sessions.

Anyways, i am glad that this band is still around, delivering the goods. Mike Howe is in top shape .

I'm still waiting for some tour dates.

I'm a little late, but I finally got around to reviewing Damned If You Do on my blog:

https://hubpages.com/entertainment/Metal-Church-Damned-If-You-Do-Album-Review

I think XI is a tad bit stronger but this is a great album.

LOL @ not posting more than once in this thread. Some fan I am haha.

The album is very good. I've heard it three times now and it satisfies, but that's about all. It is what it is I'm happy. My main issue is Rick Van Zandt. Fire that guy or get him some guitar lessons. His playing is annoyingly mediocre and practically derails the songs. I kinda had to put up with this on previous albums, but he's getting worse (he was really depressing live). All his cheap noodling completely conflicts with the tightness of the band. Apparently I'm not the only guitarist to feel this way.

However, I can overlook that well enough and still enjoy the album, my favorite track being Monkey Finger so far. Good attitude in that song. But still--why am I not as over-the-moon about this like I was with XI? I think the excitement of getting Howe back, one of my favorite metal vocalists, for the first time in 20 years was a big benefit to that album, but now, like with Accept, the sensation isn't as strong. Cool, sort of exciting, and I'll still buy the album, hoping for another one, but not in anxious wait.

I also kind of wish they would do an album strongly akin to the very first. Haven't really heard much in the same manner since. There's still a lot of Human Factor/Hanging in the Balance being thrown around. Minor complaint, actually not even a complaint at all.

Anyway, great write-up Keith!

I love Human Factor/HitB so no problem there.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I love Human Factor/HitB so no problem there.

I do too, and I don't mind it at all, I just kind of want a bit of a throwback to that evil and nasty chaos of the first album. It's almost like they dropped a slight punk element after that.

According to various reports they still don't perform Metal Church (the song) in concert. I thought the absence felt rather goofy at the show I went to. At least they still do Beyond the Black.

Why is it that they don't perform metal church song live?

corplhicks wrote:

LOL @ not posting more than once in this thread. Some fan I am haha.

The album is very good. I've heard it three times now and it satisfies, but that's about all. It is what it is I'm happy. My main issue is Rick Van Zandt. Fire that guy or get him some guitar lessons. His playing is annoyingly mediocre and practically derails the songs. I kinda had to put up with this on previous albums, but he's getting worse (he was really depressing live). All his cheap noodling completely conflicts with the tightness of the band. Apparently I'm not the only guitarist to feel this way.

However, I can overlook that well enough and still enjoy the album, my favorite track being Monkey Finger so far. Good attitude in that song. But still--why am I not as over-the-moon about this like I was with XI? I think the excitement of getting Howe back, one of my favorite metal vocalists, for the first time in 20 years was a big benefit to that album, but now, like with Accept, the sensation isn't as strong. Cool, sort of exciting, and I'll still buy the album, hoping for another one, but not in anxious wait.

I also kind of wish they would do an album strongly akin to the very first. Haven't really heard much in the same manner since. There's still a lot of Human Factor/Hanging in the Balance being thrown around. Minor complaint, actually not even a complaint at all.

Anyway, great write-up Keith!

Very well put, brother. This is kind of how I feel about a lot of fave bands from the 1980's still putting out music. I am glad they are still around (performing and producing new tunes) but I am not rushing out to grab stuff day/ week of release like I once did. It's not a money thing as I have a side hustle a few hours a week that pays for my jams; and it's not really a time thing as I listen a lot in the car, the gym, and have an hour or so each night to play some tunes. I think it's more in line with what you said, corp about the newness and excitement waning a bit. In addition, I feel that there is enough to listen to from bands that have anywhere from 7-12 studio albums. Plus, my vinyl collection is taking off and it's something different than buying discs for the last 20 years. That's why I buy the occasional cassette to keep it different and fresh.

Gilbert wrote:

Why is it that they don't perform metal church song live?

Honestly I don't know. I posted to them on Facebook back around the time of that gig to ask, the reply came back about something something time restraints. I thought is was a lousy cover story. I have one guess: Mike simply can't carry it anymore. If you watch the Dynamo concert from '91 on YouTube, you can tell he really struggles with Wayne's melodies. It's a pretty high register.

the sentinel wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

LOL @ not posting more than once in this thread. Some fan I am haha.

The album is very good. I've heard it three times now and it satisfies, but that's about all. It is what it is I'm happy. My main issue is Rick Van Zandt. Fire that guy or get him some guitar lessons. His playing is annoyingly mediocre and practically derails the songs. I kinda had to put up with this on previous albums, but he's getting worse (he was really depressing live). All his cheap noodling completely conflicts with the tightness of the band. Apparently I'm not the only guitarist to feel this way.

However, I can overlook that well enough and still enjoy the album, my favorite track being Monkey Finger so far. Good attitude in that song. But still--why am I not as over-the-moon about this like I was with XI? I think the excitement of getting Howe back, one of my favorite metal vocalists, for the first time in 20 years was a big benefit to that album, but now, like with Accept, the sensation isn't as strong. Cool, sort of exciting, and I'll still buy the album, hoping for another one, but not in anxious wait.

I also kind of wish they would do an album strongly akin to the very first. Haven't really heard much in the same manner since. There's still a lot of Human Factor/Hanging in the Balance being thrown around. Minor complaint, actually not even a complaint at all.

Anyway, great write-up Keith!

Very well put, brother. This is kind of how I feel about a lot of fave bands from the 1980's still putting out music. I am glad they are still around (performing and producing new tunes) but I am not rushing out to grab stuff day/ week of release like I once did. It's not a money thing as I have a side hustle a few hours a week that pays for my jams; and it's not really a time thing as I listen a lot in the car, the gym, and have an hour or so each night to play some tunes. I think it's more in line with what you said, corp about the newness and excitement waning a bit. In addition, I feel that there is enough to listen to from bands that have anywhere from 7-12 studio albums. Plus, my vinyl collection is taking off and it's something different than buying discs for the last 20 years. That's why I buy the occasional cassette to keep it different and fresh.

I still get excited for a band to regroup after a long hiatus (and I really was excited for this album), but there is the possibility of a stale sound developing with subsequent releases.

I love how Overkill just slightly turns the dial on their sound with every album. No two are alike.