Ronny Munroe leaves Metal Church

I had no issue with the Munroe albums. I'm just glad that Howe was able to return to the band.

I'll file this in the "cautiously optimistic" bin for now. That status will be re-evaluated after hearing something with Mike on the mic.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'll file this in the "cautiously optimistic" bin for now. That status will be re-evaluated after hearing something with Mike on the mic.

^^ What my esteemed colleague sez.

Wow, I never thought this would happen. This is great news! Mike Howe is one of my favorites singers. He has a cool voice that is instantly recognizable and fits perfect with MC. Too bad Craig Wells isn't a part of it too.

Wow! Can't wait.

Yes, this "reunion" needs Craig Wells too.

Glad to see Mike has rejoined!!

Temple of Blood wrote:

Ronny was never the problem.

I'm trying to understand this; who ever said he was the problem?

Anyway, what I find cool about this--and yeah, I really wish Craig and Duke would join in as well (Kirk has too many health issues)--is that the legendary Mike Howe is being resurrected after such a huge absence. Even if he sounds like shit, his ghost-like status from the industry has been such a glaring question mark that his PRESENCE brings joy in obliterating that. It's actually satisfying to see him arrive again like this. Or maybe I'm just one of those wacko fanboys who sees him as a god of sorts. Well, for that I am unapologetic.

Do you think mike still sounds good? I have no clue whether he was musically active away from metal church.

Gilbert wrote:

Do you think mike still sounds good? I have no clue whether he was musically active away from metal church.

He hasn't been active since he left the scene and swore off project bands, so his voice could still be in shape sans gravity. I'm not too concerned though. I'm just glad to see him stepping out from behind the curtain.

On another note, it seems that MC's Facebook is flooded with fans crying "BLESSING IN DISGUISE" or songs from the album, quoting lyrics and such. What's everyone's perspective on Human Factor? It seems to be largely ignored even though it was their high point and contained their most engaging and mature songwriting. There seemed to be more of a hard rock edge on that album with Mike dialing it down just a tad while throwing some snarl in his attitude. Also lyrically it was one of the most sociopolitical metal releases out there.

Blessing in Disguise is near great with a kick ass pair of bookends, but if you really listen through the whole record and think about it--well, it's kind of a mess. Riffs are just thrown around like Yahtzee dice with little rhyme or reason. Some instrumental breaks overstay their welcome. Sometimes it just gets odd. My enjoyment comes from the more conventional elements of the songs rather than when things get tech or proggy (Kurdt, being a huge fan of prog, most likely encouraged the band in this direction even though he wasn't playing at the time). That kind of thing worked on the debut but tends to be forgettable here.

As for Hanging in the Balance, I view that as an equal to Human Factor in terms of tightness, energy, innovation, and scale. So I guess that makes BiD at the bottom of my Mike Howe totem pole, though I still love it.

corplhicks wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

Do you think mike still sounds good? I have no clue whether he was musically active away from metal church.

He hasn't been active since he left the scene and swore off project bands, so his voice could still be in shape sans gravity. I'm not too concerned though. I'm just glad to see him stepping out from behind the curtain.

On another note, it seems that MC's Facebook is flooded with fans crying "BLESSING IN DISGUISE" or songs from the album, quoting lyrics and such. What's everyone's perspective on Human Factor? It seems to be largely ignored even though it was their high point and contained their most engaging and mature songwriting. There seemed to be more of a hard rock edge on that album with Mike dialing it down just a tad while throwing some snarl in his attitude. Also lyrically it was one of the most sociopolitical metal releases out there.

Blessing in Disguise is near great with a kick ass pair of bookends, but if you really listen through the whole record and think about it--well, it's kind of a mess. Riffs are just thrown around like Yahtzee dice with little rhyme or reason. Some instrumental breaks overstay their welcome. Sometimes it just gets odd. My enjoyment comes from the more conventional elements of the songs rather than when things get tech or proggy (Kurdt, being a huge fan of prog, most likely encouraged the band in this direction even though he wasn't playing at the time). That kind of thing worked on the debut but tends to be forgettable here.

As for Hanging in the Balance, I view that as an equal to Human Factor in terms of tightness, energy, innovation, and scale. So I guess that makes BiD at the bottom of my Mike Howe totem pole, though I still love it.

The Human Factor is my favorite Howe Metal Church album.

Witchfinder wrote:

corplhicks wrote:

Gilbert wrote:

Do you think mike still sounds good? I have no clue whether he was musically active away from metal church.

He hasn't been active since he left the scene and swore off project bands, so his voice could still be in shape sans gravity. I'm not too concerned though. I'm just glad to see him stepping out from behind the curtain.

On another note, it seems that MC's Facebook is flooded with fans crying "BLESSING IN DISGUISE" or songs from the album, quoting lyrics and such. What's everyone's perspective on Human Factor? It seems to be largely ignored even though it was their high point and contained their most engaging and mature songwriting. There seemed to be more of a hard rock edge on that album with Mike dialing it down just a tad while throwing some snarl in his attitude. Also lyrically it was one of the most sociopolitical metal releases out there.

Blessing in Disguise is near great with a kick ass pair of bookends, but if you really listen through the whole record and think about it--well, it's kind of a mess. Riffs are just thrown around like Yahtzee dice with little rhyme or reason. Some instrumental breaks overstay their welcome. Sometimes it just gets odd. My enjoyment comes from the more conventional elements of the songs rather than when things get tech or proggy (Kurdt, being a huge fan of prog, most likely encouraged the band in this direction even though he wasn't playing at the time). That kind of thing worked on the debut but tends to be forgettable here.

As for Hanging in the Balance, I view that as an equal to Human Factor in terms of tightness, energy, innovation, and scale. So I guess that makes BiD at the bottom of my Mike Howe totem pole, though I still love it.

The Human Factor is my favorite Howe Metal Church album.  

Also forgot to say that In Mourning is one of the greatest anti-PMRC songs ever written.

I really like The Human Factor, but I prefer Blessing in Disguise. There's a few tracks in the latter half of Human Factor that don't do as much for me.

The Human Factor is easily the best Howe fronted Metal Church album. After that I'd take Hanging In The Balance although Blessing is no slouch.

Hanging is my fave by MC and The Human Factor is just below that.

My favorite Howe-era is Blessing...but I love the other 2 as well.

Blessing is the only one I owned at the time, it's a good record and I like the instrumental arrangements on that album.

Never understood why people like Hanging, but there is a lot of great stuff on BiD.

I like everything they did with Mike Howe, but Hanging in the Balance is my least favorite.

Some cool news from the Howe himself:

"I'm back in the studio with Kurdt Vanderhoof for the next 3 days,recording more new Metal Church tracks! I can't wait for you all to hear this stuff when it's done! - MIKE HOWE"

Bravo. 2015 is shaping up well after all!

Bring it on! I hope this reunion w/Howe will last until the band truly "retires" for the last time. He is one of my favorite singers.

I'm sure it will be killer.

I'm excited to hear what he brings to the band. I was lucky enough to see them on the Generation Nothing tour and it just blew me away. Really looking forward to seeing them again with Howe taking center stage.

Sneaky peek of the new MC... "Badlands 2015"