Metal Church

With the release of their latest CD, This Present Wasteland, heavy metal band Metal Church are proving they can still stand out in a genre that has become increasingly more crowded and diluted with average run-of-the-mill acts. This Present Wasteland is a surprising cure for the apathy that has crept into the Metal music scene. With the addition of new guitarist Rick Van Zandt the band has carefully sculpted songs that are true to their roots while remaining relevant. Heavy and chock full of harmonies and vocals that are a cross somewhere between Bruce Dickenson and Rob Halford, This Present Wasteland seriously rocks and is a testament to the band’s staying power over the last two decades.

Tracks that are personal favorites of mine are, “The Company Of Sorrow,” which starts things off with a jolt, immediately greeting the listener with a gripping metal groove that is guaranteed to get your neck snapping within seconds of hitting the play button and “Crawling To Extinction”, which is what I would call the classic metal tune. It is built around a simple but very catchy riff, layered with powerful lead vocals and some brilliant harmonies, sure to get you head banging.

Also worth notable mention is “Mass Hysteria,” a song that transported me back to the mid to late eighties and the era of of Maiden and Priest. When Metal was about good songwriting, great riffs and even better guitar solos. No Pretenses, No Bullshit just enjoyable Metal from a band that has been at this a long time.

Overall, This Present Wasteland is a good record, and Metal heads everywhere will not be disappointed in the least.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. The Company Of Sorrow
02. The Perfect Crime
03. Deeds Of A Dead Soul
04. Meet Your Maker
05. Monster
06. Crawling To Extinction
07. A War Never One
08. Mass Hysteria
09. Breathe Again
10. Congregation

Run Time: 57:21