Seattle's Metal Church have battled music industry trends and a revolving-door lineup (including four lead singers) over the course of a long and uneven career. My introduction to the band was their excellent 1991 album The Human Factor.
This album featured L.A.-based howler Mike Howe, making his second appearance at the mic after the band's excellent Blessing in Disguise.. (He's the one with no shirt.) Although this incarnation of the band did not feature founder and guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, he co-wrote the songs with Howe. Axe duties were ably handled by Craig Wells and John Marshall. Yes, the same John Marshall who served as James Hetfield's guitar tech and served a temporary onstage guitarist when the Metallica singer was injured in a freak pyro accident in 1992.
The songs are solid groove metal with an angry social conscience. "Blue collar metal" would be an apt description for these songs about credit card debt, (Date With Poverty) flag burning (The Final Word) and even child abuse (In Harm's Way.) These are thought-provoking songs, filled with complex textures and the odd surprise, like Duke Erickson's funk-bass solo in the middle of "Date."
Oh and by the way Metal Church fans, the band is still around! They released the excellent 2008 album This Present Wasteland, and arranged for the re-release of their back catalogue, including The Human Factor. Check out the band's official site, Metal Church Music.
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