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                       Metal Church - The Dark
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Artist...............: Metal Church
Album................: The Dark
Genre................: Heavy Metal
Source...............: CD
Year.................: 1986
Ripper...............: Exact Audio Copy (Secure mode) /  Level 8 & TSSTcorp CDDVD SE-S204N
Codec................: (FLAC)
Version..............: FLAC 1.2.1 20070917
Quality..............: Lossless, (avg. compression: 105 %)
Channels.............: Stereo / 44100 HZ / 16 Bit
Tags.................: VorbisComment
Information..........: A must in any serious metal head's collection

Ripped by............: Warlordhunter on 8/22/2008
Posted by............: Warlordhunter on 8/25/2008
News Server..........: None
News Group(s)........: None

Included.............: NFO, M3U, LOG, CUE
Covers...............: Front Back 

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                       Tracklisting
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   1. (00:03:04) Metal Church - Ton Of Bricks
   2. (00:03:46) Metal Church - Start The Fire
   3. (00:04:57) Metal Church - Method To Your Madness
   4. (00:05:57) Metal Church - Watch The Children Pray
   5. (00:03:34) Metal Church - Over My Dead Body
   6. (00:04:12) Metal Church - The Dark
   7. (00:03:35) Metal Church - Psycho
   8. (00:04:44) Metal Church - Line Of Death
   9. (00:05:00) Metal Church - Burial At Sea
  10. (00:03:21) Metal Church - Western Alliance

Playing Time.........: 00:52:20
Total Size...........: 268.13 MB

NFO generated on.....: 8/25/2008 12:24:10 AM


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The Dark is the second full length album released by Metal Church. It was 
also the last album in which the line-up of 
Wayne/Vanderhoof/Arrington/Wells/Erickson performed, until 1999's 
Masterpeace album. This album talks of dark themes, such as assassination, 
death, struggle, and rituals. One song from this album, Watch The Children 
Pray, turned into the band's first video. This album is one of their most 
critically and commercially successful albums to date.


Guitars: Kurdt Vanderhoof, Craig Wells
Drums: Kirk Arrington
Bass: Duke Erickson
Vocals: David Wayne

Born out of the West Coast Metal scene of the 80's, Metal Church quickly 
became one of the standout talents of the genre. After signing a deal with 
Elektra records, they released two critically acclaimed albums. Their self-titled 
release "Metal Church" postured the band as one of the pioneers of the 
thrash/metal scene. The All Music Guide had this to say about the debut: 
"The band's incredibly tight musicianship is a highlight all on it's own. This 
album remains an overlooked classic of straight-ahead American-bred heavy 
metal." With the heavy metal scene starting to rise in the U.S., Metal Church 
set out on a very successful tour with label mates Metallica. 
Next came "The Dark," the fury of its opening track, "Ton of Bricks" was 
championed as one of the premier metal releases of the 80's. The Dark also 
led to one of a few lineup changes with the departure of vocalist David 
Wayne. However, more success was yet to come. With the addition of 
former Heretic vocalist Mike Howe, and Metallica guitar tech extraordinaire 
John Marshall, the riffing became heavier and the subject matter deeper. 
They tackled political and social issues of the day with the releases of 
"Blessing In Disguise" and "The Human Factor." At a time when heavy metal 
bands moved from the underground and became part of the hair band/pop 
fad, Metal Church stayed true to their roots. 

During the mid 90's, the members of Metal Church headed in their own 
directions. Kurdt Vanderhoof worked on his namesake project, Vanderhoof, 
while Kirk Arrington was playing on various sessions including a recording with 
Sir Mix-A-Lot. 1999 led to a well-received reunion of the original Metal Church 
lineup with the release of "Masterpeace". The band went back to their classic 
sound and played several festivals overseas. 

2004 saw them back with new vocalist, Ronny Munroe, whose style has been 
described as "Rob Halford meets Dio", as well as Jay Reynolds (Malice) on 
guitar and Steve Unger on bass. With a new record "The Weight of the 
World" and some new blood, heavy metal legends Metal Church picked up 
where their aptly titled last release "Masterpeace" left off. 

In 2006, twenty years after their cult album "The Dark", Metal Church are 
ready to present their brand new release, "A Light In The Dark", forging a 
creative arch that skillfully links the band's past with the present. Ten new 
tracks, (plus a new version of the classic "Watch The Children Pray", a tribute 
to original frontman David Wayne), document the development of a band 
that, despite all innovation, has never denied it's typical trademarks. The 
current lineup consists of Kurdt Vanderhoof, Ronny Munroe, Jay Reynolds, 
Steve Unger and new addition Jeff Plate on drums. "Jeff is an incredibly 
dynamic and professional drummer," Vanderhoof points out. "He has 
propelled us to a musical level that surprised even ourselves." Plate has 
replaced Kirk Arrington, who left the group for health reasons, and proves a 
real stroke of luck on "A Light In The Dark".

Get ready to join the congregation!

1980- Kurdt Vanderhoof starts a band that he names "Metal Church" (named 
after the alias given to his apartment where he and his friends worshipped at 
the altar of heavy metal) in San Francisco. Lars Ulrich is considered as Metal 
Church's drummer, but he ends up moving to L.A. instead. Nothing much 
happens with the band, so Kurdt moves back to his hometown of Aberdeen, 
Washington.


1981- Kurdt forms a band in Aberdeen called "Shrapnel" with some friends 
from high school- Kirk Arrington on drums, Mike Murphy doing vocals, and 
Craig Wells handling guitar. Kirk has a friend by the name of Duke Erickson 
who plays bass, so he is brought in to complete the Shrapnel line-up. Mike 
Murphy ends up leaving Shrapnel and joining the band "Rogues Gallery", so 
Craig brings in his friend David Wayne to take over lead singing duties. 
Shrapnel plays mostly metal cover tunes around their hometown, doing 
pretty much any gig they can get their hands on... school dances, local bars, 
with the occasional wedding thrown in. 


1983- Shrapnel re-names themselves using Kurdt's San Francisco apartment 
nickname again, and thus the "real" Metal Church is born. 


1984- They start writing original material, and Metal Church gives their first 
concert on May 4th at the D&R Theater in Aberdeen, with opening acts 
Rogues Gallery & The Melvins. Metal Church puts out a self-titled debut album 
on the independent label Ground Zero.


1985- The album sells well, Metal Church is picked up by Elecktra Records, 
and goes on their first tour. 


1986- Metal Church releases "The Dark" and tours with the guy who was 
originally considered to be their drummer, Lars Ulrich, and his band Metallica. 


1987- Kurdt steps down from recording and touring with Metal Church, but 
stays on as the band's songwriter. He is replaced by John Marshall on guitar.


1989- Mike Howe is named Metal Church's new lead singer while David starts 
his solo band "Reverend". Metal Church releases "Blessing in Disguise" and 
tours. 


1991- Metal Church releases "The Human Factor" and tours, Kurdt forms the 
band "Hall Aflame" and puts out an album titled "Guaranteed Forever" on 
I.R.S. Records. Hall Aflame replaces The Black Crowes as ZZ Top's opening 
act. 


1993- Metal Church releases "Hanging in the Balance" and tours to support it, 
but the musical climate in America changes... suddenly metal isn't cool 
anymore... and Metal Church disbands, with each of the band members going 
their seperate ways. 


1997- Kurdt and Kirk join forces to build a studio they dub "The English 
Channel". The band "VANDERHOOF" is formed, they release a self-titled CD, 
followed by a European tour with Savatage. 


1998- The founding members of Metal Church hook up to put together the 
official "Live" album using some recently discovered tapes from Metal Church's 
heyday in the 80's. In the process, the band members get re-acquainted and 
decide to make a new studio album. During the early stages of putting the 
material together, Craig Wells backs out and John Marshall comes back on 
board. 


1999- Metal Church releases "Masterpeace" and tours Europe for a couple 
months. Duke is unable to tour due to his family, and Kirk is also detained and 
unable to tour. In order to fulfill touring obligations, VANDERHOOF drummer 
Jeff Wade and bassist Brian Lake are brought into Metal Church. 


2002- Kurdt finishes the new VANDERHOOF album, "A Blur In Time", and he 
begins the writing process for a new Metal Church release. 

2004- Metal Church goes back into the studio with three new band members: 
vocalist Ronny Munroe, ex-Malice guitar player Jay Reynolds and bassist 
Steve Unger, who prove to be an excellent addition to the "1-2 punch" 
delivered by Kurdt and Kirk. They emerge with a back-to-their-roots 
thundering new album entitled "The Weight Of The World", and proceed to 
tear it up live in America and Europe.

2006- Metal Church records their brand new release, "A Light In The Dark", 
forging a creative arch that skillfully links the band's past with the present. 
The current lineup consists of Kurdt Vanderhoof, Ronny Munroe, Jay 
Reynolds, Steve Unger and new addition Jeff Plate on drums. Jeff has 
replaced Kirk Arrington, who left Metal Church for health reasons, and proves 
a real stroke of luck on "A Light In The Dark".
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