The 1986 Listening Post - Metal Church - The Dark

Metal Church - The Dark

#422/2101

October 6 1986

Metal Church

The Dark

Genre: Scary Satan Metal

2 out of 5

Highlights:

Watch the Children Pray

Oh boy, I wanted this to be great. That first record was a blast. This one has it’s moments. Especially that monster track “Watch the Children Pray”, which hews closer to early Sabbath and Did than it does to where Metal ala Metallica and Megadeth are at this point in time. 

I think everyone wants that, though. 

Ultimately, it’s a real letdown. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-dark/298087735

The 1984 Listening Post - Metal Church

Metal Church - Metal Church

#173

July 1984

Metal Church

Metal Church

4.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Beyond the Black

Metal Church

Battalions

Before Seattle was the birthplace of grunge rock, out sprawled this metal quintet to melt our brains. Almost as a corollary to the coming nu-metal of Metallica and Slayer, but in absolute concert with them, Metal Church owes much to Priest and Sabbath and all that came before but it’s not as ridiculous as Venom or Witchfinder General or Warlock or any of those. There’s also no glam in this metal. They are definitely trying to bring forth some sort of demon. There is no metal, only Zuul. And he resides in the metal church. 

This album is relentless in its attack and in it’s energy. It doesn’t let up, even for a momentary metal ballad. There’s no balladeering in this church. 

This album is fire. Their cover of “Highway Star” is the weakest part of the record. Fortunately they plop it on the end and when it comes on you can just turn the record over and go back to the shredding. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/metal-church/309589774