Metal Church: The Dark (1986)

Metal Church never really got the attention they deserved.  They remain one of the more underrated bands in American metal.  Despite being on the same label as Metallica and doing big tours with the thrash titans, they never really seemed to catch on in the same way.  Lineup changes played a big part in that, losing the lead singer just as the band is breaking through is usually catastrophic.  As did the fact that they were a little too melodic for the thrash metal crowd and too thrashy for the traditional metal crowd, so they just never really seemed to fit in anywhere.  Geographical isolation also likely played a part.  They were from Washington, which did spawn groups like Sanctuary and Queensryche, but was still a few years from being a major music scene.

The Dark did reasonably well for the band and it is not hard to see why.  It is a truly dynamic album with equal parts raw aggression and scintillating melody.  Songs like "Ton of Bricks" and "Start the Fire" hit hard with neck-snapping riffs.  On the other hand, "Watch the Children Play" is a spine-chilling track with an absolutely perfect guitar solo.

It is clear from listening to the album that the band as then-constructed had limitless talent.  The guitar work of Kurdt Vanderhoof and Craig Wells was peerless, particularly with regard to the guitar solos.  David Wayne was one of the best vocalists the band ever had, and they have had a number of great singers.  His ability to meld outstanding vocal range with Udo Dirkschneider-style rasp is truly amazing.  And the rhythm section does some terrific work as well. 

This is one of the more famous albums by Metal Church and it lives up to its reputation.  It is a fantastic album that exists somewhere in the area between thrash metal and traditional heavy metal.  Understanding that it does not fit in neatly with any given subgenre is important to grasping what makes it so damn good.