Metal Church - This Present Wasteland

Metal Church’s place in the metal world has always been one of great debate. On the one hand, the band that was formed in 1981 is considered one of the forefathers of Thrash Metal, and on the other hand the band’s large melodic elements lead many critics to claim that they are too melodic to be considered thrash, clubbing them in the power metal category. Whatever be the case, Metal Church will always be known as one of the most respectable metal acts of all time. 2008 saw the release of the band’s ninth studio album, This Present Wasteland.

The band has been through more line-up changes than one can remember, and in fact on the album the only original member is guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof. The other members have been only associated with the band, only since the new millennium. So it is almost acceptable to consider the band a fairly fresh band.

With This Present Wasteland, the band has shown exactly what is required of a metal album – A raw and unchained approach towards performance, yet at the same time a perfectionist approach towards song writing. The album is evidence of all the hard work that has gone into making the album happen, baring which results of such high levels could not be possible.

Metal Church were always famous for being able to rock out crunchy thrashy tracks as well as lighter power ballads, that too better than most of the herd. Though on the album, the band has preferred to up the number of hard tracks. Tracks such as The Company of Sorrow and Meet Your Maker, feature the band at their unstoppable best.

Vocalist Ronny Monroe, sounds almost like the child of Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford, both of whom have had a very apparent impact on him. For instance, on Breathe Again it is hard to accept that it is someone other than Dickinson singing. Mostly vocalists would be held back for mimicking their heroes to such a level of accuracy, but Ronny has mixed the voice of these legends with enough thrash elements that he manages to escape the guillotine, though very marginally. All in all, the man can be boastful of having one heck of a voice box.

Instrumentally the band has come up with a sure shot winning formula of a largely 80’s sound with a satisfactory amount of modern infusions. The instrumental section hasn’t lost focus of their main purpose, of being central to the song without being the song in it’s entirety. The lead work has been top notch and very pleasantly hasn’t been overdone, which unfortunately has become a trend of late. Even on Mass Hysteria, the express lead work never for once seems out of place. But, The stand out point from the guitar end would be the solid riffs rather than the fancy fretwork, owing not to a lack on the path of the later, but the addictive creepiness of the former.

Metal Church has brought the golden decade of Metal back with this album. If Death Magnetic didn’t meet your expectations, this one definitely will. Thou shall not be disappointed!! More than worth the buy or download, whichever the case may be.