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Rating: The 1986 was the year of Thrash Metal. Masterpieces that would make history in this genre were simultaneously released in the United States. The Metallica released their masterpiece "Master of Puppets", the Slayer "Reign in Blood". Dave Mustaine's Megadeth responded to "cousins" Metallica with "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?". England was no less. The Iron Maiden, who were already enjoying great fame, released "Somewhere in Time", while the Motorhead and Venom were raging. The only sore point in the metal world were the Judas Priest, who released a disappointing album that year.
But 1986 was also the year of the second album of the "Metal Church", a band that had made a name for themselves with the first excellent self-titled album, dated 1984. Metal Church were and still are a somewhat overlooked band in the metal scene. Perhaps known because they supported Metallica for a few years or because guitarist John Marshall (who joined in 1989) was Metallica's support guitarist and also played live when James Hetfield got injured. Certainly, a group known only to true enthusiasts.
The cover, in my opinion beautiful and very fitting, makes us imagine a hard but especially dark album. And so it is!
"Ton of Bricks", which will become one of the most replayed songs live as an opener, opens the record with a relentless rhythm and a pounding drum (almost always with double bass drum) always playing a leading role throughout the album (on drums Kirk Arrington). Kurdt Vanderhoof, composer of almost all the lyrics for Metal Church, as well as the group's founder, delights us with sharp riffs and hyper-fast solos in pure thrash style that will surely delight a true Metal lover, and dark lyrics concerning death.
"Star the Fire" is, in my opinion, one of the best tracks on the album. A refrain that gets you involved and makes you want to sing along, it will surely be another live highlight. Also energetic and direct, almost in the Judas Priest style. The title track imposes a wild head-banging. Noteworthy is also the semi-ballad "Watch the children pray" with a great vocal performance by David Wayne. Perhaps here one can see a certain power metal influence. Indeed, in David Wayne's singing style, there is an influence of Rob Halford (Judas Priest), whom he himself will declare as his "inspirer".
David Wayne recorded three studio albums and a live with Metal Church before leaving us due to a car accident (2005). Some have indicated Metal Church as forerunners of power metal, but in my opinion, their career has little to do with power and much with thrash.
Although I consider the album a good album, my rating could have been higher (a four-star), but since absolute masterpieces already mentioned were released that year, the comparison would be too daring, and so I believe this is the fairest rating.
- Ton of Bricks - 3:00
- Start the Fire - 3:50
- Method To Your Madness - 4:52
- Watch The Children Pray - 5:57
- Over My Dead Body - 03:36
- The Dark - 4:11
- Psycho - 3:32
- Line Of Death - 4:42
- Burial At Sea - 4:58
- Western Alliance - 3:18
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Ton of Bricks (03:04)
Rip it up, kick it out.
Blood begins to flow.
Taking chances,
The only way I know.
Sacrificed everything.
I'm the grinding stone.
Ripping flesh, drawing blood.
I'de love to eat your bones.
My world will not cave in.
I will dare so I will win.
Hear the timebombs begin to tick.
I'll hit you like a ton of bricks.
Hammer or anvil,
You must pay the price.
Thunder, lightning,
Yes, it does strike twice.
Vice grips hold me,
Keep me in control.
And if you think I'm kidding you,
You will feel the fatal blow.
My world will not cave in.
I will dare so I will win.
Hear the timebombs begin to tick.
I'll hit you like a ton of bricks, ton of bricks.
Oh yeah, you!
I know that it's true
Do you have a clue
To what I'm gonna do?
I'm gonna
Rip it up, kick it out
Blood begins to flow
Taking chances
The only way I know
Sacrificed everything
I'm the grinding stone
Ripping flesh and drawing blood
I;de love to eat your bones
My world will not cave in
I will dare so I will win
Hear the timebombs begin to tick
I'll hit you like a ton of bricks
Ton of bricks, ton of bricks
Oh yeah, you!
I know that it's true
Do you have a clue
To what I'm gonna do?
I'm gonna stop.
02 Start the Fire (03:45)
Break down the walls of forever.
Pull down hard on the lever.
Let them know that you can turn the key.
Though they try to hold us down.
Turn it up, that chainsaw sound.
I just love to see my parents flee.
So you see that they're all going nowhere.
Everybody's staring into space.
Start the fire.
Bring down the hammer.
Start start the fire.
Burning on forever.
Now I see the storm clouds a coming.
Can you feel the juice, it's a hummin'.
Feed the power cables into me.
Like a ship that's built for destruction.
I'm a metal man of construction.
And I'll fire my cannons, one by one.
So you see that they're all going nowhere.
Everybody's staring into space.
Start the fire.
Bring down the hammer.
Start start the fire.
Burning on forever.
So you see that they're all going nowhere.
Everybody's staring into space.
Start the fire.
Bring down the hammer.
Start start the fire.
Burning on forever.
06 The Dark (04:12)
It's way past midnight
There's a howling wind
Oh God what can it be?
Something out there evil
And it's coming straight for me
The house is dark and very cold
I know there's no one here
Why am I scared to death
Just petrified with fear
'Cause I'm shakin' and I'm thinkin'
Of something evil lurking
And waiting for me in the house
'Cause I'm shakin' and I'm thinkin'
Of something evil lurking
And waiting for me in the dark
The dark
When I opened up the door
And snapped on the switch
The room was filled with light
Then something black and very fast
Fled upon my sight
What I feared most as a child
Was the coming of the night
Now my horrors have become quite real
My nightmares breathe new life
'Cause I'm shakin' and I'm thinkin'
Of something evil lurking
And waiting for me in the house
Yes, I'm shakin' and I'm thinkin'
Of something evil lurking
And waiting for me in the dark
Dark!
What is it in the house
That the darkness brings to life?
I sense their eyes upon me
As I grab a butcher knife
Whatever it is that waits for me
It hides beneath my bed
If I try to sleep tonight
By morning I'll be dead!
'Cause I'm shakin' and I'm thinkin'
Of something evil lurking
And waiting for me in the house
Yes, I'm shakin' and I'm thinkin'
Of something evil lurking
And waiting for me in the dark
07 Psycho (03:34)
Stick your fingers in the eyes of night
Rip open the Belly of Death
Now you'll see
What is real
Tear down the image of youth all around
Steal the dreams from their minds
And you'll be
All their lies
Can it be what you're taught to believe
It's nothing more than your mind can conceive
He's out there waiting, he's waiting for you
The psycho is ready to kill
Well you're a mean one, a bloody bastard son
You don't care what they say or what they do
It matters not to you
You've been warned not to set foot after dark
You think it's all just for fun
But there's no setting sun
Can it be what you're taught to believe
It's nothing more than your mind can conceive
He's out there waiting, he's waiting for you
The psycho is ready to kill
One way all the time
You can't seem to get it right
You never see the tunnel
Or the light
Spend a million just to say
You're hip
You got to find a way
To get the thrill of your life
Trip the lights
Trip the light fantastic
Party and you'll die
Someday you will die
3 am and you feel that twitch again
For a walk in the park
It's getting late
Slip through the gate
The psycho jumps out from behind
Sticks his knife in your throat
And you die
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