Metal Church
The Human Factor

THE REVIEW

This album will never make it to the classic lists of must-have metal albums at any cost, but it undoubtedly positions itself as one of the most honest and compelling releases of the early eighties in the American Thrash metal scene. Released precisely in 1991, when heavy music was about to be swept away by the grunge cyclone and Thrash metal, in particular, had to contend with the melodic trend set by Metallica's "Black Album".

Well, Metal Church emerged with one of their angriest records, much more thrash-oriented with elements of hardcore in the sound and politicized lyrics. A small change within the band had already occurred with the departure of the original and lamented David Wayne (who passed away in 2005, after a brief reunion of the original Church) already from the predecessor "Blessing in Disguise" (1989) replaced by the less melodic and more incisive Mike Howe and the departure of guitarist and band founder Kurdt Vanderhoof, who would nevertheless continue to be an additional member of the band as co-author of almost all the songs on this album.

The departure from classic American power metal in favor of more aggressive sounds is evident from the first track "The Human Factor", opened by a classic thrash riff by guitarists John Marshall (known for frequently substituting Metallica's guitarist, a young and reckless James Hetfield, while he was healing from broken or burned upper limbs due to unfortunate on-stage accidents) and Craig Wells.

The album alternates genuine mid-tempos, capable of mixing classic metal riffs with the heaviness of thrash metal like "Date With Poverty", "Final Word", to mid-tempos for pure headbanging like "Betrayed", supported by classic Bay-area style circular and raw riffs.

The style changes in at least three speed tracks like "In Due Time", "Flee From Reality", and "The Fight Song", which are not so far from the metallic hardcore of groups like Suicidal Tendencies or early Corrosion Of Conformity. Finally, a mention for the anti-militarist ballad "In Harm's Way", somewhat the "One" of Metal Church and for "Agent Green", which with its alternating acoustic and melodic parts with faster and more aggressive resumptions, will serve as an example for the sound that Metal Church would embark on in the subsequent, more melodic yet equally stunning "Hanging in the Balance" (1993, with one of the ugliest covers I have ever seen).

Metal Church continues to release dignified albums even today, but far from the magic of those years. Finally, allow me to mention two more albums released in that distant 1991 that I always associate with this "The Human Factor" due to their characteristics, namely "SYMBOL OF SALVATION" by ARMORED SAINT and "WELCOME TO THE BALL" by VICIOUS RUMORS. Part of how to harden one's sound without losing its essence.