METAL CHURCH: Damned If You Do (HEAVY METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

With the return of Mike Howe for the album "XI", Metal Church achieved a miracle that nobody saw coming. The American band was able to get back on the road in an almost unexpected way by signing one of their best albums, thus offering itself a future and a new youth. Two years later, with this success and concerts confirming this shape, Kurt Vanderhoof and his friends are back with "Damned If You Do".

This twelfth album was expected to be a major breakthrough, putting aside the years of misery. In ten tracks, Metal Church won't disappoint us, offering the perfect balance between heavy metal and thrash metal with some powerful thrusts that an Overkill wouldn't deny. On vocals, Mike Howe is in great shape and screams with great conviction on a very high-pitched controlled tone. His mates are not to be outdone, the duo Vanderhoo/Van Zandt wreaks havoc on every riff and solo and the rhythm section is hammering in beauty.

The album contains its share of gems worthy of the 80's and cut out to hit the live circuit in a purely thrash style. The band throw some missiles with 'Damned If You Do', 'By The Numbers', 'Guillotine', 'Out Of Balance' and 'The War Electric'. 'Rot Away' is a short and nervous track with a power that is rare for Metal Church. On the other hand, the heavy side comes out with a 'Revolution Underway' which evokes an Accept on amphetamines and has a perfect chorus. In the same spirit, 'The Black Things' and 'Into The Fold' are two beautiful successes with an excellent compromise between power and melody.

"Damned If You Do" is an achievement on all levels of heavy thrash metal. Metal Church displays the health of a young band with a cheeky class and confirms an impressive revival of shape that we hope will finally last. - Official website

METAL CHURCH

DAMNED IF YOU DO

NUCLEAR BLAST

HEAVY METAL