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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Metal Church - Damned If You Do-(KICP-1950/1) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Jan-21-2019 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2018 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........cd1: 10 cd2: 11 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.metalchurchofficial.co ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Metal Church Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Damned If You Do-(KICP-1950/1)Label : King ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Metal Church is one of the most revered and ║ │
│║ classic heavy metal acts of the 1980Æs, when ║ │
│║ they put out arguably some of the best ║ │
│║ traditional metal albums to date, the homonym ║ │
│║ juggernaut in 1984 and the orgasmic follow-up ║ │
│║ æThe DarkÆ (1986), all under the undeniably ║ │
│║ marvelous vocals of David Wayne (R.I.P.). ║ │
│║ Closing service for a while, the preachers came ║ │
│║ back in 2012 to release the so-so æGeneration ║ │
│║ NothingÆ (2013), but it is with Father Mike Howe ║ │
│║ back on the helm for the second time since he ║ │
│║ left in the middle of the 1990Æs that they ║ │
│║ celebrate their mass number 12, æDamned If You ║ │
│║ DoÆ. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The quasi-thrash instrumental, the harsher vocal ║ │
│║ lines and the ability to write sexy riffs were ║ │
│║ always part of the bandÆs style of play, which ║ │
│║ was somewhat toned down in their 21st century ║ │
│║ comeback. With æXIÆ (2016), Kurdt Vanderhoof ║ │
│║ managed to rescue that aura and provide us with ║ │
│║ a good taste of the good old Metal Church and ║ │
│║ further solidifies this in the new album by ║ │
│║ adding more mature songwriting and slicker ║ │
│║ playing. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ HoweÆs pipes are as ridiculous as ever and he ║ │
│║ proves it right from the start with the title ║ │
│║ track. A great beginning to the record, it flows ║ │
│║ smoothly with good energy û especially in the ║ │
│║ main riff and the chorus û and virtuous ║ │
│║ instrumental, adding a cool spice to what we are ║ │
│║ used to see with the California natives. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Follow-ups ôThe Black Thingsö and ôBy the ║ │
│║ Numbersö continue with the solid rhythm, this ║ │
│║ time around with a somewhat evil aura that is ║ │
│║ uncommon for the band. The constant riffing by ║ │
│║ Vanderhoof and Rick van Zandt and HoweÆs ║ │
│║ aggressive vocals are what make these special, ║ │
│║ even when Stet HowlandÆs drums feel muffled at ║ │
│║ times and the bass lines by Steve Unger are ║ │
│║ almost inexistent, courtesy of bad production ║ │
│║ work. The riff machine never stops, though, and ║ │
│║ both tracks are masterfully constructed to be ║ │
│║ blood-pumping, full of attitude anthems. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Even the weaker songs here have a little bit of ║ │
│║ charm, these being the mid-tempo ôRevolution ║ │
│║ Underwayö and the Accept-esque ôMonkey Fingerö. ║ │
│║ While the first serves as the most ôepicö track ║ │
│║ here by displaying a sense of urgency, almost ║ │
│║ melodic and melancholic, the second reminds us ║ │
│║ of the hard/heavy acts of the 1980Æs by being ║ │
│║ more cadenced and with little flair or prolific ║ │
│║ passages. These are fine, donÆt get me wrong, ║ │
│║ but theyÆre just not on par with the rest of the ║ │
│║ tunes in the album. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The smooth flow and the thrashy vibe continue in ║ │
│║ the mid portion with energetic moments like ║ │
│║ ôGuillotineö and ôRot Awayö. Galloping riffs are ║ │
│║ the weapon of choice for the former, which then ║ │
│║ changes pace in the second verse slowly building ║ │
│║ again, while the latter is just some straight ║ │
│║ up, no frills heavy metal tune that strikes like ║ │
│║ a punch in the liver; two selected moments that ║ │
│║ are likely to make you grab that leather jacket ║ │
│║ you keep stored in the closet in case some kick ║ │
│║ ass music comes around and you want to pump it ║ │
│║ up to the max volume to blow your stupid ║ │
│║ neighborÆs ears off. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôInto the Foldö is also a winner and, similarly ║ │
│║ to ôThe Black Thingsö, shows a darker side of ║ │
│║ Metal Church. ItÆs one of the most powerful and ║ │
│║ savage tracks in the album when it doesnÆt ║ │
│║ suffer from muffled sound, a problem which ║ │
│║ plagues the entire effort. ôThe War Electricö, a ║ │
│║ good but ultimately forgettable track, closes ║ │
│║ the album. It would fare better if not for the ║ │
│║ song that it follows, which is one of the best ║ │
│║ Metal Church tracks, period. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôOut of Balanceö destroys, obliterates and ║ │
│║ completely puts to shame every other song ║ │
│║ released by Metal Church since, I donÆt know, ║ │
│║ æHanging in the BalanceÆ (1993). It has so much ║ │
│║ firepower, itÆs so badass that even the shitty ║ │
│║ production is not enough to diminish its ║ │
│║ superiority. ItÆs a steamroller with ace guitar ║ │
│║ work and one of the best moments of HoweÆs ║ │
│║ legacy since his return. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The production and mixing could be better, as ║ │
│║ the sound often times is muffled and only HoweÆs ║ │
│║ vocals stand out, leaving all instruments in the ║ │
│║ background, consequently hurting the final ║ │
│║ product. The overall sound is so good, though, ║ │
│║ that the bad production itself is put in the ║ │
│║ background, so this is nothing to be fret about. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ æDamned If You DoÆ has an old-school vibe that ║ │
│║ reminds us of the same Metal Church we heard in ║ │
│║ the early 90Æs and even some glimpses of the ║ │
│║ 80Æs. It stands somewhere between classic albums ║ │
│║ like æHanging in the BalanceÆ and æBlessing in ║ │
│║ DisguiseÆ (1989) and their modern works like ║ │
│║ æXIÆ and æA Light in the DarkÆ (2006). With ║ │
│║ Vanderhoof and Howe at their finest and the ║ │
│║ other members equally doing a great job, itÆs ║ │
│║ clear that this church will prosper with ║ │
│║ competent preaching for a long time; o come, all ║ │
│║ ye faithful, as it is Sunday morning in the ║ │
│║ metal world. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Review written by Bruno Medeiros for ║ │
│║ www.metalwani.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Mike Howe - Vocals ║ │
│║ Rick van Zandt - Guitars ║ │
│║ Steve Unger - Bass ║ │
│║ Kurdt Vanderhoof - Guitars ║ │
│║ Stet Howland - Drums ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ - CD1 [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Damned If You Do [04:36] │
│ 02 - The Black Things [05:16] │
│ 03 - By The Numbers [04:35] │
│ 04 - Revolution Underway [05:26] │
│ 05 - Guillotine [04:47] │
│ 06 - Rot Away [03:27] │
│ 07 - Into The Fold [04:20] │
│ 08 - Monkey Finger [04:15] │
│ 09 - Out Of Balance [04:26] │
│ 10 - The War Electric [04:10] │
│ - [ ] │
│ - CD2 [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Beyond The Black (Live 2016) [06:54] │
│ 02 - Date With Poverty (Live 2016) [05:38] │
│ 03 - Gods Of A Second Chance (Live 2016) [05:47] │
│ 04 - In Mourning (Live 2016) [06:14] │
│ 05 - Watch The Children Pray (Live 2016) [05:49] │
│ 06 - Start The Fire (Live 2016) [03:55] │
│ 07 - No Friend Of Me (Live 2016) [04:39] │
│ 08 - Badlands (Live 2016) [07:45] │
│ 09 - Human Factor (Live 2016) [05:38] │
│ 10 - Fake Healer (Studio Version) [05:56] │
│ 11 - Badlands (2015 Studio Version) [07:22] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [110:5] min │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘