Just lacking that metal edge
Twenty-two years of Metal Church, has it really been that long? In my youth, Metal Church was always the band that was talked about, but no one actually owned any of their records. They had a well-known name, but the band always seemed to be on the fringe of the metal mainstream, never really breaking through into the bigger leagues so to speak. One can't deny their heavy metal legacy. Any band that has survived over twenty years in the music industry must be doing something right. But their new album, 'A light in the dark,' is symptomatic of their career as a whole...it's quite good but it's far from mind blowing.
'A light in the dark' is Metal Church's 9th release, and 2nd with vocalist Ronny Munroe. Ronny is quite a find, he's got a powerful set of pipes and a good range, but I would argue he is too high in the mix. He dominates the music a little like Zak Stevens did on Savatage's 'Edge of Thorns' album. Even with some quality metal riffing by guitarists Kurdt Vanderhoof and Jay Reynolds, Ronny sends them to the background, and as a consequence the music loses a valuable potency. Having said that, the guitars are generally on the quiet side. Couple this with them not being fully distorted and you're left with an old school, slightly flat sounding album. A prime example of this is the song 'Beyond all Reason,' which launches in a great double bass chugging rhythm. This sort of idea should be pummelling your rib cage, thumping your brain and knocking you on your arse. Instead, it politely rumbles almost asking permission if it could play a something slightly heavier.
The deficiencies of the production are a shame as there are some cracking ditties on this disc. 'Mirror of lies' is a good old heavy metal tune; fast and full of duelling axe work. The title track is infectious, and 'Disappear' is well put together. The ten-minute epic 'Temples of the Sea' holds the whole album together. As epics go, it's not too bad, but it marks the beginning of the end as far as good ideas are concerned. 'Pill for the Kill' is your average throw away metal that was rife in the 80s, and in 2006 it's even more worthless. It's uninspired and lacks that spark of a catchy riff or melody that was prevalent in the first half of the album.
And so the CD chugs to a finale with 'Blinded by Life'. Not a bad tune but deep down I found myself aching to put something more 'immediate' on, an album that embraces the rebellion that heavy metal is all about. I love old school metal, I grew up on it, and one listen to 'A light in the dark' suggests why the band has never made it into the big time. With an edgier and slightly heavier production, this album could have been much better. The good ideas would have driven home, whereas the weaker tracks wouldn't have sounded so languid and laborious. 'A light in the dark' is a good album but misses the mark by some way. It's metal, but it's not 'Heavy' metal. It's more like the Toffee Penny in a box of Quality Street. It's the sweet you reach for when all the caramel cups, orange creams and fudge have gone. Metal Church is a solid and likeable metal band, but I'd rather be listening to Iron Maiden. (Hey! I managed to go through the whole review without making a feeble pun on Churches and Religion. A media first I think)