METAL CHURCH

XI Record Release Party
March 25, 2016
Jewel Nightclub
Manchester, NH

It had been awhile since I have made the drive up to New Hampshire to see a show at the Jewel Nightclub. This was a special night, Metal Church was celebrating the release of their newest album “XI”. You can read our review of the album here at Northeast Rock Review here.

The night started with a local metal band, which for the life of me, I can not remember the name of, but they weren’t that bad, and helped work the crowd up for the band that is touring with Metal Church, Hatchet.

Hatchet is a young thrash band out of San Francisco and the influences of Slayer, Metallica and Exodus spread over their music like the fog rolling into San Francisco Bay. A perfect band to have open for the mighty Metal Church. These four boys, Julz Ramos, singer and guitar, Clayton Cagle, guitar, Ben Smith, drums and Devin Reiche on bass, have a great stage presence and the sound made me think I was 16 again listening to Metallica and Slayer for the first time. I believe the crowd was feeling the same thing as they roared their approval.

HATCHET:

It had been just over 10 years since I had seen Metal Church perform live. The last time was when they came to Hartford, Connecticut as part of the “American Metal Blast” tour. What a night that was, they blew everyone off the stage even the headliners, W.A.S.P., but could do they do it again?

About fifteen minutes after Hatchet left the stage, Metal Church started taking the stage, Steve Unger, bassist came to the stage to the adulation of the crowd, followed by Chris Caffrey (yes that Chris Caffery of Savatage and Trans Siberian Orchestra fame) and the volume rose. The attention was drawn to them, Kurdt Vanderhoof, guitarist, and drummer Jeff Plate took their places on the stage. Then the came the man of the evening, Metal Church front man, Mike Howe. He came out to the front of the stage, taking the place he had vacated back in the mid 90’s.

The set started off with the songs “Fake Healer” off of Blessing in Disguise, “In Mourning” off of The Human Factor and “Start The Fire” from The Dark. Then came the new music from the new album XI, with “Reset” and then coming back with “Gods of Second Chance” from Hanging in the Balance.

The night was a great mix of old and new Metal Church with Chris Caffrey was filling in for Rick Van Zandt, who was recovering from a recent health issue. We wish Rick a fast recovery. Chris did a fantastic job and did not miss a note, and in my opinion was not stealing the spotlight from the band.

Mike was all over the stage high-fiving and shaking hands along the railing. His voice right on target on all the songs from Metal Church’s past he was singing.

Kurdt Vanderhoof haunted the left side of the stage all evening, his playing shining as bright as the white guitar he played all evening. Surely an intimidating figure focused deeply on the music. Driving it home from behind them all and barely seen thru the monstrous drum set was Jeff Plate, energy was dripping off him as he powered his thru the night.

“No Tomorrow”, and the fan favorite “Watch The Children” were next on the bill, followed by “No Friend of Mine” and “Killing Your Time” before closing their set out with “Beyond the Black”.

The crowd roared as the lights went down and the band walked off the stage and then the chants started, “Metal Church! Metal Church! Metal Church!” Then the band was back on stage to grace us with two more songs, “Badlands” and “Human Factor”.

Then the night ended. Sort of.

That was not all, it was the CD release party and there were people all over the Jewel with CDs and 8×10’s to be signed. Metal Church was mingling with the crowd, listening to them, laughing with them and posing for pics. Down to earth guys hanging out with the fans, and everyone had a great and memorable time.

METAL CHURCH: