Twenty-five years in the game have made Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof one of the elder statesmen of heavy metal. On This Present Wasteland, he plays with the dignity of an old timer, adhering closely to the classic style which established the group in the mid-‘80s. The guitar solos, the lyrics (which hint at social concerns, but remain largely ambiguous), and the middling falsetto of singer Ronny Munroe are all fairly routine, but the band distinguishes itself with its rock solid musicianship and song writing. This music is definitely dated, though the band and their fans would likely argue that the classics never go out of style; and the modern (though understated) production sheen does help considerably. Metal Church arrived a little later than Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, and never approached the success of those groups, but they would be well received in an opening slot for either band.
Metal Church
This Present Wasteland
Steamhammer/SPV
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