Metal Church - This Present Wasteland

During their more than quarter century of existence Metal Church has had many lineup changes. That streak continues with This Present Wasteland. It features the addition of guitarist Rick Van Zandt. Ronny Munroe returns for his third CD behind the mic, and of course founding member Kurdt Vanderhoof is the glue that has held the group together all these years.

After all this time you know what to expect from a Metal Church album, and This Present Wasteland fulfills those expectations. The songs combine traditional metal with elements of thrash and power metal, and are packed with catchy melodies and excellent guitar work. The tempos on this CD have been dialed back a bit. Most of the tracks are mid-tempo, with Metal Church cranking it up only periodically.

The music has plenty of hooks, and whether it's a focused song like "Mass Hysteria" or an 8 minute plus epic like "Deeds Of A Dead Soul," Metal Church's musicianship and songwriting skills always keep it interesting.

Ronny Munroe is a really good singer, with a big range and a lot of power. His vocal skills are on full display with the song "War Never Won," as he goes from a lower pitched bluesy rasp to melodic singing to a glass shattering falsetto.

Metal Church have always flown somewhat under the radar. Metal fans know the name, but probably aren't as familiar with their catalog as some of the band's '80s contemporaries. This Present Wasteland is another good, consistent Metal Church album.

(released September 23, 2008 on SPV Records)