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Metal Church
Right Hand Red
Disarray
Skullkin
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Muse
Nashville, TN
1/31/2007
By: J Sherrod
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I normally work second shift - but on this day, I was offered
a few normal daytime hours. I jumped on the chance to get
in five-and-a half hours of much needed pay as I knew later
that night I had to take off to go to church. Not just any
church with Wednesday night service or bible study, oh hell
no! This was Metal Church.
Amazingly, the show started fifteen minutes early, which
seldom, if ever, happens. At 7:45, Nashville natives Skullkin
took the stage to an average-sized crowd - primarily
consisting of teenagers. With fake blood everywhere, I could
tell these guys were tryin' way to hard at becoming the next
hip trend.
While their small legion of fans doused themselves with the
fake blood and were moshing violently up-front, those my
age or older stood at the back as spectators with
enthusiasm. Skullkin puts on a high-energy show and has
potential to mature into a good band, but displayed
noticeable mistakes coupled with unappealing songs
tonight.
Skullkin's members appeared not old enough to drink, and
their audience seemed barely old enough to vote - or even
drive for that matter. In some bizarre way they're pulling the
"start 'em young" scheme - and if the band makes it, their
fans will grow with them. Maybe they're onto somethin' and I
just don't get it. They simply didn't fit on this particular
bill.
After Skullkin's set, most of the crowd disappeared, probably
to go home and blog all about it on Myspace and prepare for
that dreaded High School History test the next day. It was
then the older crowd - who had either shown up late, or had
been standing in the other half of the building where the bar
is - drifted in for the second local band, Disarray. The room
buzzed with a whole different vibe.
Disarray have been together ten years or so, and tonight the
trio were celebrating not only the honor of opening for Metal
Church but also the release of their new CD. How cool is it to
have a CD release party and open for a highly esteemed
band all in one night? Disarray ripped the stage apart for
about 25 minutes. The sound was mighty and the band
played to perfection - actually so tight it could only be
compared to that of a marble in a cat's ass. I vow to get my
hands on the new CD to review in the near future.
Next was Right Hand Red - the fill-in band for Meliah Rage,
who had too pull off the tour just nights before. Though their
hearts were true, the band found themselves plagued with
technical problems of any and every kind. The singer had
microphone problems and the monitors seemed to not be
mixed well at all - leaving the drummer unable to hear the
wall of sound the band was putting out in front of him.
Murphy's Law was in full affect for these guys. The band
joked about it and played it off as much as possible - making
the best of the cards they had been dealt. After thirty
minutes they wrapped it up and shook it off like professional
musicians would. My hat's off to 'em for fighting the battle
they did.
It's been almost three years since I've last seen Metal
Church, and this would only be my second time seeing them
live. I had a gut feeling this would be everything I expected
and so much more. Fortunately, I was correct in my
prediction and the band ruled the stage, like gods, for an
hour and fifteen minutes.
The venue was not sold out by any means, but vocalist
Ronny Munroe said it best with, "another small but powerful
crowd." By the time the first two songs were over, I was
reveling in the band's Metal glory. Although lead guitarist
Kurdt Vanderhoof is the only original member, I will say this
line-up is, without a doubt, the most precise and
finely-tuned assembly.
Even better than the first time I saw them, when original
drummer Kirk Arrington was still in the band, I shit you not
in saying Ronny stands proudly in the ranks of Rob Halford
and Bruce Dickinson with his earsplitting shrill vocals - so
pitch perfect even dogs in the neighborhood were enjoying
the show.
Amazingly, the standout song was not a classic at all, but
instead was "Mirror Of Lies," from Metal Church's 2006
release A Light In The Dark. The band just
looked so enthusiastic playing something new - instead of
the "old faithful" their crowd expects. I would also like to
point out how much fun the band had all night long. Smiling,
joking and even playful on stage, you could tell no big-shot
egos were to be found - only guys doing what they were
born to do, entertain at all costs. On this night they delivered
as close to a flawless show as it gets.
Until this night, my New Year hadn't been all that splendid -
this show brought me back to life. I needed true, live metal
music like a diabetic needs insulin. I had told some people
earlier in the week about me going to a Metal Church show
and how hyped I was about it. All too often people said,
"Those guys are still around?," "there's only one original
member" and "why don't they just give up and realize
they're old?"
To that, I will reply that this band can out-play, out-perform
and - in no matter what incarnation - will more than likely
outlast 90% of the disposable bullshit bands that have
appeared in the last decade. With over twenty years under
their belts, Metal Church is more dazzling than ever. With
only thirty-one days into 2007, I feel confident it will be a
while before this show is topped.
Metal Church's set list:
Light In The Dark
Fake Healer
Ton Of Bricks
Start The Fire
Leave 'Em Behind
Watch The Children
Mirror Of Lies
The Dark
Cradle To The Grave
Date With Poverty
Gods Of Wrath
Badlands
Beyond The Black
Metal Church
Highway Star
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