Former Meliah Rage and Ross the Boss vocalist Marc Lopes joins Metal Church, replacing Mike Howe after his tragic passing.

The official announcement is pinned here:

http://www.twitter.com/metalchurchis1

Really stoked to share the stage with em at his first show with the band at Legions of Metal. I've seen him with Ross the Boss and I don't think anyone is going to have any complaints.

They haven't put out a decent album in almost 25 years but there's still something comforting about knowing they'll continue. I haven't heard Marc Lopes but I wish them all luck together.

Marc is a beast and I can see them bringing back a lot of the David Wayne songs with him around. Would LOVE to see him belt out Metal Church or Hitman.

I have quite a soft spot for this band so I'm very glad that they're continuing. Would be great to catch them live some time.

I thought that the latest album was the most listenable album since A Light in the Dark.

I was under the impression that one guy who used to sing for Vicious Rumors joined Metal Church. I guess that didn't turn out too well, then?

Other way wrong: the guy who used to sing for VR joined Metal Church (from what I've heard Ronny Munroe is the better of the two vocals).

Awesome. I really enjoy his vocals in Let Us Prey and what I've heard of Ross the Boss, I think he'll be a good fit with Metal Church.

I will check it out, of course. I really enjoyed XI & Damned If You Do so I'm sure they'll put out some great new songs
I don't know Marc Lopes, as I only have two Ross The Boss albums before he joined but he'll probably be good as he has to fill some shoes eh.

The weird thing though is... today I realised there is no one in the band right now who played on my favorite Metal Church album, which was recorded by Mike Howe, John Marshall, Craig Wells, Duke Erickson and Kirk Arrington. So.... feels odd in a way.

I feel you. I actually can't imagine listening to anything new after Mike's passing with much pleasure. I simply don't feel like I care anymore. Their latest albums worked because of Mike - the rest felt a bit pedestrian and by the numbers, really. It was Mike's unique voice that lifted them up.

I saw this dude cover all of Hail to England with Ross the Boss 3 years ago. Totally amazing show.

But Vanderhoof wrote the whole thing, no?
I'm trying to remember the story, but failing.

He has songwriting/lyric credits on almost every song on those 3 Howe albums, plus recording credits for “Additional Guitars”. So yeah, he is in fact on them despite not technically being a member at the time.

I’m cautiously optimistic for what the band has in store coming up. The new guy sounds killer, that’s for sure.

As for Metal Church, good look to them, but I don't know if people are gonna care anymore.

^ Um, wrong thread methinks?

Yup.

Little teaser right here

https://www.facebook.com/10004457313326 ... =permalink

Not sure whether the vocals are totally my thing, but this sounds surprisingly heavier / riffier than I expected.

Well, call me intrigued at the very least. Let's hope those heavy riffs have more staying power than their last however many albums.

Without knowing the full context, part of me wonders if they’re aiming for a sound closer to the first two Wayne albums. Lopes’ voice lends itself to a gritty take on the style and the guitar snippets feel harder edged than they’ve been in a while.

Just thought I'd mention that am watching No Man's Land (1987) And there's a scene that plays Metal Church's Ton of Bricks from The Dark album. I knew I heard it from somewhere when I was trying to figure it out, so I made a search for the movie soundtrack and sure enough it's from Metal Church. Pretty neat.

First time seeing this movie which stars Mr.Tigers Blood himself Charlie Sheen. It is a good film and sure seems like Fast N The Furious stole it's base plot. I highly reccomend it if you like Fast N the Furious.

As long as Vanderhoof is in the band I am perfectly content for them to keep going. Not like it's a Riot situation where none of the original band or songwriters are still there, you know? Speaking of- real stoked to see Riot Act again at the same fest that Metal Church is doing in June! They were just amazing touring with Raven last year.

Recorded the Riot Act set if anyone is curious- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_j5YyfeyYE

Definitely intrigued by the teaser. I think Marc's voice definitely lends itself to the grittier sound they seem to be going for and I'm sure Vanderhoof's will come up with some cool riffs and melodies to compliment it.

New song. It sounds okay if you ask me.

I like it. Chunky riffs, familiar vocals...clearly sounds like Metal Church.

Surprisingly fresh sounding tune! This is the first time I've heard Marc Lopes and wow, he fits like a glove. Can only imagine how good he sounds doing material from the first two albums.

Stock modern Metal Church, if you ask me. Too much "chug" and a neutered production. The drum tone is weak as hell. The vocals are quiet alive and varied though, yet hearing these middling tunes without Mike Howe at the helm still doesn't quite work for me.

Doesn't suck but I'm not gonna listen to this ever again, I'm sure.

I'm forced to agree with the previous poster. I have a soft spot for this band but that new song is boring and flat as hell. I'm sure I could come up with a more interesting riff and I'm not even a guitarist.

This is surprisingly excellent overall.

It could have been an amazing song with a better chorus and just a tidbit less chugga chugga variations on the main riff. There's an almost direct quote of a very iconic Andreas Kisser dissonant arpeggio straight from 'Arise' ("Dead Embryonic Cells") twice in there, but I perceive it as a clear homage at this point, so I don't really mind it. I also hear some distinctly Wrath style of riffing in some of the recurring transitions, which might simply be a coincidence as the two bands had a lot in common back in the day.

Apart from that, this almost sounds like Metal Church from the first couple of albums, with the new vocalist delivering an impressive performance while sounding very much in the same vein as classic Wayne (if a bit more aggressive, but he pulls it off). The drumming is also great and very reminiscent of the slightly quirky tempos that are an integral part of the charm of the first two, particularly on songs like "Hitman" or "Start the Fire". Is it the same drummer or just someone with a similar vibe?

That's a lot of new info for me to take in, though. I wasn't even aware that Meliah Rage had eventually released more albums with different members after 'Solitary Solitude' and when I hear "Meliah Rage vocalist" I also hear the judge's voice saying "Mister Munro!..." from the timeless "Razzor Ribbon" off of that album. It seems Mark Lopes was in the band for their nth album in the 2010s? I wasn't aware of Mike Howe's passing either, RIP.

And there's another Riot of Fire AD besides Riot V? With the second guitarist from a handful of their early albums, Rick Ventura? Honestly, they sound great from the live video linked in this thread (the bassist in particular). But yeah, I'd rather see this band's legacy (and so many others) left alone and musicians inspired by it or who contributed to a bit of it starting real new bands instead.

Anyways. This might be a rare case of a band going back to its roots ages after their heyday and somehow pulling it off. There were a few others in recent years who achieved that feat, like Accept, Overkill or Flotsam & Jetsam (at least for a time), so why not Metal Church after all. That's nice.

I like this new song, it's got that straight forward driving rhythm that I expect from them but it's Marc Lopes' vocals that have sold it for me. He's got that voice that could fit the likes of Overkill, Exodus and obviously right here with Metal Fuckin Church. He owns it like he's been in the band since day one and I think I'll like this song even more with subsequent listens. Whatever reservations I had have gone out the window and I'm definitely looking forward to getting the new album now.

Sums up modern Metal Church no matter who the singer is.

In the last week or two I just realized I love Riot V. Their stuff is better than the Dimeo era and Todd Michael Hall is a great vocalist. I am hoping they record another album soon. Riot Act is cool too.

I'm digging the new song as well, looks like the band made the right decision hiring Marc.

He sounds great. Really digging this. I hope we get that new Presto Ballet album this year too. Their facebook page mention Vanderhoof finishing that up. I still play Peace Among the Ruins every now and then it is such a good listen and my favorite of that side band.

New song is cool - their new stuff gets damned with faint praise a lot but it's solid meat and potatoes stuff. This new singer is pretty fucking awesome. Great gritty snarl and shrieking.

I think Metal Church has always stayed consistent even with the vocalist changes throughout the ears, Vanderhoof has done a pretty good job adapting his songwriting to whoever happens to be singing for them at a given moment.