They released several solid platters after the self-titled debut, with different vocalists... and to be honest somewhere after the dismal Hanging In The Balance I stopped following them. I knew their original vocalist had passed away. I knew Kurdt Vanderhoof had done some other projects, but never checked into anything.

So when this showed up in the mail, I was a little anxious to give them a whirl and see what was what. And this is what. It's okay.

What has happened is this. Metal Church were always a heavy metal band... big riffs and lumbering bassline, shrill vocals. But somewhere in the mid 90's when that whole groove metal thing took root, a lot of bands were copping that sound, albeit most likely in an unintentional manner. So here is the new album, This Present Wasteland sounding like Blessing In Disguise poured through a groovy nu-metal filter. It's a decent album, nothing earth shattering but a good solid effort. Vocalist Ronny Monroe has that signature metal voice that is 2 parts Dio and more than a smattering of Halford, Vanderhoof's guitar work is stellar as it always has been. But there just isn't all that much here that was memorable.

written by John Boden

Playing time: 57:21