The below video, which documents a metal-themed church in Colombia, was posted to YouTube in 2009, so I guess this isn’t exactly news; still, I’d never heard of it before MetalSucks Maniac Josh Kidd sent us the link today.

Of course, the existence of the church is sure to cause debate amongst metalheads — some will say that it’s awesome that these fans are worshipping their own way, and some will say that God has no place in metal, and that using extreme music to potentially recruit followers is manipulative. I can see both arguments; I’d much prefer we lived in a world where we were killing each other over something other than whose fairy tale is the right fairy tale, but if you have to go church… sure, why not?

I’m sure you’ll all have no problem debating the issue yourselves in our comments section. That would also be a great place for some of you to make idiotic Metal Church jokes, too.

-AR

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Welcome to “Question of the Week,” a (sometimes) weekly debate amongst the MetalSucks staff regarding a recent hot button issue.

Presumably inspired by this week’s announcement of a Big 4 show in the U.S., this week’s question was posed by MetalSucks contributor/author of the Reign in Blood entry into the 33 1/3 book series, D.X. Ferris. Mr. Ferris was even good enough to join us for this edition of QOTW! And his query was:

IF THE BIG FOUR WERE THE BIG EIGHT, WHICH BANDS WOULD BE THE NEXT FOUR IN THE GROUP?

The MS staff’s answers after the jump.

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Our friend Allyson at Bring Back Glam has been reporting from Rocklahoma all week. She’s obviously a big fan of the event, given that a) she runs a site all about glam and b) she wrote the text for the Rocklahoma coffee table book that came out last year.

But she’s been making (perfectly valid) complaints about this year’s fest for the past ten months, taking issue in particular with this year’s line-up. And as it turns out, she was totally correct: attendance at this summer’s edition of the event was apparently abysmal.

Check out this photo Allyson took of the crowd. This was at dusk; if it was Ozzfest, everyone who skipped the second stage would be starting to pile in right about this time. No such luck for Great White, even though there was absolutely no chance of being burned alive at the outdoor venue:

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Invisible Oranges posted this pretty incredible footage of Metallica rehearsing in the summer of ’92 with Metal Church’s John Marshall, who was the band’s guitar tech that was called up to step in on rhythm guitars when Hetfield suffered severe burns from a pyro accident on the band’s stadium tour with Guns N’ Roses. I think it’s pretty surreal to be reminded that Metallica have to rehearse just like everyone else.

Invisible Oranges also pointed the way to this blog by Marshall about attending Metallica’s induction to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame a few weeks back. It’s a fun read, but it also has an actual photo of Pushead, who I’ve never seen before, and who in no way, shape, or form looks the way I’d imagined. THE ILLUSION IS RUINED!!!

-AR

The economy’s in the shitter and the sun is setting earlier and earlier every day. Still, there was reason to rejoice this week in the world of metal:

• The members of Twisted Sister are apparently now willing to “take it.”
• We interviewed Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth, Ronny Munroe of Metal Church, and Brian Fair of Overcast / Shadows Fall.
• Dallas raged against the McCain machine (as did the Foo Fighters). You raged against Dallas.
• Crikey! Scar Symmetry hire two new vocalists to take the place of one.
• Scars on Broadway call off their tour; we call bullshit.
• FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. And Fuck.
• Gojira got heavy in every sense of the word.
• Bam Bam Bigelow + Marty Jannetty = ’80s Vinnie Paul.

Sayonara suckers. See you next week.

-VN

MetalSucks pensman Corey Mitchell recently had the chance to chat with frontman Ronny Munroe of Aberdeen, Washington thrash titans Metal Church, whose new album This Present Wasteland he gave a glowing four and a half out of five horns review. After the jump, read Ronny’s thoughts on the new record and a bunch of other topics.
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There has been a veritable smorgasbord of Old Fart-approved albums over the last twelve months. New full-lengthers from the likes of such metal greats as Exodus, Death Angel, Overkill, and the mighty Testament (review here) have made this one of the most memorable and satisfying years to be an Old Fart metal fan (Metallica’s newest excluded purposefully).

Joining the aforementioned second-tier thrash titans from the 80’s with a new release is none other than Aberdeen, Washington’s Metal Church. The always under-appreciated progenitors of melodic thrash have returned with a brilliant work of art worthy of repeated headbanging sessions in the form of their newest release, This Present Wasteland.

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I am currently in the midst of a signing tour for my latest book, PURE MURDER. Nothing helps me keep my sanity more when I am on the road paying outrageous sums of money for gas, dealing with complete fucking morons behind the wheel, and trudging through Texas-sized traffic jams than listening to heavy metal at full volume.

Here are some quick reviews of some of the metal I cranked on my recent trip to the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville, Texas, home of “Sparky” the out-of-service electric chair, for a booksigning.

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