METAL CHURCH - THE DARK 12" Vinyl LP Album
- USA Release, incl. Lyrics Insert

Album cover for Metal Church’s The Dark, featuring an ominous open doorway of a suburban house at night, with glowing eyes peering from the shadows, mist rolling across the brick steps, and a doormat that says WELCOME.

"The Dark" is the second full length album released by Metal Church. It was also the last album in which the line-up of Wayne, Vanderhoof, Arrington, Wells and Erickson performed, until 1999's Masterpeace album. This album talks of dark themes, such as assassination, death, struggle, and rituals (for example, the lyrics from "Line of Death" were most likely based on Libyan hostilities in the Gulf of Sidra). One song from this album, "Watch the Children Pray", turned into the band's first music video. This album is one of their most critically and commercially successful albums to date. The album was dedicated to the late Cliff Burton of Metallica fame.

Album Description
Band Members and Musicians
Track Listing
Album Cover Photo Gallery
Metal Church Discography

Metal Church - The Dark: A Blast from the American Heartland

Album Description:

Picture this: it’s 1986, the year of big hair, neon spandex, and MTV's relentless glam metal parade. But amidst this gaudy spectacle, a band from the Pacific Northwest, Metal Church, dared to release an album that was as dark and brooding as its title suggested. "The Dark" wasn’t just an album; it was a statement, a defiant middle finger to the prevailing trends.

Historical Context and Musical Exploration

The mid-80s were a strange time for heavy metal. The scene was becoming increasingly commercialized, with image often taking precedence over substance. Metal Church, however, refused to compromise their vision. "The Dark" is a testament to their unwavering commitment to their craft, a raw and uncompromising album that defied easy categorization.

Musically, the album is a force to be reckoned with. The riffs are heavier, the vocals more aggressive, and the songwriting more mature than on their debut. It’s a dark and brooding record, both musically and lyrically, exploring themes of despair, isolation, and the human condition.

Genre and Controversies

Metal Church has always been difficult to pigeonhole. They’re not quite thrash, not quite power metal, but they have elements of both. "The Dark" perfectly encapsulates this ambiguity. It’s a heavy metal album through and through, but it’s also a unique and distinctive record that defies easy categorization.

The album’s title track caused a bit of a stir upon its release. The song’s lyrics dealt with suicide, a taboo subject at the time. Some radio stations refused to play it, and the band faced criticism from certain quarters. But Metal Church stood their ground, refusing to censor their art.

The inclusion of a lyric insert with the US release further fueled the controversy. The stark black and white text, laid out against a stark background, served to amplify the album's dark and brooding themes.

Production Team and Recording Studio

"The Dark" was produced by Terry Date, who would go on to work with bands like Pantera and Soundgarden. Date's production is clean and powerful, perfectly capturing the band’s energy and intensity.

The album was recorded at Triad Studios in Redmond, Washington. The studio’s acoustics and equipment contributed to the album’s massive sound.

Conclusion

"The Dark" is a landmark album in the history of heavy metal. It’s a raw, powerful, and uncompromising record that still sounds fresh today. Metal Church may not be a household name, but they’ve earned their place in the pantheon of metal gods. With "The Dark," they proved that heavy metal could be both intelligent and visceral, a testament to the enduring power of the genre.

Music Genre:

Thrash Death Metal Metal, Hard Rock

Album Production Information:

The album: "METAL CHURCH - The Dark" was produced by: Mark Dodson

Mark Dodson – Producer, Recording Engineer

One of those behind-the-glass names that keeps popping up when late-80s metal suddenly sounds huge, tight, and slightly unhinged (in the best way). Read more...

Mark Dodson is the kind of credit I spot and immediately think: yep, this record is about to hit harder than it has any right to. He is a London-born British producer and sound engineer whose career kicks off in the late 1970s with engineering/mixing work (including acts like Advertising, Judas Priest, Joan Jett, and The Modern Lovers), then locks into metal gear for the big runs people actually collect for. With Anthrax, his main stretch is the late-80s/early-90s era (1988–1991) around State of Euphoria, Persistence of Time, and related releases. With Suicidal Tendencies, it is a tight, high-impact window from 1988–1990 (and a 1993 compilation credit), plus the side-quest with Infectious Grooves across 1991 and 1993. Basically: when I see his name, I expect punch, clarity, and zero patience for “polite” guitar tones. Mark Dodson Wiki

Terry Date - Sound Engineer, Producer

Terry Date is a renowned American music producer and sound engineer known for shaping the sonic identity of heavy metal and rock. His work with Pantera, Soundgarden, Deftones, and White Zombie set new production standards, blending crushing heaviness with clarity. His influential career spans decades, leaving a lasting impact on modern metal. Read more .

Bob Defrin - Art Direction

Bob Defrin – Art Director / Album Cover Designer

The Atlantic Records visual architect who helped hard rock look like it sounded: loud, sharp, and built to last. Read more...

Bob Defrin, gets filed in my head as one of those behind-the-curtain operators who quietly shaped what a whole era thought “rock” was supposed to look like. Work at Atlantic Records put him in the blast zone where sleeve art wasn’t decoration, it was stage lighting on paper. Late 1970s into the 1980s, his art-direction fingerprints show up around AC/DC as the logo era locks in (1977’s Let There Be Rock, then the blood-and-thunder run through If You Want Blood You’ve Got It in 1978, Highway to Hell in 1979, Back in Black in 1980, and on into mid-80s titles like Fly on the Wall). Same period energy spills into other big-label moments too, like Foreigner’s 4 in 1981, where the final cover design became the one the world actually remembers. By 1992 he’d gone independent with Bob Defrin Design in Amenia, New York—still doing what the best art directors do: making the music feel inevitable before the needle even drops.

Don Brautigam - Album artwork

Don Brautigam – American illustrator & album cover artist

The American illustrator who painted Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” (1986) and then kept popping up on heavy hitters: Anthrax (1987–1990), Mötley Crüe (1989), and AC/DC (1990). Read more...

Don Brautigam, I think of him as the rare visual storyteller who could bottle a band’s whole atmosphere into one frozen scene. He was an American painter/illustrator and graphic designer (active roughly 1974–2008), known for mixing acrylic painting with airbrush polish until the image felt unreal in the best way. His “periods” with bands read like a timeline of loud history: early credits include James Brown’s “The Payback” (1973) and “Reality” (1974), then Chuck Berry’s “Rockit” (1979), before the metal era hit like a brick through a stained-glass window. In 1986 he painted Metallica’s “Master of Puppets,” then followed with Anthrax’s run of covers — “Among the Living” (1987), “State of Euphoria” (1988), and “Persistence of Time” (1990) — before landing the big glossy menace of Mötley Crüe’s “Dr. Feelgood” (1989) and AC/DC’s “The Razors Edge” (1990). The wild part is how his art doesn’t just decorate the music; it sets the mood before the needle even drops.

Don Brautigam Wiki

Record Label & Catalog-nr:

Elektra 9604931

Album Packaging:

This album includes the original 12" insert with lyrics of all songs by "Metal Church" band

Media Format:

12" Vinyl LP Gramophone Record
Album weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1986 Made in USA

Band Members and Musicians on: Metal Church The Dark

David Wayne: Vocals
David Wayne was an American singer and songwriter best known as the original lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Metal Church. He was born on March 2, 1955, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Wayne started his musical career in the late 1970s, playing in various local bands before forming Metal Church in 1980. He provided lead vocals for the band's first two albums, "Metal Church" (1984) and "The Dark" (1986), which are considered classic examples of the thrash metal genre.

Wayne left Metal Church in 1987 due to creative differences and formed his own band, Reverend, which released several albums throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. He also worked as a session musician and collaborated with other artists in the heavy metal scene. Wayne died on May 10, 2005, at the age of 50, due to complications from a car accident. He is remembered as an influential figure in the heavy metal community and a pioneer of the thrash metal genre.
Kurdt Vanderhoof: Guitars
Kurdt Vanderhoof an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer, founder and guitarist of the heavy metal band Metal Church. He was born on 9 June 1961, in San Francisco, California, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Vanderhoof started his musical career in the early 1980s, playing in various local bands before forming Metal Church in 1980. He has been the main songwriter and guitarist for the band throughout their career, and his distinctive playing style, characterized by powerful riffs and intricate solos, has been a key part of Metal Church's sound.

Vanderhoof has been the only constant member of Metal Church throughout the band's history, and has also worked as a producer and engineer on several of their albums. He has also collaborated with other artists in the heavy metal scene and has been recognized as an influential figure in the genre. Metal Church continues to tour and record music, and Vanderhoof remains an active member of the band to this day.
Kirk Arrington: Drums
Kirk Arrington was an American drummer with the heavy metal band Metal Church. He was born on 19 February 1963, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Arrington joined Metal Church in 1986 and played on several of the band's most well-known albums, including "The Dark" (1986), "Blessing in Disguise" (1989), and "The Human Factor" (1991). He was known for his powerful and aggressive drumming style, which was a key part of Metal Church's sound during his time with the band.

Arrington left Metal Church in 1994 due to health issues, but returned to the band for a brief period in the late 1990s. He continued to play music and worked with other artists throughout his career. Arrington died on April 19, 2013, at the age of 50. He is remembered as an influential figure in the heavy metal community and a talented drummer.
Craig Wells: Guitars
Craig Wells an American guitarist best known for his work with the heavy metal band Metal Church. He was born on 7 May 1962, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Wells joined Metal Church in 1984 and played on several of the band's early albums, including "Metal Church" (1984) and "The Dark" (1986). He was known for his aggressive and energetic playing style, which was a key part of Metal Church's sound during his time with the band.

Wells left Metal Church in 1986 due to creative differences, but continued to play music and work with other artists throughout his career. He is remembered as an influential figure in the heavy metal community and a talented guitarist.
Duke Erickson: Bass
Duke Erickson an American bassist best known for his work with the heavy metal band Metal Church. He was born on 5 June 1956, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Erickson joined Metal Church in 1986 and played on several of the band's well-known albums, including "The Dark" (1986), "Blessing in Disguise" (1989), and "The Human Factor" (1991). He was known for his solid and dependable bass playing, which was a key part of Metal Church's sound during his time with the band.

Erickson left Metal Church in 1994, but continued to play music and work with other artists throughout his career. He has been recognized as an influential figure in the heavy metal community and a talented bassist. Erickson has also worked as a producer and engineer on several musical projects.

Complete Track Listing of: Metal Church The Dark

The Song/tracks on "Metal Church The Dark " are

Ton of Bricks - 3:00

Start the Fire - 3:50

Method To Your Madness - 4:52

Watch The Children Pray - 5:57

Over My Dead Body - 03:36

The Dark - 4:11

Psycho - 3:32

Line Of Death - 4:42

Burial At Sea - 4:58

Western Alliance - 3:18

Album Cover Photo Gallery of: Metal Church The Dark

Photo of Metal Church The Dark Album's Front Cover

Album cover for Metal Church’s The Dark, featuring an ominous open doorway of a suburban house at night, with glowing eyes peering from the shadows, mist rolling across the brick steps, and a doormat that says WELCOME. — The album cover for The Dark by Metal Church is striking and ominous. It depicts the front entrance of a house at night, bathed in a cold and eerie light. The focus is on the open doorway, where darkness dominates, but with a chilling detail—two glowing eyes peer out from within the shadows, suggesting a lurking presence.

A mist rolls across the brick steps, adding an unsettling atmosphere, as if something sinister is creeping out of the house. The word ‘WELCOME’ on the doormat is ironically unsettling, contrasting with the menacing vibe of the scene. The band’s logo, in sharp, angular red letters, is prominently displayed in the upper left corner, with the album title, The Dark, in minimalist white text to the right, reinforcing the stark mood.

The overall design communicates a sense of foreboding, perfectly aligning with the heavy metal themes of the album. The art captures the feel of suspenseful horror, drawing you into its eerie world.

Photo of Metal Church The Dark Album's Back Cover

High Resolution Photo of METAL CHURCH THE DARK USA release

Close-up Photo of Metal Church The Dark Record Label

Spinning Through Time: The Ultimate Collection of Metal Church's Vinyl LPs in a Comprehensive Discography

METAL CHURCH - Blessing in Disguise ( Elektra )

Thumbnail of METAL CHURCH - Blessing in Disguise 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Elektra 960 817 , 1988 , EEC

1989. The year Metal Church unleashed "Blessing in Disguise" upon an unsuspecting world. Thrash was king, hair metal was teetering on the edge of extinction, and grunge was still a glint in Kurt Cobain's eye. Amidst this musical upheaval, Metal Church, the unsung heroes of American heavy metal

Blessing in Disguise ( Elektra ) 12" Vinyl LP

METAL CHURCH - The Dark (German & USA Releases)

Thumbnail of METAL CHURCH - The Dark ( Germany ) 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Elektra 960 493 , 1986 , Germany

Metal Church's "The Dark" is a relentless sonic assault, a testament to the band's evolution into a heavier, more aggressive sound. Released in 1986, it features the powerhouse vocals of David Wayne and the twin guitar attack of Kurdt Vanderhoof and John Marshall.

The Dark (German Release) The Dark (USA Release)

METAL CHURCH - S/T self-titled (Elektra Records)

Thumbnail of METAL CHURCH - S/T self-titled ( Elektra ) 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

Elektra 960471 , 1984 , Germany

Metal Church's self-titled debut is a raw, unadulterated blast of heavy metal thunder. It blends classic metal riffs, thrashing energy, and a touch of punk attitude. Songs like "Beyond the Black" and "Gods of Wrath" showcase the band's power and intensity, while David Wayne's vocals are a force of nature.

METAL CHURCH Self-Titled (German Release Elektra) METAL CHURCH Self-Titled (German Release Steamhammer) METAL CHURCH Self-Titled (Canadian Release Banzai)

METAL CHURCH - THE DARK 12" Vinyl LP Album - USA Release, incl. Lyrics Insert

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