Metal Church – XI

Solid Metal Church album, marking the return of singer Mike Howe

Released in 2016, XI is Metal Church's eleventh album (naturally), marking the return of second frontman Mike Howe after 23 years absence. XI is their fourth album with Howe, but the band would go on to record a fifth album with Mike, DAMNED IF YOU DO (2018), making him the singer with the most albums under his belt. At the time of it's release, however, both Howe and Munroe were tied with four studio albums each. Original singer David Wayne did three, but since he released his own METAL CHURCH album in 2001 and it was originally slated to BE a Metal Church album (until Vanderhoof changed his mind), he arguably did four as well.

To be expected, XI sounds like the four previous Ronny Munroe albums, except with Howe singing. Whether you prefer Munroe or Howe is a matter of personal taste. I like 'em both but don't love 'em; neither possesses Wayne's special appeal IMHO, e.g. his moving falsetto. However, if backed up against a wall concerning Munroe and Howe, I'd probably pick Munroe because he's closer to Wayne's style. That said, Howe's certainly stalwart & passionate and can really nail a song, like "Fake Healer"

So what about XI? It's a solid Metal Church album that will grow on you, like the five previous Metal Church releases. While it doesn't contain anything of the caliber of "Watch the Children Pray," "Fake Healer" or "Beyond the Black," it nevertheless has a few tracks that stand out, like the melancholic-but-compelling "No Tomorrow" and the driving "Killing Your time," both of which were advance releases. The kinetic/proggy opener "Reset" was also released in advance as a video a week before the album's debut.

The punchy closing song "Suffer Fools" is one of the best while the mysterious & groovin' "Needle & Suture" is one of my favorites. Most of the songs are embellished with eerie, atmospheric parts with some whole tracks having that vibe, like "Sky Falls In" and "It Waits." There are also some interesting experimental ditties or parts, like "Shadow." Howe sounds like he never left.

GRADE: B