Description
Available officially for the first time: Metal Church's complete performance at the legendary Rock Hard Festival 2016 on CD/DVD (Also on 2LP) one of the most important US metal bands live at their best: Metal Church is in top form with an energetic set that impressively showcases the band's class and power - A historic festival moment: The show from the Gelsenkirchen Amphitheater on the Rhine-Herne Canal captures the unique atmosphere of one of Europe's most renowned metal festivals - the sound personally engineered and mastered by Metal Church founder Kurdt Vanderhoof.
45 Years of Metal Church - a piece of band history: This release honors the impressive career of a band that has been among the pioneers of American heavy metal since 1981.
a historical document of the classic metal scene: An authentic snapshot of an era in which international metal culture and festival tradition converge.a must-have for fans of Metal Church, US metal, and classic heavy metal: Another highlight in the catalog of a band that has played a decisive role in shaping the sound of American metal.also available on double vinyl
"For decades, Metal Church has been a mainstay of the international heavy metal scene - driven by passion, perseverance, and an unshakable connection to our fans. This special relationship has always been the foundation of the band and has accompanied it through all the ups and downs of its history," says Kurdt Vanderhoof, founding member, guitarist, and mastermind of the Seattle-based American heavy metal band Metal Church, after 45 years of the band's history.
"Among our most important and best companions are Rock-Hard magazine and the fantastic Rock-Hard Festival in Germany." When Kurdt Vanderhoof thinks of the Rock-Hard Festival, which takes place annually over Pentecost at the Gelsenkirchen Amphitheater on the Rhine-Herne Canal, he really gets carried away: "The Rock-Hard Festival in Gelsenkirchen is without a doubt one of the most impressive venues we've ever played at. It's the special combination of the unique setting, the atmosphere, and the immediate connection between the stage and the audience that makes this festival so extraordinary. You get the feeling of being in an intimate club and on a huge festival stage at the same time - an experience that's second to none."
Metal Church was founded in 1981 by Kurdt Vanderhoof; at the time, they were still called Shrapnel. When the band was formed, the subgenres of thrash metal and speed metal were still in their early stages of development. Metal Church played a major role in shaping these genres. In 1984, their self-titled debut album, *Metal Church*, was initially released on Ground Zero Records, an independent label founded specifically for the band.
Just two years later, with the release of their second album, *The Dark*, the band was already signed to the major label Warner/Elektra. To date, they have released an additional 15 studio albums and various live albums. On Pentecost 2016, Metal Church took the stage at the Gelsenkirchen Amphitheater as part of the Rock Hard Festival. WDR Rockpalast was there and recorded this special performance, which is now being released for the first time as a video and audio recording. "We hope you enjoy this show from the 2016 Rock Hard Festival just as much as we did on stage," Kurdt Vanderhoof tells Metal Church fans.
