Metal Church released their debut in 1984, in the wake of the interest generated by the Bay Area thrash bands. Metal Church’s music has more in common with power metal, staying clear of the all-out speed and aggression of their counterparts. Their debut is still considered as a masterpiece in the genre of power / speed metal. The band broke up after 1993’s Hanging In The Balance and went their own ways. The original line-up decided to get together, for this, the latest offering, 1999’s Masterpeace. Once again featuring Kurdt Vanderhoof on guitar and David Wayne on vocals, does this line-up capture the old magic of the first two albums ? All music has been written by Vanderhoof who co-produces as well. First song, Sleeps With Thunder, it is apparent that this band has not been affected in the least bit by what’s been happening around them musically. It has the melodic solos of Vanderhoof, but Wayne’s voice is not what it used to be. Gone are the real high pitched vocals like on Ton Of Bricks, Gods Of Wrath or their cover of `Highway Star’. Next song, Falldown, and it’s clear that this band has matured and mellowed. It displays the Church’s tight rhythm section and has good bass work from Erickson. Into Dust is one of the best, with nice lyrics by Wayne, a song about the past. There’s heart-felt singing and some very good soloing here. Kiss For The Dead reminds you of the soft to heavy approach of songs like Badlands or Watch The Children Pray. Lb. Of Cure revolves around two of Metal Church’s favoured subjects – `Fake Healer'(s) and insanity ! The rhythm playing, as always is never obtrusive or overly-heavy, but tastefully effective. Faster Than Life is a good song, with Arrington proving to be as agile as always, with the double bass fills everywhere. Title track, Masterpeace is a soft instrumental with just guitars. All Your Sorrows sees the band capturing some of the old magic and has some good riffs, vocals and lyrics about religion. They Signed In Blood has an epic-feel to it and is about the persecution of Christians by Rome. The arrangements here are slightly shaky though, and the song is one of the weaker ones on the album. Next, the band do a kick-ass cover of the Aerosmith classic, Toys In The Attic, speeding it up and adding their own unique flavour to it. Album closer, Sand Kings is a lament for our modern day situation of war, politics, greed and indifference. `Still gods children die, Under blackened sky’. Is this Metal Church’s comeback album ? They have managed to recapture some of the magic of old, tempering it with maturity that the years have brought. The mellowness has also come with age, as the band are mostly 35 + year olds. Some songs here are weak, but there are also songs which shred and kick ass. This is a good metal album from a band doing what they do best, and not going for a more `contemporary’ touch. This one’s sure to please Church fans, but newcomers may be disappointed. Check this one out if you like your metal tastefully melodic and not too aggressive.