Blessing in Disguise (Metal Church album)

Blessing in Disguise
Studio album by Metal Church
Released February 7, 1989
Recorded August 29 - October 4, 1988 at Kajem Victory Recording, Gladwyne, PA
Genre Thrash metal, power metal
Length 54:34
Label Elektra
Producer Terry Date
Metal Church chronology
The Dark
(1986)		 Blessing in Disguise
(1989)		 The Human Factor
(1991)
Singles from Blessing in Disguise
  1. "Fake Healer"
    Released: 1989
  2. "Badlands"
    Released: 1989

Blessing in Disguise is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Metal Church, released on February 7, 1989.

It was the band's final release on Elektra Records. This was the first album not to feature the vocals of David Wayne, due to his departure to form the band Reverend. This release featured new vocalist Mike Howe (ex-Heretic) and guitarist John Marshall, who took over Kurdt Vanderhoof's position. Kurdt Vanderhoof had produced Heretic's final album Breaking Point previously. It seems that this is how Mike Howe came to the attention of Metal Church. Ironically, David Wayne's new project was made up of the remaining members of Heretic.

Album title

Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Michael Spencer has claimed that Blessing in Disguise was supposed to be the title of the band's second album before settling with its current name No Place for Disgrace. After Spencer left Flotsam and Jetsam, Michael Alago (the A&R of Elektra) let Metal Church use Blessing in Disguise as the name of their third album, which was released nine months after No Place for Disgrace.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Kerrang![3]

Reviews for Blessing in Disguise have been mostly positive. Allmusic's Jason Anderson awards the album four stars out of five, and states: "Perhaps the finest Metal Church release, Blessing in Disguise offers some of the best material in the group's long career."[2]

Blessing in Disguise entered the Billboard 200 chart on April 8, 1989, two months after its release. The album itself peaked at number 75 (the band's highest chart position, until 2016's XI, which peaked at number 57), and remained on the chart for 15 weeks.[4]

Touring and promotion

Metal Church spent most of 1989 and 1990 touring behind Blessing in Disguise.[5] They embarked a U.S. tour in the spring of 1989 with Meliah Rage, and supported W.A.S.P. on their Headless Children tour. Metal Church played one show in Germany in October 1989 with Fates Warning and Toranaga, and opened for Saxon in Europe in April 1990. They were also a "surprise guest" for Metallica's May 11, 1990 show at The Marquee in London.[5]

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Fake Healer"  Kurdt VanderhoofCraig Wells, Vanderhoof 5:55
2. "Rest in Pieces (April 15, 1912)"  VanderhoofWells, Vanderhoof 6:38
3. "Of Unsound Mind" (based on Edgar Allan Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart")John MarshallWells 4:44
4. "Anthem to the Estranged"  VanderhoofWells, Vanderhoof 9:31
5. "Badlands"  Vanderhoof, Mike HoweWells, Vanderhoof 7:21
6. "The Spell Can't Be Broken"  VanderhoofWells, Vanderhoof, Marshall 6:46
7. "It's a Secret"  InstrumentalWells 3:47
8. "Cannot Tell a Lie"  VanderhoofWells, Vanderhoof, Marshall 4:17
9. "The Powers That Be"  VanderhoofWells, Vanderhoof 5:22

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ No Place For Disgrace (Preproduction) (liner notes). Flotsam and Jetsam. 3in1 Music Publishing. 2001.
  2. 1 2 Anderson, Jason. "Metal Church Blessing in Disguise review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  3. ↑ Kaye, Don (14 January 1989). "Devils in Disguise". Kerrang!. 221. London, UK: Spotlight Publications ltd. p. 22.
  4. ↑ "Metal Church Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  5. 1 2 "Metal Church Tour Dates". metallipromo.com. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
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