Metal Church , the legendary American heavy metal band, has announced its new lineup, bringing in David Ellefson , former bassist of Megadeth , and introducing Brian Allen as the new vocalist.
The debut of this new phase came with the single “FAFO”, a track produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof, the band's founding guitarist, and mixed by Zeuss . Together, they signal a desire to maintain the band's raw and classic thrash spirit. The new album is scheduled for 2026 via Rat Pak Records .
According to Vanderhoof, after his last tour in Australia, he felt a "new creative impulse" and decided to bring in musicians he could reconnect with in the studio.
In a press release , Vanderhoof explained: “After 45 years, the fact that we have new music coming in 2025 feels like a miracle. There was a time when I honestly didn't think Metal Church would continue, but we're back — and this lineup is going full steam ahead. I can't describe how excited I am about the new single on the way; that alone makes this moment incredibly special. 'FAFO' is aggressive thrash metal, and I think the fans will really enjoy it. We certainly do — otherwise it wouldn't be Metal Church.”
In addition to founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, David Ellefson and Brian Allen, the lineup features veteran guitarist Rick Van Zandt and drummer Ken Mary ( Flotsam & Jetsam ).
With over 45 years on the road, Metal Church reaffirms its relevance. Not only are they resuming activity, but they are doing so with renewed ambition and a lineup that promises to recapture the glory days of heavy/thrash metal.
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