Mike Howe – what a guy.
The phrase may seem casual in encapsulating the career of Mike Howe, the beloved and esteemed Metal Church frontman who sadly passed away in 2021, yet his impact extended beyond the role of a frontman. After departing from the band in 1995 due to business reasons, he was drawn back by the music. A new project proposed by Kurdt Vanderhoof opened the door for his return to Metal Church, culminating in the release of new albums: XI in 2016 and Damned If You Do in 2018.
Metal Church was initially formed in 1980 in San Francisco, California, amidst the emerging thrash metal movement, before moving to Aberdeen, Washington to join the Seattle music scene, home to bands like Queensryche and Fifth Angel. Although closely associated with the nascent thrash scene and having performed with the renowned ‘big four’, Metal Church’s style is more eclectic, blending hard rock and power metal with elements of thrash.
Metal Church’s seminal album, 1986’s The Dark, marked their breakthrough, but it was after original vocalist David Wayne’s departure in 1988 that the band entered a commercially successful era. His successor, former Heretic vocalist Mike Howe, debuted with Metal Church on 1989’s Blessing In Disguise, which secured regular MTV airplay for the lead single Badlands. Despite the 1990s’ changing musical landscape – ironically, spearheaded by Seattle – Metal Church released two more successful albums with Howe: The Human Factor in 1991 and Hanging In The Balance in 1994. Although the latter was a musically strong record, internal tensions regarding management and business affairs led to Howe’s departure from the band soon after.
Mike Howe’s return to Metal Church after two decades was a dream come true for many, despite Wayne’s brief comeback and Ronny Munroe’s more than competent vocal prowess. Howe’s presence loomed large, with fans clamoring for his return. Upon his comeback, Howe devoted himself fully, forgoing the usual VIP meet-and-greets to personally meet fans post-show for photos and autographs. In interviews, Howe expressed his humility and gratitude for the fans’ enduring support. Howe’s second wind became a hurricane.
For the remainder of Metal Church and since Howe’s untimely death, the band treads something of a sensitive fine line – how to honour the legacy of their fallen friend and bandmate – not doing anything appears ambivalent but doing too much looks like cashing in. With the Mike Howe-led rarities compilation From the Vault being released in 2019, Metal Church chose to release a ‘best of Mike Howe’ compilation in 2022 but how to honour their band mate in a fitting tribute?
This is where The Final Sermon comes in.
The title implies the ending of the band, but Metal Church remains a going concern and released Congregation of Annihilation in 2023 with new singer Marc Lopes. What The Final Sermon represents is a tribute to and in memory of Mike Howe in one of his final shows recorded in Japan in 2019 and in the setting that befits his legacy – on stage.
The Final Sermon is not the first live album to feature Mike Howe, the first being Classic Live released in 2019 – but it is certainly the better of the two. While Classic Live is a fine album, Howe’s vocals are very high in the mix, but The Final Sermon has no such issues – it feels live, it sounds organic and has those edges of rawness to it – and not just Howe but the whole of Metal Church is firing on all cylinders.
Mike How is certainly in fine voice and from the “ummm” of opener Damned If You Do to the ridiculously brilliant Date With Poverty complete with sardonic “fuck you” and an evil laugh at the end, Howe is clearly having a blast. There is a trip through the Metal Church history book – of sorts – the Munroe era is not represented at all but one era that Howe was adept at covering the Wayne-era material. There is a number of fluctuations in the registers on the songs and shows clearly what a talented singer Howe was, the command that he has is startling. Start The Fire is one of those stompers that will rile up the meekest metal head although sadly, it does fall a bit flat on the backing vocals, while Beyond The Black roars, iconic The Dark centerpiece, the ominous ballad-but-not-a-ballad in Watch The Children Pray is seriously beefed up. Of the Howe-era, there is coverage of every album, the still awesome Faith Healer, a frantic PMRC-baiting In Mourning and Needle & Suture from Howe’s return album XI.
The band is hardly slouches in terms of the music and Kurdt Vanderhoof really is the riff master, Needle & Suture is so edge of the seat in terms of the crunch that the guitarist brings; Stet Howland’s drums adds drama and precision and is solid throughout, No Friend Of Mine requires its own mention; Steve Unger’s bass is just sublime and while solo spots can be something of a bore, Rick Van Zandt’s extended solo during is almost dreamy in its delivery.
What is remarkable is how well so many of Metal Church’s music has stood the test of time and with some songs celebrating their 40th anniversary , nothing beyond the more recent material is less than 30 years old but it still sounds as relevant and vital as it did back in the day. Coupled with how some live albums can be a tad reedy on the production, The Final Sermon is an absolute monster, the mix is superb – the songs radiate and pulverise in their delivery – this is how live albums should be done.
Live records can be curious and divisive creatures and while there will always be those Wagyu-grade live documents (sit down Priest Live, not talking to you) KISS’ Alive, Scorpions’ World Wide Live and Motorhead’s Live At Hammersmith; there will be the ones trotted out as a filler releases and then there will be The Final Sermon an album as to celebration of life and legacy and one that not only cuts the mustard but hands it out on a silver platter.
Metal Church aficianados will require no convincing as to how essential this live album is but for newcomers – taste the Wayne-era starter, feast on the Howe-era main course and then serve up The Final Sermon as desert.
Mike Howe will never be forgotten and naturally, he lives on in his music but The Final Sermon is worthy of both the Metal Church name and of course, Mike’s.
Rest In Peace, sir.
The Final Sermon is released on 26 July 2024 and is available from both the US and European Store.
