Metal Church is an American heavy metal band formed in 1980. Originally based in San Francisco, California, they relocated to Aberdeen, Washington the following year and briefly called themselves Shrapnel. Led by guitarist and songwriter Kurdt Vanderhoof, the band has released thirteen studio albums and is considered to be an integral part of the then-emerging Seattle heavy metal music scene of the 1980s, as well as pioneers of the thrash metal, speed metal and power metal genres. They achieved considerable popularity that decade, with two of their first three albums entering the Top 100 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The band's early lyrical topics, such as conflict and paranoia, later expanded into philosophical, political and social commentary.

Metal Church has had a revolving lineup of vocalists, guitarists, bassists and drummers throughout its 46-year career, and Vanderhoof remains the group's sole consistent creative force, despite reducing his role strictly to composition in 1986 after tiring of performing live. The "classic" lineup of Vanderhoof, vocalist David Wayne, guitarist Craig Wells, bassist Duke Erickson, and drummer Kirk Arrington recorded the band's first two studio albums, Metal Church (1984) and their major breakthrough The Dark (1986). By the end of the 1980s, Vanderhoof and Wayne had parted ways with the band and were replaced by guitarist John Marshall and vocalist Mike Howe, respectively. Metal Church's popularity continued with its third album Blessing in Disguise (1989), which spawned one of their best-known songs "Badlands". After releasing two more studio albums with Howe, The Human Factor (1991) and Hanging in the Balance (1993), the band first broke up in 1996.

Metal Church reformed in 1998 with most of their "classic" lineup, including Vanderhoof's return to performance, resulting in the band's sixth studio album Masterpeace (1999); however, internal conflicts and Wayne's second departure from the band in 2001 resulted in a second hiatus. Metal Church reunited in 2003, with Ronny Munroe replacing Wayne, and the band underwent a few lineup changes within the next six years, leaving Vanderhoof as the only remaining original member. Following their third disbandment in July 2009, the group reunited for the third time in October 2012, and released their tenth studio album Generation Nothing a year later. Following Munroe's departure in the fall of 2014, Metal Church considered disbanding for the third time before Howe was rehired in April 2015 as their lead singer. He recorded two more albums with the band, which had enjoyed a renewed popularity during the mid-to-late 2010s, before his death on July 26, 2021. Howe was replaced by Marc Lopes, who made his only appearance with Metal Church on their thirteenth studio album Congregation of Annihilation (2023). Another lineup change occurred in 2025, with Brian Allen replacing Lopes, and original Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and drummer Ken Mary of Fifth Angel and Flotsam and Jetsam joining the fold.

Then-based in San Francisco, guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof formed Metal Church in 1980 with various musicians. This era included a brief audition period with future Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. The three-song, instrumental Red Skies demo, was released in 1981, and featured Vanderhoof, guitarist Rick Condrin, bassist Steve Hott, and drummer Aaron Zimpel.^{[citation needed]}

Vanderhoof relocated to his hometown of Aberdeen in 1981 and began the new group Shrapnel with Craig Wells, Duke Erickson, drummer Tom Weber, and vocalist Mike Murphy. Murphy departed before their next demo, which was recorded without vocals, and Weber departed shortly thereafter. The enlistment of drummer Kirk Arrington and vocalist David Wayne completed the group's classic lineup. They released the demo Four Hymns and spent following years touring and accruing material, readopting the Metal Church moniker in 1983. The song "Death Wish" is featured on the compilation album Northwest Metalfest.^{[citation needed]}

In July 1984, Metal Church released its self-titled debut album, which included three songs from the Four Hymns demo and a cover version of Deep Purple's "Highway Star". They sold 70,000 copies of the album independently before signing to Elektra. According to Wayne, Ulrich and Metallica bandmate James Hetfield urged Elektra to sign the band before another label could.

By the time Metal Church released its second studio album, The Dark, in October 1986, they were touring with high-profile acts including Metallica. The Dark was a commercial success, helped by the fact that the band's first music video, "Watch the Children Pray", received frequent airplay on MTV. As a result, the album managed to enter the US Billboard 200, and saw Metal Church support the album with a world tour that lasted from October 1986 to July 1987, playing with bands such as King Diamond, Celtic Frost, Testament, Overkill, D.R.I., Trouble and, individually, with all of the "Big Four" of thrash metal (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax).

Shortly after the album's release, however, they were plagued by lineup changes: Vanderhoof ceased performing live with the group in 1986, to be replaced briefly by Mark Baker and more permanently by former Metallica roadie John Marshall. Vanderhoof nonetheless continued to work with the group in composing thereafter, co-writing much of their subsequent material. Wayne also departed shortly thereafter and was replaced by former Heretic singer Mike Howe. Wayne teamed up with the remaining members of Heretic to form Reverend.