Blessing in Disguise

Blessing in Disguise is a pivotal turning point on which METAL CHURCH, now with new vocalist Mike Howe, tied heavy guitars to broader melody. Replacing original singer David Wayne, Howe brought a more controlled range and smoother phrasing, opening new space in the band’s music. While the riffs stay hard, the writing gains progressive tension and intelligence, and centered on Kurt Vanderhoof it announces a fresh restart. The signature “Fake Healer,” combining sharp riffs with a catchy chorus, is known as a song emblematic of the band, and on “Badlands,” “The Powers That Be” and “Anthem to the Estranged,” drive, weight and vocal pull mesh at a high level. On “Rest in Pieces (April 15, 1912),” “Of Unsound Mind,” “It’s a Secret” and “Cannot Tell a Lie” too, heaviness and construction go hand in hand across rewarding developments. Where power-metal strength meets refined songwriting, it is an accomplished record that vividly opened a new chapter for METAL CHURCH.