The new Lineup consists of founding Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, Guitarist Rick Van Zandt, Bassist David Ellefson, Drummer Ken Mary and Vocalist Brian Allen

New Album of Metal Church Music to be Released in 2026 via Rat Pak Records. West Coast heavy metal veterans Metal Church return with a revitalized lineup and a hard-hitting new single that underscores the sound that has driven their four-decade legacy. The new formation features founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof alongside longtime guitarist Rick Van Zandt, joined by bass icon David Ellefson, powerhouse drummer Ken Mary, and dynamic new vocalist Brian Allen.

Following the band’s recent tour and return from Australia, Metal Church found themselves at a crossroads. An unexpected spark reignited Kurdt’s creative drive, prompting him to reach out to the musicians who would ultimately shape the group’s next chapter. Their chemistry in the studio gave rise to the blistering new track “F.A.F.O.” — a song that immediately energized the band and inspired them to continue writing and recording. The new single was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and mixed/mastered by Zeuss at Planet Z.

Those sessions have now evolved into a brand-new Metal Church album, set for release in 2026 via Rat Pak Records. Additional details will be announced soon.

“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 firing on all cylinders. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have a new single on the way; that alone makes this moment incredibly special. ‘F.A.F.O.’ is an aggressive thrasher, and I think the fans are really going to dig it. We certainly do—otherwise it wouldn’t be Metal Church,” explains Kurdt Vanderhoof.

Metal Church plan to tour extensively in 2026 and some festival dates have already been announced with more to come.

Wed, Aug 5, 2026 - Josefov, Czech - Brutal Assault Festival

Sat, Aug 8, 2026 - Kortrijik, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival

Sun, Aug 9, 2026 - Geiselwind, Germany - Keep It True Festival

Born out of the explosive West Coast metal scene of the early ’80s, Metal Church quickly established themselves as one of the genre’s most formidable and musically sophisticated bands. After signing with Elektra Records, the group released two landmark albums — their self-titled debut Metal Church and its follow-up The Dark — both of which remain essential listening in the heavy metal canon. As the U.S. metal wave surged, Metal Church hit the road with labelmates Metallica, further solidifying their reputation for precision, power, and uncompromising intensity. The band continued to evolve into the late ’80s and early ’90s, tackling political and social themes with vocalist Mike Howe on the acclaimed albums Blessing in Disguise and The Human Factor. While many peers shifted toward the era’s commercial trends, Metal Church stayed true to their heavy roots — a commitment that earned them a loyal global following. In 2016, the band reunited with Howe for their eleventh studio album XI, which debuted at #57 on the Billboard Top 200and charted internationally, marking one of the strongest comebacks in modern metal. Its 2018 successor, Damned If You Do, continued that momentum with additional worldwide chart success and reaffirmed the band’s enduring relevance.

Now entering a powerful new chapter, Metal Church features founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, longtime guitarist Rick Van Zandt, bass legend David Ellefson, elite drummer Ken Mary, and dynamic vocalist Brian Allen. With renewed energy, a legacy spanning over four decades, and a rapidly expanding worldwide fanbase, Metal Church remains a driving force in modern heavy metal — still pushing forward, still evolving, and still unmistakably Metal Church.

John Bush: Vocals

Joey Vera: Bass

Phil Sandoval: Guitar

Jeff Duncan: Guitar

Gonzo Sandoval: Drums

"Each Armored Saint record, to me, is like a new skin for the band, a different chapter. I don't think we've ever repeated ourselves," states bassist Joey Vera. "Every album has been pretty different from the previous one, a snapshot in time. In 2026, Emotion Factory Reset is where our heads are at."

"When we start coming up with songs, I always say we can do whatever we want," vocalist John Bush says. "Use all our influences through the years, diverse music that we listen to and love, and let that seep in and bring something new out of us. It leads to something more adventurous."

Emotion Factory Reset, the lineup's ninth full-length studio album since 1984's March of the Saint, bears out his words, the LP a resurrection of sorts, a tearing down and a rebuilding in 11 songs of diverse musicality and lyrical themes. Produced, as were the previous four albums, by bassist Joey Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour) Emotion Factory Reset finds the quintet challenging themselves. Songs like "Close to the Bone," "Hit a Moonshot" and "Every Man-Any Man" has Saint honoring their past as one of the most respected and recognizable bands in heavy music while making forward-thinking music rooted in the present.

"'Close to the Bone' is a slamming hard rock/heavy metal song, but diverse in both the vibe and the way it's arranged. It feels like an Armored Saint song that came out in 2026 and I think that's really important," Bush says. "The lyrics came from trying to figure out how to work with people who maybe you don't see eye to eye with," he says, while Vera provided the initial impetus when his wife told him he just might keep some things too private.

"Hit a Moonshot" is a band favorite. A "moonshot" can be a baseball term, and Bush, an avid sports fan, was also thinking about the parallels between sports and entertainment. As well as "people who are kings at what they do, hence the Camelot phrase," the singer says. "People who just come through, whenever you least expect it. They just keep succeeding."

"I think the song defines what Armored Saint sounds like now," Jeff Duncan says. "I really dig it. I used my Les Paul and an EVH amp for the rhythm guitars on everything. My solos were done with a couple different guitars; it's simple, just good guitars plugged into a good amp and let it rip." Additionally, "Buckeye" a song with deeply personal lyrics for Bush, is a rare instance of Duncan playing slide guitar to build the song's mood.

The track "Every Man-Any Man" is a perfect example of how Armored Saint take heavy music to a place few metal bands venture to. While "Any man has his price" may be a familiar phrase, Armored Saint turned the saying on its head to broaden and create "Every Man-Any Man." The verses, with cool, big, and broad open chords, finds Bush singing around the music. He cites a favorite part of "Any Man": "I love the bridge where I sing 'I'm like a rouge crazy evil cheating lucky little leprechaun.' It sounds like some very mischievous character who is looking to come around somebody's world and keep them guarded and keep them on their toes."

"I feel the intro guitar part almost has an Andy Summers [Police] vibe to it, and then Joey goes into the cool bass groove that's just vintage Joey," Bush says. "Combined with Gonzo, the grooves they create are essential to Armored Saint's sound. When they lock in, It's like they could be playing in the Commodores."

"My playing is more relaxed and dynamic now," Gonzo Sandoval affirms. "I've been really focusing on my hands--stick control--and I'm feeling comfortable with my singles, doubles, paradiddles, making creative ideas on the drum set smoother and more easily accessible."

The song process begins with Vera working up music and recording fully realized demos. "Before Emotion Factory Reset, I acquired a new guitar from ESP," Vera explains. "And sometimes when I get a new toy, it inspires me. I loved the guitar, and immediately songs started coming. I believe the first written was 'Compromise.' In the past, I've written some songs that are on the long side, epics. But I wanted to challenge myself and write a bit more concisely."

"Throwing Caution to the Wind" saw the whole band in the studio writing, old-school style. "We're not 20 years old anymore with no obligations or responsibilities, so it's not as easy as it used to be to go into the studio and have a couple drinks and just see what comes out of it," they say.

Bush, one of music's most respected vocalists, operates from a place of passion and presence in the studio and on stage. In fact, about 85% of his vocals from the last three Armored Saint records are taken from the demo sessions, capturing the raw power. While Vera is a granular and detailed writer, like Bush, the bassist says, "I try not to overthink and be right where I'm at that time. I really don't look over my shoulder much, like, 'what did I do in the past? What's going on in the next lane?' Once the ball starts rolling, I just sit back and let it happen."

The collaborative nature of EFR led to the album title, a phrase from Phil Sandoval. "To me, 'Emotion Factory Reset' means to reset yourself back to clarity. Take a pause and breathe before you respond or react. You can't control outside events, but you can control your mind," the guitarist says. "How you interpret things is what hurts you, not the event itself."

His brother Gonzo adds, "the world is going through a technological upswing/awakening. I look at our planet as the factory and in the most positive way we need to realign, reimagine reset for our better selves."

Moving forward as a united front comprised of diverse individuals lends the songwriting a depth that's evident. Influence-wise, "we all dig a lot of different music. Everybody. Not just rock. I have no 'guilty pleasures' when it comes to music," Bush says. "That freedom translates to our own records when it comes to writing and arranging, even if it just seeps in a tiny bit. The combination of listening to John Coltrane and Billy Strings can contribute to writing an inventive song for Armored Saint."

As with 2020's Punching the Sky, Armored Saint are always about punching above their weight and succeeding. Emotion Factory Reset reaches further, both inward and outward. "I mean, there's never gonna be another Master of Puppets or Appetite for Destruction," Bush says. "We can all take inspiration from our previous records, but that was a different time. Armored Saint don't want to make another March of the Saint. I want to keep moving forward, but we know who we are, it's not like we're going to dish out the new trip hop, black metal, bluegrass album."

Bush lets the music and instant inspiration dictate the lyrical shape of a song. "I'll listen to the music over and over, and start humming ideas. Sometimes humming melodies might lead to, 'oh, that sounds like it could work with this phrase or lyric.' Oftentimes I don't have a specific theme of where I want to start," he explains. "Sometimes, yes, but more often than not, I'll start writing and let the road take me and develop organically."

Lyrically, the singer's goal is to open minds and explore ideas. "I'm not telling people 'you should think like this,' it's more that I like to raise points, and maybe somehow, some words in a song might make people go, 'aha!'" Trying to observe things from multiple angles is key on Emotion Factory Reset. "In fact, lots of times with the songs I've written, when I listen back years later, it's like, 'Fuck man, you can apply this now to this, and it's a completely different meaning!' I think that's really cool. So that's my kind of goal." And while Armored Saint don't release an album every year, it's about quality, not quantity. "At the end of the day," Bush concludes, "as long as we feel it's great, that's the most important thing."

LiveKill is a high-energy heavy metal band hailing from South Florida. Determined to stand out as part of the state's legendary metal legacy, the group blends a bold approach to arrangement and production with a killer live show. Their mission is not just to keep the flame of Florida metal burning but to evolve it into something more: an experience that connects with audiences on stage, in the studio, and beyond.

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