siLLy puPPy Before moving to their better known Aberdeen, WA a year later, METAL CHURCH was actually founded in San Francisco, CA as the band Shrapnel but soon changed it soon after the move to the more familiar name which founder and lead guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof took from a nickname he gave his apartment while living in SF. The band released three demos before their landmark debut eponymous album in 1984 and this first demo RED SKIES was the independent cassette release that them noticed fairly quickly due to the high quality musicianship on board. This was a totally different band at this point with members coming and going before finally releasing the first album with only Vanderhoof sticking around to see the band blossom into an early 80s metal powerhouse.

RED SKIES is a short three track demo where two tracks would never be released and only “Merciless Onslaught” finding a home on the debut album. This is all instrumental and sounds like a practice session for vocalists to practice. This is the typical early demo quality with crappy production and horrible mixing but what makes this shine despite irritating audiophiles is that the music is top notch even at this stage and the four musicians were more than ready for prime time as the riffs galloped only faster than anything short of Venom at this point in 1981 and straddles somewhere between NWOBHM and early thrash. Before you know it the short demo is over but it’s a satisfying historical reference to check out. I would hardly call this essential but it’s so well played despite the awful muddy recording that i have to give it at least 3 stars.