METAL CHURCH have launched pre-orders for their upcoming 13th album "Dead To Rights," due April 10 via Rat Pak Records, with multiple limited-edition vinyl variants available alongside standard CD and digital formats. The pre-order launch follows the release of the "Brainwash Game" music video, the album's second single, which has generated enthusiastic response from fans who see the new lineup as a potential return to the band's classic era intensity.
The vinyl exclusives include several color variants that are already attracting collector interest, a reflection of the resurgent vinyl market that has seen physical format sales climb steadily throughout the 2020s. For a band like METAL CHURCH, whose fanbase skews toward dedicated, long-term supporters with deep appreciation for physical media, the vinyl campaign is a strategic move that acknowledges how their audience prefers to consume music.
The 10-track record marks a significant transition point for the band, representing the debut of a revamped lineup featuring former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, veteran drummer Ken Mary, and new vocalist Brian Allen. Founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, who has been the constant creative force through METAL CHURCH's many lineup changes since their 1980 formation, expressed confidence that this configuration "captures the spirit of METAL CHURCH at its best" with what he describes as a heavier, more focused sound than recent releases.
The album arrives during a period of renewed energy for classic metal acts, with fans demonstrating increasing appetite for established bands that can still deliver music with genuine conviction. METAL CHURCH's legacy — built on foundational albums like their 1984 self-titled debut and 1986's "The Dark" — provides a formidable platform upon which "Dead To Rights" can build. Whether the new lineup can match the intensity of those landmark records remains to be heard, but early singles suggest they are more than up to the challenge.