METAL CHURCH are set to release their 13th studio album, Dead to Rights, on April 10 via Rat Pak Records in North America, Reaper Entertainment in Europe, and Rubicon Music in Japan. The record introduces the band's newest configuration: founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof alongside Rick Van Zandt on guitar, David Ellefson on bass, Ken Mary on drums, and Brian Allen on vocals.
Allen — known for his work with FLYING COLORS and WORLD CLASS WHITE TRASH — brings a powerful, melodically versatile delivery that suits the band's heavy American metal template perfectly. His voice carries the weight the material demands without sacrificing clarity. Ellefson, one of the most recognizable bass tones in metal thanks to decades with MEGADETH, adds considerable low-end muscle to what is already a formidable rhythm section.
Lead single "F.A.F.O." was released in late 2025 and made clear that METAL CHURCH have no interest in coasting on legacy. Dead to Rights is described by Vanderhoof — the band's primary creative force since their formation in the early 1980s — as a direct continuation of the aggressive, melodic American heavy metal the band built their reputation on. The 10-track album plus a bonus cut will be followed by extensive live touring in support. METAL CHURCH are back — and they sound hungry.