^ Thursday, February 26 – Highland, CA – Rockageddon at Yaamava’ Theater + Saturday, May 9 – Tulare, CA – Adventist Health Amphitheater + Friday, May 29 – Davenport, IA – River City Casino + Sunday, May 31 – Lake Charles, LA – L’Auberge Casino Resort + Saturday, Jun 13 – West Salem, WI – Maple Grove Venue ^ Friday, Aug 21 – Gatlinburg, TN – Gatlinburg ^ Sunday, Aug 23 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Café
Metal Church return with their 13th studio album, Dead to Rights, scheduled for release on April 10, 2026 via Rat Pak Records (America), Reaper (Europe/UK) and Rubicon (Japan).
The album marks the first release from the band’s latest lineup, featuring 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.
From the aggressive opening assault of “Brainwash Game” to the riff-driven finale “My Wrath,” Metal Church prove they still possess the same relentless drive that has earned them fans for over four decades. Tracks such as “Deep Cover Shakedown,” “The Show,” and “Wasted Time” deliver the signature sound the band has long been known for.
The album’s first single,“F.A.F.O.”, was released last November, with its accompanying video surpassing 400,000 views to date. Dead To Rights was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and mixed and mastered by Zeuss at Planet Z.
“This new album is very special to me for one reason: the band was over, and I honestly didn’t see it being resurrected. But somehow, it brought itself back to life – again!” exclaims Kurdt Vanderhoof. “I’m incredibly proud of these new songs; they hit hard. Brian Allen brings the classic Metal Church sound to the vocals, and adding a rhythm section with musicians of the caliber of Dave Ellefson and Ken Mary makes this a force to be reckoned with. If you enjoy classic Metal Church, you’re going to love this record.”
Another new video has arrived from the already released album Babylon by DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG (released in October 2025, RPM).
Following the strong impact of previous clips, with “It Takes Two To Tango” and “Hellbreaker” each surpassing one million views, the band now present the video for “Batter The Power”, continuing the visual journey through their latest release.
“Batter The Power” is a classic heavy shuffle driven by a true metal riff and an anthem-like sing-along chorus that instantly evokes the spirit of “old times.” What initially appears to be a deliberately straightforward and repetitive verse structure is given a sharper edge by the accusatory vocal interplay between Udo Dirkschneider and Peter Baltes, adding tension and attitude to the song’s message.
Photo: Eddi Bachmann Photography
Manuela “Ella” Bibert puts the icing on the cake with her distinctive solo vocal interludes during the final choruses, while Mathias Dieth’s extraordinary guitar solo breaks free from any convention, unapologetically bold and perfectly in line with the band’s uncompromising approach. Why should we care about rules?
Lyrically, “Batter The Power” draws on classic heavy metal imagery of battle, resistance and liberation. Lines like “we’ll die to be free” and “never surrender” underline the song’s central message: relentlessly challenging oppressive power in the name of freedom and justice.
With the “Batter The Power” video, DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG once again highlight the timeless strength of classic heavy metal, reinforcing Babylon as an album that proudly bridges the past and present with experience, conviction and raw power.
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