West coast metal veterans Metal Church have announced plans for the release of their twelfth full length studio album, Damned If You Do, via Nuclear Blast Records on December 7, 2018 (Rat Pak Record America and King Records in Japan). The latest release is the follow-up to their highly successful 2016 album XI, which saw the return of legendary frontman Mike Howe. Damned If You Do has been described as being a cross between the band’s iconic releases Blessing In Disguise and The Human Factor.

Hot on the heels of the aforementioned announcement, Metal Church have released the first music video for the title track Damned If You Do. The song is quintessential Metal Church and showcases the sound that has garnered the band fans all around the globe, with its driving guitar riffs, punishing drum beat and instantly recognisable vocals. The live performance video can be seen below!

Comments Mike Howe, “I hope the fans enjoy this first video, it really sets the tone for the entire album. We are doing our best to keep metal alive Metal Church style. Damned if we didn’t!”

Adds drummer Stet Howland, “From my first listen of the Damned If You Do demo I was blown away. From Mike’s “hummm” intro to Kurdt‘s bad ass guitar riff to the infectious chorus, I was hooked! If I was any more excited people would have to call me “shit legs.” Hahaha.”

Stet Howland (ex-W.A.S.P./Lita Ford)first arrived after the departure of long-time drummer Jeff Plate, but soon after joining the band he was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Miraculously, his treatments for the aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma worked and he was able to begin recording the new album.

Damned If You Do is something truly unique and special. The songs are powerful, precise, and Metal Church’s musical vision is unified. From the haunting opener Damned If You Do to the final hard-edged track The War Electric, this new album is sure to resonate with fans from the band’s early years while garnering new ones. Songs like By The Numbers, Guillotine and The Black Things are sure to become instant favourites!

Damned If You Do – Track Listing:

Damned If You Do
The Black Things
By The Numbers
Revolution Underway
Guillotine
Rot Away
Into The Fold
Monkey Finger
Out Of Balance
The War Electric