Seattle, Washington-based metallers METAL CHURCH have issued the following:

"To all of our fans and friends...

We regretfully announce that Metal Church is calling it quits.

The performance at Rocklahoma will be our last show. We have had to cancel the shows scheduled for August and that, among other things, has led us to have to make this decision.

There has been far too much frustration and disappointment in trying to keep moving forward. The collapse of our record company, SPV, has made it next to impossible for us to continue in any kind of professional manner due to lack of tour support. This decision was not made lightly.

We do have unfinished business in the studio, and with any luck we will have something that will be of interest to Metal Church fans in the near future.

We would like to thank all the fans that have stuck with Metal Church through all these years, the lineup changes and the ups and downs.

We can't tell you how much your support has meant to us, we appreciate each and every one of you.

It's been a great ride.

Metal Church."