Metal Church is credited as a formative influence on the thrash metal subgenre, melding the aesthetics of the new wave of British heavy metal and American hard rock with "incredibly tight musicianship" and "piercingly screeched" vocals. They are also known for their association with the 1980s and early 1990s Seattle hard rock and heavy metal scene, which also spawned bands such as Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Queensrÿche, Fifth Angel, TKO, Culprit, Rail, Sanctuary, Forced Entry and Q5. The band's early lyrical topics such as conflict and paranoia later expanded into philosophical and social commentary.