Christian metal

Heavy metal music with a Christian message and band members

"White metal (genre)" redirects here; not to be confused with White power music.

Christian metal

Other names|

* White metal
* heavenly metal
* Jesus metal

Stylistic origins|

* Heavy metal
* Jesus music
* Christian rock
* Christian music

Cultural origins| Late 1970s, United States and Sweden
Fusion genres

* Unblack metal
* Christian death metal

Regional scenes

* United States
* Brazil
* Argentina
* Mexico
* Germany
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Sweden
* Finland[1]

Other topics

* Artists
* Christian hardcore

Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal, or heavenly metal,[2] is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian-themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band-members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by professed Christians, principally for Christians and is often produced and distributed through various Christian networks.[1]

Christian metal bands exist in most of the subgenres of heavy metal music, and the only common link among most Christian metal bands are the lyrics. The Christian themes are often melded with the subjects of the genre the band is rooted in, regularly providing a Christian take on the subject matter. It has been argued that the marginal yet transnational Christian metal subculture provides its core members with an alternative religious expression and Christian identity, and that the music serves the purpose of offering a positive message through lyrical content. This may not necessarily show a direct connection or reference to the Christian faith, although it often does.[1]

Christian metal emerged in the late 1970s as a means of evangelization to the wider heavy metal music scene. The genre was pioneered by the American Resurrection Band and Barnabas, the Swedish Jerusalem, and Canadian Daniel Band.[3] In the mid to late 1980s, extreme metal genres were popularized by bands such as Vengeance Rising, Deliverance, Believer, and Tourniquet.[4] Another Christian metal band that was successful during the '80s was American band Stryper, whose album To Hell with the Devil sold over two million copies.[5]

In the early 1990s, the Australian death metal band Mortification rose to prominence within its country's underground metal scene.[6][7] At the turn of the 21st century, having released two platinum-selling albums, P.O.D. achieved a mainstream commercial success rivaling that of Stryper.[8] The metalcore groups Underoath (2002-2018), Demon Hunter, As I Lay Dying, and Norma Jean (dubbed "The Holy Alliance" by Revolver Magazine) also brought some mainstream attention to the movement in the first decade of the 2000s, achieving ranks in the Billboard 200.[9]

In the 2000s and onwards, Christian rock bands Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Red were influenced by acts like Linkin Park to develop their own sounds that combined hard rock and nu metal.[10][11][12] Skillet received Grammy nominations for two albums,[13] along with having two albums certified platinum and double platinum.[14] Red also received Grammy nominations for two albums.[15]

## Characteristics

[edit]

Christian metal is not a solitary style of music but rather an ideological umbrella term that comprises every subgenre of heavy metal music, from hard rock to black metal.[16][17] What sets the style apart is that Christian metal bands typically base their lyrics on Judeo-Christian traditions. AllMusic writes that Christian metal is "gospel music's hard rock" - while not as hard as most heavy metal, "it still has many of its trademarks, particularly loud guitars, bombastic riffs, long solos, and pseudo-operatic vocals."[18] According to the website, most bands fall somewhere between arena rock and pop metal, although occasionally there are bands that are heavier.[18] Author Michael Heatley notes, however, that Christian metal exists within most of the musical subgenres of metal,[16] and Jussi Lahtonen of the Finnish punk and metal zine Sue similarly writes how Christian metal encompasses every metal subgenre.[17] The lyrics can be either explicitly Christian theological topics or else approaching other social or cultural issues from a Christian perspective. Some emphasize the positive aspects of faith matters while others iterate the teachings of Christ. Some bands keep their message hidden in metaphors. A minority take an aggressive attitude towards those who speak against Christianity, preaching "fire and brimstone" and "Old Testament Wrath of God" back at extreme Satanists.[17] References to eschatology and apocalyptic themes, particularly the ongoing spiritual warfare between good and evil as well as the Last Judgment and fall from grace are typical.[19]

The lyrical style varies depending on culture, denomination, and country. For example, in Northern Europe, the bands with Lutheran members usually prefer a personal lyrical approach, which is seldom meant to "convert" in an aggressive manner; this is because evangelism has been more typical among American bands. Christian bands never deny their conviction but typically avoid preaching; sometimes, the matter is left unexpressed, leaving religion as a private issue of the listener.[16] Certain bands choose to deal with everyday life experiences from a Christian perspective in order to draw both Christian and non-Christian listeners. In such cases, identifying a "Christian band" can be difficult. Secular bands that occasionally deal with Christian topics are a different matter altogether. Defining a Christian band is a much debated issue on Christian metal forums. A Christian band is expected to have either professed Christian members or a Christian message, preferably both.[1]

## History

[edit]

### Background: Heavy metal music and Christianity

[edit]

The term 'heavy metal', as it was used by Lester Bangs and Dave Marsh at Creem, referred to a sound best exemplified by albums such as Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin II, Deep Purple's Deep Purple in Rock, and Black Sabbath's Paranoid.[20] An examination of some of the lyrics from bands such as these show a lack of any explicitly negative themes. Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" could just as well be a conversation between husband and wife, as not. Black Sabbath's "Electric Funeral" exactly parallels the blood red moon of the Book of Revelation by John of Patmos, while their "Hand of Doom" describes the ravages of drug abuse. Ozzy Osbourne could be heard preaching to his audience in the earlier song, "Children of the Grave": "Tell the world that love is still alive you must be brave; or the children of today are children of the grave." Later, in the song "In My Time of Dying", Robert Plant even pleaded to Jesus: "Meet me Jesus, meet me; Meet me in the middle of the air; if my wings should fail me Lord, please meet me with another pair." Perhaps not overtly Christian, but songs such as these exhibited similar themes. Early heavy metal fans were viewed by the populace as a counterculture, just as the fans of rock and roll, in general, were. Early heavy metal lyrics and themes were often accused of challenging Christian values, and as the genre grew, some bands actually did.[citation needed]

Among the early bands who were accused of adding negative connotations to the term was Black Sabbath. Their and other early bands' profligate use and combination of dark, occult themes, tattoos and piercings, and other features in stage- and album-styling; repeated musical features like distorted guitar-filters, open/power chords, riffs (including chords with roots a tritone apart); and moody explorations of diverse spiritual themes (including the social connections of metal-enthusiasts) led to a range of responses, from intense fandom and identification, widespread patronage for at least the most well-known albums and bands, and polarizing criticism.[21]

Those uncomfortable with the musical and fan scene features of heavy metal, especially those on the religious right (sometimes including fans of other music, including mainstream and progressive rock) became more vocal through the 1970s and '80s, at worst casting the makers and fans of such music as "followers of Satan".[22] Despite such accusations, more serious examinations of Black Sabbath lyrics find several songs actually advocate Christianity and specifically warn audiences about the Devil.[23] Rolling Stone reviewer Lester Bangs noted the Christian theme of their song "After Forever" when it was released.[24] Further, as Deena Weinstein and others have established, the vast majority of metal fans are male, white, and blue-collar-identified. Although there are now metal fans of more-advanced ages, from its origins through the 1980s their age centered on teen years.[25]

Bands such as Mötley Crüe, Ratt, and Twisted Sister took "themes of generalized rage, sexual abandon, drug abuse, violence, and despair into the homes of millions of young record buyers."[26] In the 1980s, with the growing appeal of metal, the National Coalition on Television Violence "called attention to the destructive potential of music videos, many of which graphically depict violence and rebellion."[27] A British cleric and metal fan analysed that because of distorted guitar sounds, "intense" beats and "muscular" vocals, heavy metal music songs are "unafraid to deal with death, violence and destruction" and that "much of metal's fascination with Satan or evil is play-acting, driven by a desire to shock."[28] The Italian Capuchin friar and former metal vocalist Cesare Bonizzi ("Fratello Metallo") stated that there are "maybe" some Satanic metal bands "but I think it's an act so that they sell more," and went to add that "metal is the most energetic, vital, deep and true musical language that I know."[29]

Some metal songs criticize religion, such as "Death Church" by Machine Head, which "critici[zes] the hypocrisy of the Christian church."[30] Metal groups "…seek out every…avenue to assault religion", including "religious hypocrisy", specifically Christianity.[31] Metal songs use themes from the Book of Revelation which focus on apocalypse (e.g., Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast"). The metal subgenre with the most emphasis on apocalyptic themes is thrash metal.[32] Anti-patriarchal themes are common in metal.[33] Black metal song lyrics usually attack Christianity[34] using apocalyptic language and Satanic elements.[35]

### Origins

[edit]

Christian metal has its origins in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the Jesus movement, a hippie movement with Christian ideology consisting of hippies that converted to Christianity. The Christian hippies within this movement, known as "Jesus People", developed a musical movement called Jesus music, which primarily began in southern California, ex. Los Angeles when hippie street musicians converted to Christianity. These musicians continued playing the same styles of music they had played before converting, among them heavy metal music, though they infused their lyrics with a Christian message. Larry Norman was one of the earliest Christian rock musicians who released his first album titled Upon This Rock in 1969 which is arguably the first Christian rock album produced.[36] Norman's song "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" summarised the ideas of these musicians.

The first Christian hard rock group was possibly the California-based band Agape, formed in the late 1960s. Known for their psychedelic rock and blues influences, the band released an album titled Gospel Hard Rock in 1971, followed by Victims of Tradition in 1972.[37] After Agape, the Resurrection Band was formed in 1972 in Milwaukee's Jesus People community and released the hard rock album Music to Raise the Dead in 1974. The Swedish group Jerusalem was formed in 1975 and is cited as another early Christian hard rock group.[36] In 1978, Resurrection Band released its album Awaiting Your Reply and Jerusalem released Jerusalem (Volume 1). Both albums had a notable impact on Christian music culture.[38] During that time, heavy metal was a new style of music for the Christian music industry, and many Christian labels did not expect it to sell well. However, Awaiting Your Reply hit big in the Christian market, and reached No. 6 on the Gospel album sales charts. Jerusalem also became an instant hit among listeners, and within the first six months the record sold 20,000 copies, unheard of within the genre of Christian rock in Europe.[39] The Canadian Daniel Band is cited among the first bands,[36][38] as is Barnabas.[40]

### 1980s

[edit]

Stryper's stage set during To Hell with the Devil tour, 1986

In the early 1980s, there were four notable Christian heavy metal groups: Messiah Prophet, Leviticus, Saint, and Stryper.[36] Although it is debatable as to which band was formed first, the Orange County native glam metal group Stryper was the most popular one. Stryper was also the first band to identify as Christian metal. Stryper gained attention with their way of throwing Bibles to the audience at their concerts.[36] In the beginning, mostly Christians went to Stryper's concerts but soon they reached non-Christian audience.[41] In the 1980s, Christian metal bands closely followed the trends of mainstream heavy metal bands.[36]

During the mid-1980s, heavy metal music divided into autonomous subgenres. Weinstein described the thematic diversity that cross-cuts musical styles: "In the 1980s, white metal and black metal emerged. Their lyrical themes are at polar opposites to each other, one of them bringing the 'good news' and the other the 'bad news.' Both include bands whose sounds span the full spectrum of metal. White metal is commonly called Christian metal. In part a response to the popularity of the heavy metal genre, it transforms the code of heavy metal to serve purposes of Evangelical Christian sects and other denominations. In part, also, Christian metal is a well-crafted missionary effort to recruit members and save souls. [...] Black metal stands in the thematic opposition to Christianity, not looking upward to heaven but setting its sights on the underworld. Satanic symbols and imagery have been a staple of heavy metal since its beginnings with Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. In the West, there is no better symbol for rebellion. But groups such as Mercyful Fate claimed that they were not playing. Their claims to be true believers, followers of the lord of the underworld, were seen by many to be a commercial ploy."[42] Chicago doom metal group Trouble was known to be the first band that was publicly marketed as "white metal" since their early albums Psalm 9 and The Skull feature Biblical references.[43] The origin of the "white metal" term remains unclear; it is merely known that the non-Christian label Metal Blade Records used "white metal" as a marketing term, in contrast to black metal.[44]

Soon, the Christian metal bands became controversial for their beliefs and often evangelistic goals in the metal music scene, which typically holds individualism in particularly high esteem.[1] Stryper, for instance, although a commercial success at that time, received a hostile reception when they played at a Dutch metal festival in 1985.[45] Regardless of this, Stryper helped to popularize the genre.[46] They were the first Christian band to reach platinum status on an album. The 1986 album To Hell with the Devil sold 2 million copies and achieved a Grammy nomination. The music videos for "Free", "Calling on You", and the power ballad "Honestly" all spent many weeks on MTV's Top 10, and "Free" was in the No. 1 position for 12 weeks (60 days), May 4 - July 24, 1987.[46][47]

Not only was Christian metal criticized by non-Christian metal fans, but soon the movement was also criticized by fundamentalists; Allmusic wrote that "when church leaders were accusing heavy metal of encouraging Satanism, Stryper set out to prove that metal and hard rock could be used to promote Christianity. The southern California band was viewed with suspicion by both ministers (who refused to believe that Christianity and metal were compatible) and fellow headbangers—and yet, Stryper managed to sell millions of albums to both Christian and secular audiences."[48] For example, the televangelist Jimmy Swaggart wrote a book titled Religious Rock n' Roll – A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing in 1987 and criticized the scene, particularly Stryper, for using heavy metal music to preach the gospel of Christianity.

In contrast, however, many Christian evangelists and church organizations took a more supportive role. For example, televangelist Jim Bakker expressed public support for the group Stryper, watching them perform and becoming personal friends with the band's members.[49] Many new bands began to arise, eventually drawing the attention of record labels that specialized in Christian music.

#### Emergence of fanzines, record labels, and Sanctuary International

[edit]

Christian metal soon developed into its own independent record labels and networks. The first Christian metal label was Pure Metal Records, a sublabel of Refuge Records. Soon there appeared other labels such as R.E.X. Records and Intense Records. Fanzines were published in several countries, with Heaven's Metal as the first one in the US in 1985. During that time, almost every Christian record label became interested in Christian metal, and they advertised the newly signed metal bands on their roster on Heaven's Metal since it was the only publication exclusively covering the movement. Soon Heaven's Metal achieved more popularity and became an official, professional publication. Heaven's Metal achieved a dedicated flock of 15,000 readers. Bands' sales usually rose when the ensembles were covered on the magazine.[38][50] During the 1980s and early 1990s, the more underground Christian metal releases were typically distributed in Christian bookstores, and those as well as the fanzines also traded Christian metal cassette copies with the music fans.

Many rock and metal fans that became Christians through the ministry of Christian metal bands were rejected from churches in the 1980s. In 1984, California pastor Bob Beeman saw this problem and soon started the ministry called Sanctuary - The Rock and Roll Refuge. This fellowship brought many musicians together and formed groups such as Tourniquet, Deliverance, Vengeance and Mortal that would soon become ground breaking acts in Christian music culture. Sanctuary's first worship leader was Stryper's vocalist Michael Sweet and later Barren Cross' bass player Jim LaVerde. Sanctuary sponsored the first Christian metal festival, The Metal Mardi Gras, held in 1987 in Los Angeles. This proved influential and soon Christian metal festivals were organized elsewhere as well. Sanctuary's activities began spreading, and it had 36 parishes all over the United States at its peak by the 1990s. The Sanctuary parishes had a significant impact on the Christian metal movement: groups that would later become notable such as P.O.D. performed their first concerts in Sanctuary.[51]

By the late 1990s, the parish's workers felt that regular churches' attitudes towards metalheads, rockers and punks had become more permissive, and therefore did not feel the need to keep Sanctuary going on any longer, hence, most of the parishes of Sanctuary were closed. Sanctuary became Sanctuary International, and it currently gives international studies and lessons on Christianity. Sanctuary also runs an internet radio station called "Intense Radio" which, in 2003, reached approximately 150,000 listeners.[51]

### Late 1980s and 1990s

[edit]

Doug Van Pelt of HM Magazine stated that Christian metal had its "heyday" in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[52] By 1987, there were more than a hundred Christian metal bands, and their records were sold at both Christian bookstores and non-Christian retails.[42] By 1988, the four largest Christian metal bands (excluding the mainstream success Stryper) were Bloodgood, Barren Cross, Whitecross, and Leviticus.[53] The Kentucky-based band Bride initially played speed metal, particularly on Live to Die, and reached a wider audience when they released Snakes in the Playground (1992). Despite being criticized for their abrupt changes in style in favor of what's "hot",[54] are still considered "a primeval force at the centre of Christian heavy metal."[55]

In 1989, the Orange County group X-Sinner released its debut album Get It, and was one of the most talked about bands within the white metal scene at the time.[56] Noted for a classic metal sound similar to AC/DC,[56][57][58] X-Sinner has managed to stay at the head of the Christian classic metal scene.[58]

Glam metal band Holy Soldier, another group hailing from California, released its self-titled debut on Word and A&M Records (Myrrh imprint) in 1990 to critical and commercial acclaim. Two years later, the band followed up their debut with Last Train, another critical success, leading to 60 city world tour. The band Guardian achieved some mainstream attention for its album Fire and Love, and one of the videos was included in the MTV's Headbangers Ball rotation.[59] The heavy metal band Angelica introduced vocalist Rob Rock, who also achieved initial fame as the vocalist for guitar virtuoso Chris Impellitteri's band Impellitteri during the 1980s and 1990s and then went solo with his Rage of Creation album.[60]

In the early 1990s, the rising musical styles, especially grunge, began to take their places as the dominant styles in the mainstream, which resulted in heavy metal music losing popularity and going underground for a decade.[61] Many Christian metal musicians began to play extreme metal, and soon death metal replaced thrash metal in popularity. Audiences in many underground metal scenes began favoring more extreme sounds and disparaging the popular styles.[62] As with other glam metal acts of the time, Stryper lost popularity and split up in 1993.[63]

Bruce Moore writes in the e-book Metal Missionaries that during mid-1990s Christian metal "ceased to play catch up (replicating secular bands) and began to assimilate into its rightful place in the Extreme music scene and the artists who played became influential in helping to define this relatively new, but growing genre."[64] With risen musical quality and more street-credibility, Christian metal and hardcore bands were signed to record labels such as Tooth and Nail, Solid State, Facedown Records as well as secular labels Metal Blade and Victory Records. Christian metal was available through non-Christian outlets; "For the first time Extreme Christian music moved from the dusty back bin of the Christian book stores to the front racks at super retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, FYE and even giant retailers like Wal-Mart, Target and Hot Topic."[65] The German secular metal label Nuclear Blast Records also released Christian metal. Torodd Fuglesteg of Norway's Arctic Serenades Records has claimed: "The owner of Nuclear Blast was a committed Christian and he was pushing everything with that religious agenda through Nuclear Blast. Mortification and Horde were pushed like mad by Nuclear Blast when other labels were pushing pure satanic stuff."[66]

### 2000s

[edit]

As I Lay Dying has been at the forefront of metalcore along with Underoath since 2005.[67]

In the first decade of the 21st century, some groups reached mainstream popularity. There are Christian metal bands that perform virtually every subgenre of metal. The Christian metal movement has spread worldwide since it emerged in the early 1980s, and there are now hundreds of active Christian metal bands. Inspired by the metal revival, many 1980s bands have made comebacks including Saint, Bloodgood and Stryper.[68] In October 2004, Doug Van Pelt brought Heaven's Metal back as its own fanzine.[69] The Internet has had a significant role on the revival of Christian metal as well. Many websites and online communities are dedicated to discussions about Christian metal's music, events, and bands.

For the first time since Stryper's success in the 1980s, certain Christian metal artists found mainstream acceptance selling millions of albums to both Christian and non-Christian fans, including Underoath and P.O.D. The latter became the most successful Christian metal band when their 2001 album Satellite went multi-platinum,[70] while the former's 2006 album, Define the Great Line, ranked No. 2 on the Billboard 200.[71] Stryper would re-form in 2003 and eclipse over 10 million in total album sales. They had adopted more of a power metal sound than the "hair metal" style they were known for.[72] Skillet, who is also often labeled as a metal band reached mainstream success while being open about their Christian faith. Their efforts have resulted in over 12 million units sold including two platinum albums. From their 2× platinum album Awake, the song "Monster" alone would sell over 3 million copies. From the same album, the song "Hero" would also reach multi-platinum status.[73]

## Role in metal subgenres

[edit]

### Metalcore

[edit]

Underoath, one of the more prominent metalcore groups

Metalcore features many popular Christian bands, including such crossover bands such as Underoath, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red, Blessthefall, Norma Jean, Haste the Day, The Devil Wears Prada, Confessions of a Traitor, Convictions, Silent Planet, Wolves at the Gate, For Today, Demon Hunter and Fit for a King. Many of these bands have Grammy nominated or have made it high in the charts of the Billboard 200. Norma Jean was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Recording Package" for their album O God, the Aftermath.[74] As I Lay Dying entered the Billboard 200 charts (No. 8) for its record sales and were nominated for the "Best Metal Performance" Grammy for the single "Nothing Left" from the 2007 album An Ocean Between Us.[75] The album made its debut on Metal Blade Records, charting at No. 19 in Canada. In the United States, nearly 40,000 units were sold in its first week. The second week after it was released, it charted at No. 39 in both the United States and Canada. Other Top 200 debuts around the world include a No. 117 in the United Kingdom and No. 154 in Japan.[76] In 2011, The Devil Wears Prada's album Dead Throne charted at No. 10 in the Billboard 200.[77] In 2015, August Burns Red was nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the Grammys for their song "Identity", off their Found in Far Away Places album.[78]

In its 2006 in Review issue (February 2007), Revolver magazine dubbed Christian metal the phenomenon of the year.[79] Editor in Chief Tom Beaujour interviewed the lead vocalists of As I Lay Dying, Demon Hunter, Norma Jean, and Underoath (Tim Lambesis, Ryan Clark, Cory Brandan Putman, and Spencer Chamberlain, respectively) as the front-page article for the issue. Tooth and Nail Records, P.O.D., Zao, War of Ages, Still Remains, and He Is Legend were also mentioned.[80] In 2018, Chamberlain stated that the band no longer identifies as Christian.[81]

### Thrash metal

[edit]

Drummer Ted Kirkpatrick of the American thrash metal band Tourniquet live in 2005

Some notable American Christian thrash metal groups include Deliverance, Believer, Vengeance (frontman, vocalist and last remaining member Roger Martinez currently against Christianity) and Tourniquet.[82] Allmusic states that Vengeance Rising's first two albums "were huge successes in the world of Christian music, making them one of the few bands in the genre to cross over into the secular music scene."[83] Tourniquet was called "arguably the greatest Christian metal band in history" by Cross Rhythms in 1996.[84] Tourniquet's Psycho Surgery was ranked as the second most influential Christian metal album of all time by HM Magazine. Deliverance's 1990 music video for the title track of Weapons of Our Warfare album received some airplay on MTV. Allmusic wrote about Believer's Sanity Obscure album: "Before 1990, the Christian heavy metal genre rarely strayed from generic riffing and poor lyrics. Bands like Petra and Sacred Warrior never broke through to the mainstream for this very reason. With low expectations, Believer released this massive slab of molten metal. Although it never really became popular, several mainstream magazines praised the album."[85]

The British bands Seventh Angel and Detritus introduced Christian thrash metal to Europe. Seventh Angel were considered to be thrash metal pioneers,[86] and their albums achieved mainstream distribution through the Music for Nations label.[87] Cross Rhythms states that for a long time Seventh Angel were considered to be the best metal act in the UK.[86][88][89] Seventh Angel also has included aspects of doom metal on some recordings.[90][91][92] In the 1990s, New Mexico based Ultimatum and Oklahoman group called Eternal Decision gained some attention, the latter with its thrash and groove metal style. The band's eponymous 1997 album hit the record stores in the U.S. and 16 other countries, achieving considerable acclaim and providing the band with even more notice.[93]

### Death metal

[edit]

Main article: Christian death metal

German death metal group Sacrificium live at Elements of Rock 2008, Switzerland

In the late 1980s and early to mid-1990s, Christian death metal bands also emerged. Incubus (later known as Opprobrium), formed in 1986 in Louisiana, United States by two brothers recently immigrated from Brazil, was Christian and in the late 1980s experimented with a death metal sound.[94][95] Mortification and Vomitorial Corpulence, both from Melbourne, Australia, were the main progenitors of the Christian death metal.[96] Mortification, was formed in 1990 out of Steve Rowe's previous band Lightforce, after Rowe decided to move in a heavier direction influenced by Morbid Angel and Napalm Death.[97] The band's 1991 self-titled debut sonically featured a grindcore sound.[98] By 1992, Mortification had moved to a deathgrind sound for that years' release, Scrolls of the Megilloth.[99] This release proved particularly influential in the development of Christian death metal.[96] With that album and the live video album Live Planetarium, both released in 1993, Mortification became not only the most successful and popular Christian death metal group but achieved success in the general market, becoming one of the best-selling heavy metal bands from Australia.[100][96][99][101] The goregrind band Vomitorial Corpulence formed in 1992.[102] The band debuted in 1995 with their album Karrionic Hacktitian released via the compilation album The Extreme Truth through Steve Rowe's Rowe Productions label.[103] Skin Stripper, a 27-song collection of grindcore similar to early period Carcass, was released in 1999.[103]

Roughly contemporary with Mortification and Vomitorial Corpulence, the bands Living Sacrifice and Crimson Thorn, from the United States, and Sympathy, from Canada emerged.[104] Living Sacrifice formed in 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas and was noted for its death metal sound and evangelical Christian lyrics.[105][106][107] Heavily influenced by the Florida death metal scene,[108] the band released three recordings in this vein — Living Sacrifice (1991), Nonexistent (1992), and Inhabit (1994).[107] The debut release featured more of a thrash sound whereas the latter two were more death metal.[106] The band then evolved to a different, more punk influenced, style in the late 1990s.[106][107] As Living Sacrifice shifted direction in its musical style, two of the members, Lance Garvin and Rocky Gray, formed Soul Embraced in 1997 as a side-project to continue making death metal music.[109] Crimson Thorn, formed in Minneapolis, is described by Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic as "surely one of the world's most extreme-sounding Christian metal bands."[110] The band's second release, Dissection, released in 1997, was described by Rad Rockers as "the supreme perfection of Christian death metal."[111] Sympathy began as a five-piece ensemble in 1991 but by 1995 was reduced to a solo project for the recording and release of Age of Darkness.[112][113][114]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Norway's Extol, Finland's Immortal Souls and Deuteronomium, Sweden's Pantokrator, Germany's Sacrificium, Ukraine's Holy Blood, the United States' Embodyment, Feast Eternal, Possession, Aletheian, Becoming the Archetype, and Tortured Conscience, and Brazil's Antidemon all further developed the genre.[115] In the latter half of the 2000s, Impending Doom (from the United States) and Blood Covenant (from India) joined the forefront of Christian death metal.[116]

### Unblack metal

[edit]

Main article: Unblack metal

Norwegian unblack metal band Antestor in 2011 at Elements of Rock

Horde is widely considered to be the first unblack metal (also called Christian black metal) band. As a one-man band with only one release (in 1994), Horde initiated controversy within the extreme metal community, opposing the more common lyrical themes of Satanism and evil.[117] The title of Horde's only release – Hellig Usvart – means "Holy Unblack", which is now often used by Christians to refer to Christian black metal, in order to avoid the negative connotations of the term "black metal".

Antestor (then called Crush Evil) existed prior to the release of Hellig Usvart but their music was a death/doom style, and was not yet musically considered black metal. During the early 1990s when the band was known as Crush Evil, Euronymous, guitarist for the seminal black metal band Mayhem, was planning to stop Crush Evil from continuing.[118] However, this never took place.

The release of Antestor's The Return of the Black Death on the British black metal label Cacophonous Records in 1998 "set the standard for Christian black metal".[119] Swedish Crimson Moonlight's The Covenant Progress, HM Magazine stated, "rivals the best any other band (Christian or secular) in this subgenre can offer."[119] While the unblack scene is not part of the traditional black metal scene, several musicians from both have co-operated: Stian Aarstad of Dimmu Borgir produced Vaakevandring's eponymous EP,[120] and Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem played drums for Antestor's The Forsaken (2005) album.[121]

### Power metal and progressive metal

[edit]

German power metal group Seventh Avenue

Sacred Warrior preceded Christian power metal in the United States. The German group Seventh Avenue, formed in 1989, was one of more notable Christian power metal bands in the 1990s. They released Rainbowland in 1995, and after that the band was signed to Treasure Hunt Records. Their first release on this label, Tales of Tales, topped at 18 on the Japanese Heavy Metal Charts.[122]

Later in the 1990s, the Swedish group Narnia made contributions to Christian power metal history, having signed with Nuclear Blast Records, Germany, and Pony Canyon Records, Japan.[123] Later there appeared more notable European groups such as the German bands Chrystyne and Lightmare, and the Swedish groups XT, Divinefire, Harmony, and Heartcry.[38]

Among the progressive metal representatives were Balance of Power, whose album When the World Falls Down was picked by Japanese label Pony Canyon. Jacobs Dream was signed to Metal Blade Records.[124] HM wrote of the Athens, Georgia based Theocracy's self-titled debut album that "Not only did this release gain [the then-sole member] Matt [Smith] a lot of notoriety in the small Christian power/prog scene but the much larger secular power/prog scene embraced this as well."[119] Later turned to a full band, their sophomore 2008 album Mirror of Souls "defines excellence in current Christian metal."[119]

### Other

[edit]

Dutch symphonic death/doom metal group Morphia

In 1987, the Swedish group Veni Domine started playing progressive and symphonic doom metal and released its first album Fall Babylon Fall in 1992, ranked as the 38th most influential Christian metal album of all time by HM.[125] HM Magazine wrote that Paramaecium, with its 1993 album Exhumed of the Earth, "essentially delivered the most powerful and moving death/doom recording in the history of Christian metal."[119] Saviour Machine's Saviour Machine I was called "amazing accomplishment" by HM and that "their gothic-tinged, progressive metal was quite unique to the scene when it was released in 1993."[119]

The alternative metal style's leading groups included the nu metal bands P.O.D., Thousand Foot Krutch, Disciple, and Pillar. Zao was a pioneer of metalcore, paving way for bands such as Underoath and Norma Jean. The California-based group Mortal is cited as one of the first Christian bands that represented the industrial metal style.[90] Cross Rhythms wrote that when Mortal's second album Fathom hit the scene in 1993 "there was nothing else quite like it" and that it is "truly a musical milestone."[126]

Another 1990s reputive Christian industrial metal band was Circle of Dust.[127] The band received MTV exposure with a music video for "Telltale Crime", and a part of the song "Deviate" was used as the intro-song for a long time in the now defunct MTV Sports show.

Argyle Park, an underground supergroup of Christian industrial metal, received some success with the album Misguided (1995) as did, to some extent, LVL and Klank with Still Suffering in 1997. Klank's second album Numb was somewhat successful because the song "Blind" became a hit single.[128][129] The Australian industrial metal band called Screams of Chaos was known for its bizarre style that combined several extreme metal influences with industrial.[130] The late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century popular American shock rock group Rackets & Drapes was known to have elements of industrial metal, and received a following.[131]

While not as well known as Mortification, fellow Australian band Vomitorial Corpulence was widely known as the first Christian grindcore band. The band had minor success but certainly helped the Extreme metal side of Christian metal.[132]

## In mainstream metal

[edit]

There are notable mainstream acts that feature or have featured Christian members. While these bands may or may not have had lyrics using Christian themes or symbolism, some have caused controversy in their claims to Christianity, such as Tom Araya of Slayer.[133] Other mainstream acts featuring Christian members include Alice Cooper,[134] Killswitch Engage,[135] Iron Maiden,[136] and Megadeth.[137][138]

## Evangelistic subculture

[edit]

The Devil Wears Prada performing at Cornerstone Festival, a world-famous Christian music event

While not uncommon in predominantly Catholic cultures, Christian metal is rooted in evangelical Protestantism, beginning as a means of evangelism among the non-Christian metal scene. Over the years, the focus changed because of the increased secularization of Christianity in the West during the 1990s. Moberg (2008) notes that the current scene seems to have very little interest in evangelism, especially in Northern Europe.[1] Instead, it is argued that the current Christian metal music scene ultimately provides its core members with important resources for the shaping of an alternative and complementary form of religious expression and practice and an alternative Christian identity.[139] Thus, Moberg states that Christian metal serves four main purposes: as an alternative form of religious expression and identity; as a legitimate form of religious expression; as an effective means of evangelism and fighting and standing up for the Christian faith; and as a positive alternative to non-Christian metal.[140]

In a 2006 interview with HM Magazine, Steve Rowe of Mortification, one of the best known figures in the scene, implied that evangelism is of secondary importance and that Christian metal should first and foremost bring "spiritual encouragement" for its Christian listeners.[1] Moberg (2006) suspects that Christian metal music may suggest dissatisfaction with traditional forms of worship among today's young Christians: "They may not feel comfortable with just going to church and singing hymns, they need an alternative means to express the same faith."[141] Apart from evangelism, Christian metal may also provide a means "to get away from the image of Christianity as something rigid and boring".[141]

Luhr (2009) states that Christian metal expresses feeling of isolation and rebellion just like non-Christian metal - but in a completely different way. Christian metal's rebellion is about "Christian opposition to the perceived sinfulness and immorality of a late modern society and culture in which traditional family values have been eroded through such things as the legalization and increasing acceptability of abortion and pornography and the rise of gay rights and feminist movements." Causes for the feeling of isolation can be explained with the fundamental Christian struggle of being in the world but not of it. Bloodgood and Barren Cross inverted the meaning of rebellion by declaring that in Western society and culture the Christian faith is true rebellion.[142] As in non-Christian metal, fans are encouraged to stand up for their faith, think for themselves and not blindly follow authorities, including religious ones.[140]

According to Moberg (2008), Christian metal has developed scenes in countries with long-standing metal subcultures: United States, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Despite its seemingly marginal niche audience, as Christian metal fans are counted in the thousands and the non-Christian metal fans in the millions,[143] the Christian metal scene is one of the few transnational Christian communities that do not have any leaders or creed - only music connects its attendees. Just like non-Christian metal, the Christian metal scene has developed its own infrastructure of record labels, promotion and distribution channels, specialized media, discussion forums, attitude, rhetorics, slogans such as "Turn or Burn!", "Faster for the Master!" and "Support the War against Satan!", as well as webstores and festivals. Brazil and Mexico have tiny parishes of Christian metal fans. Finland in particular, with metal being more mainstream there than anywhere in the world, has held popular Metal Masses picked up by the Lutheran former state church since 2006.[140]

Most Christian metalheads also listen to non-Christian metal; Christian metal merely offers counterbalance for the dark message of non-Christian metal, and most Christian metalheads only avoid the most satanic bands, if even them, since some ignore the issue altogether.[1] Some differences in concert gestures have been noticed: Los Angeles Times reported in 1985 that in Stryper shows the audience were seen "poking stubby 'one way' fingers heavenward—a refutation of the double-fingered devil horns salute of many metal groups".[27]

## Controversy

[edit]

Australian gothic metal band Virgin Black attempts to highlight the difference between the Church and the spiritual aspects of Christianity.[144]

Certain Christian groups, most notably those in some King James Only denominations,[145] consider all types of rock and metal music to be opposition to their faith, regardless of lyrical content or the lifestyles of the band members. However, fans and artists see metal as another genre of music, parallel to such genres as blues, classical, jazz, punk, and hip-hop. Bands such as Showbread and Antestor believe that the instrumentation of the music is simply a medium of art, while the person creating the music as well as the lyrics being presented provide the message. Therefore, Christian metal is created when Christians compose metal music in a way that reflects their faith in Christ.[36]

Keith Kahn-Harris, an English scholar of metal, states in the book Extreme Metal that sometimes fans of metal consider Christian faith and adherence in Church a membership of an established authority, and therefore Christian metal bands are seen as "posers" and the use of Christian lyrics to be opposed to the "true" purpose of metal, which values individualism and ignoring the opinions or rejection of religion.[146]

Christian metal groups such as Barnabas and Extol have criticized bands within the industry for a lack of innovation and for isolating bands within the industry.[27][36][147] Pastor Bob Beeman of Sanctuary International stated that this is a compliment to secular music, as it lets people to listen to the music they enjoyed without feeling like they are giving up on the style they love and allows bands to crossover into mainstream success.[148]

## Christian metal radio

[edit]

Christian metal is very much a counterculture of the Christian music scene.[original research?] It has never had any major corporate radio outlets, in contrast with the more accepted CCM-associated Christian music formats. Nevertheless, it has remained culturally significant in the genre, primarily enduring the test of time through word of mouth and through the help of pioneering Christian rock and metal broadcasters. Despite the lack of commercial radio support, Christian metal broadcasters have managed to hit the airwaves on public radio, campus radio, Internet radio, and in recent years through podcasting via the Internet. As digital broadcasting technology becomes more accessible, the number of Christian metal broadcasters has steadily increased. Some of today's largest non-commercial Christian alternative radio stations such as RadioU, Call FM,[149] and Effect Radio have some Christian metal programing late nights and on weekends. However, as a whole these larger stations generally maintain a format prescribed by the Gospel Music Association. Other stations such as Almighty Metal Radio,[150] Savage Rock Radio,[151] Reign Radio,[152] Metal Blessing Radio,[153] The Cross Stream,[154] The Refinery Rock Radio,[155] www.theBlast.fm, and FuelRadio.FM[156] have been able to maintain twenty-four-hour Christian metal formats through Internet radio. In September 2011 The Refinery Rock Radio became Dead to Self Radio and in November 2016 FuelRadio.FM changed to FuelRadio.net. Dead to Self Radio and Fuel Radio are owned by Thomas Johns. Some notable Christian metal radio DJs, shows and podcasts include: Jesus Solid Rock[157] ('74–'80) hosted by Pastor Bob Beeman, Intense Radio[158] ('95–present) founded by Pastor Bob Beeman and Sanctuary International, HM Podcast[159] with HM Magazine founder & publisher Doug Van Pelt, The Full Armor of God Broadcast[160] ('97–present) hosted by Bro Scotland Kubinski (Kuba "The Demon Slayer"), Radio U Hardcore[161] and ('02–present) hosted by Jaddeus Dempsey (a.k.a. "Jad"), and The Nation of Rockwell.[162]

## See also

[edit]

* Christian rock
* Heavy metal music
* Jesus movement
* List of Christian metal artists
* Unblack metal
* Hell's Bells: The Dangers of Rock 'N' Roll

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Moberg, Marcus (November 3, 2008). Turn or Burn? The Peculiar Case of Christian Metal Music (PDF). Heavy Fundamentalisms: Music, Metal & Politics. Salzburg, Austria: Inter-Disciplinary.Net. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015.
2. ^ John J. Thompson, Raised by Wolves: the Story of Christian Rock & Roll (Ottawa, Ontario Canada:, Ontario: ECW Press, 2000), ISBN 1-55022-421-2, pp. 153-4.
3. ^ Thompson 2000, pp. 153–4.
4. ^ Moberg 2015, pp. 37–8.
5. ^ Varney, James (January 1, 2020). "Stryper illustrates Christian bands' struggle to crossover to mainstream". The Washington Times.
6. ^ Bombek, Kirk. "Mortification". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
7. ^ Alfonso, Barry (2002). The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music. Billboard. p. 200\. ISBN 9780823077182.
8. ^ Moberg 2015, pp. 39.
9. ^ Beaujour, Tom (June 24, 2010). "Underoath, As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean and Demon Hunter". revolvermag.com. Revolver Magazine. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010.
10. ^ DiBiase, John (November 16, 2003). "Skillet, "Collide" Review". JesusFreakHideout.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
11. ^ Adams, Ryan (October 22, 2020). "Thousand Foot Krutch's 'Phenomenon'". New Release Today. Archived from the original on January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
12. ^ DiBiase, John (June 6, 2006). "Red, "End of Silence" Review". JesusFreakHideout.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
13. ^ CCMMagazine.com: Skillet Closes Out 2007 With Grammy Nomination Archived December 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
14. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
15. ^ "Red – Artist – GRAMMY.com". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved April 13, 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
16. ^ a b c Heatley, Michael (November 20, 2018). Heavy Metal: The Story in Pictures. New York: Quarto Publishing. p. 172\. ISBN 978-0-7858-3661-2.
17. ^ a b c Lahtonen, Jussi (February 29, 2008). "White Metal". Sue (in Finnish). Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
18. ^ a b "Christian Metal Music Style Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
19. ^ Moberg, Marcus (November 3, 2008). Turn or Burn? The Peculiar Case of Christian Metal Music (PDF). Heavy Fundamentalisms: Music, Metal & Politics. Salzburg, Austria: Inter-Disciplinary.Net. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015.
20. ^ Walser 8,10
21. ^ By the 1980s features such as guitar- and vocal-distortion and power riffs using chords with roots a tritone apart became cliché; see Theo Cateforis, "How Alternative Turned Progressive: The Case of Math Rock", Progressive Rock Reconsidered, ed. Kevin Holm-Hudson (London: Routledge, 2013), 76-77. ISBN 9781135710293
22. ^ Rev. Anthony Martlew [leader of Ensign Trust, a Britain-is-Israel religious group], "Chaplain's Page: Black Sabbath" (2010): https://ensignmessage.com/articles/chaplains-page/ Response to Rev. Rachel Mann, quoted in Martin Beckford, "" Daily Telegraph (Aug 31, 2010); at https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph/20100831/284429915262472
23. ^ "11 Bands You Might Not Realize Are Christian". BuzzFeed. April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
24. ^ "Master of Reality". Warr.org. May 16, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
25. ^ Weinstein, Heavy Metal: The Music and its Culture (NY: Hachette, 2009), 98-110. ISBN 9780786751037
26. ^ Rabey, Steve (February 15, 1985). "A Christian 'Heavy-Metal' Band Makes Its Mark on the Secular Music Industry". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
27. ^ a b c "CT Classic: A Christian 'Heavy-Metal' Band Makes Its Mark on the Secular Music Industry". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
28. ^ Beckford, Martin (August 31, 2010). "Christians could learn a lot about life from heavy metal says cleric". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
29. ^ Romagna, Emilia (June 26, 2008). "Friar to open heavy metal concert". Italymag. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
30. '^ Cope, Andrew L. Black Sabbath and the Rise of Heavy Metal Music. Ashgate Publishing Ltd., 2010. p. 139
31. ^ Hayes, Craig. "A Very Dirty Lens: How Can We Listen to Offensive Metal". PopMatters. September 20, 2013.
32. ^ Lunskow, George N. Religious Innovation in a Global Age: Essays on the Construction of Spirituality. McFarland, 2004.
33. ^ Cope, Andrew L. Black Sabbath and the Rise of Heavy Metal Music. Ashgate Publishing Ltd., 2010. p. 39
34. ^ Kalis, Quentin (August 31, 2004). "CoC : Rant : Black Metal: A Brief Guide". Chronicles of Chaos. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
35. ^ Dome, Michael (2007). Murder Music: Black Metal (motion picture). Rockworld TV. Event occurs at [time needed].
36. ^ a b c d e f g h Kapelovitz, Dan (February 2001). "Heavy Metal Jesus Freaks - Headbanging for Christ". Mean Magazine. Archived from the original on August 5, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
37. ^ Thompson 2000, "Heavenly Metal", p. 154
38. ^ a b c d Jonsson, Johannes. "Christian Metal History". The Metal For Jesus Page!. MetalForJesus.org. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
39. ^ Powell 2002, "Jerusalem", pp. 448–449
40. ^ Thompson 2000, "Heavenly Metal", p. 155
41. ^ Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. Pages 196. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-380-81127-8.
42. ^ a b Weinstein 2000, "Heavenly Metal: The beast that refuses to die", p. 53-54
43. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Trouble". AllMusic. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
44. ^ Lahtonen, Luxi. "Interview with Trouble". Metal-rules.com. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
45. ^ Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. Pages 204. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-380-81127-8.
46. ^ a b Hale 1993, "2869 Stryper", p. 336
47. ^ Thompson 2000, "Heavenly Metal", p. 152-156
48. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Stryper - The Yellow and Black Attack!". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
49. ^ Darryl Smyers (May 17, 2012). "Michael Sweet of Stryper: "We Have Always Thrown Bibles And We Always Will."". DC9 at Night. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
50. ^ Langer, Andy (August 7, 2000). "Heaven's Metal". Weekwire. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
51. ^ a b "Interview with Pastor Bob Beeman". RadioJC.net. Metal Service II. August 7, 2000. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
52. ^ Sciarretto, Amy (September 6, 2010). "HM Magazine Chooses Top Christian Metal Albums of All Time". Noise Creep.
53. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (August 1989). "Why Are All the Children Headbanging". CCM Magazine. Vol. 12, no. 2\. pp. 14–15, 32. ISSN 1524-7848.
54. ^ Long, Andy (December 1, 2000). "Bride - The Best of Bride". Cross Rhythms. No. 60. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
55. ^ Spenceley, Haydon (February 18, 2007). "Bride - Skin for Skin". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
56. ^ a b Williams, Dave (June 1, 1990). "X-Sinner - Get It". Cross Rhythms Magazine No. 1. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
57. ^ Powell 2002, p. 1060.
58. ^ a b Martin, Ben (January 11, 2009). "X-Sinner - World Covered in Blood". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
59. ^ Powell 2002, "Guardian", p. 393–395
60. ^ Figgis, Alex (August 1, 2000). "Impellitteri - Impellitteri". Cross Rhythms. No. 58. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
61. ^ Christe (2003), pp. 304–6; Weinstein (1991), p. 278
62. ^ Walser, Robert (1993). Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 0-8195-6260-2, p. 14; Christe (2003), p. 170
63. ^ Christe (2003). The Change in the 1990s: Black Album and Beyond. Page 230.
64. ^ Moore 2010, "Chapter Three: Genres Defined", pp. 45
65. ^ Moore 2010, "Chapter Three: Genres Defined", pp. 46
66. ^ Fuglesteg, Torodd. "Arctic Serenades". Toroddfuglesteg.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
67. ^ Harris, Chris; Wiederhorn, Jon (June 1, 2007). "As I Lay Dying Get Sick of Metalcore". Mtv.com. MTV. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
68. ^ "Stryper's Tim Gaines: 'God is doing great things in these last days'". Blabbermouth. December 8, 2002. Archived from the original on January 18, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
69. ^ "Heaven's Metal Re-launches as a Fanzine". Phantom Tollbooth. October 4, 2004. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
70. ^ MacKenzie, Wilson. "P.O.D. Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
71. ^ Hasty, Katie (June 28, 2006). "Furtado Scores First Chart-Topping Album". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
72. ^ "STRYPER Continues to Dominate Billboard Charts with New Studio Album 'God Damn Evil'". www.newreleasetoday.com.
73. ^ Parke, Caleb (July 26, 2019). "Christian rock band 'Skillet' explains how it got its name". Fox News.
74. ^ "48th Annual Grammy Nominations – Complete List Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine", CBS2.com, January 14, 2017.
75. ^ "As I Lay Dying Receives Grammy Nomination". Punk TV. December 6, 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
76. ^ Caustic (December 6, 2007). "As I Lay Dying album chart international!". Heavy Metal Music Dot Biz. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
77. ^ Billboard (October 1, 2011). "Top 200 Albums". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
78. ^ "The 58th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees List" (PDF). National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
79. ^ "Christian Metal Receives Recognition". Indie Vision Music. Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
80. ^ Johnson, Wesley. "Revolver on Christian metal". Buzz Grinder. Archived from the original on December 24, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2007. "The cover of the latest Revolver Magazine features members of As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean, Underoath and Demon Hunter. The photo goes along with an extensive write-up on Christian Metal, which they've dubbed 'phenomenon of the year.'"
81. ^ "Spencer Chamberlain: How Losing Religion Saved Underoath". Revolver. March 26, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
82. ^ Powell 2002, pp. 993–994.
83. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Vengeance Rising". AllMusic. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
84. ^ Smit, Bas (1996). "Tourniquet - Collected Works". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
85. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Believer - Sanity Obscure". AllMusic. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
86. ^ a b Sammons, Greg (July 31, 2006). "Seventh Angel - Heed the Warning Demo Recordings". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
87. ^ Hoff, Brian (July 1, 1990). "Seventh Angel - The Torment". Cross Rhythms. No. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
88. ^ Cummings, Tony (June 1, 1991). "Detritus - Perpetual Defiance". Cross Rhythms. No. 6. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
89. ^ Raybold, Marc (August 1, 1993). "Detritus - If But for One". Cross Rhythms. No. 16. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
90. ^ a b (Finnish) Lahtonen, Jussi (February 29, 2008) White Metal at the Wayback Machine (archive index). Sue Rock Punk Metal Zine.
91. ^ Clark, Richard (June 1, 1990). "Seventh Angel - Heed the Warning". Cross Rhythms Magazine No. 1. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
92. ^ Sammons, Greg (July 27, 2009). "Seventh Angel - The Dust of Years". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
93. ^ Mesquita Borges, Mario (April 30, 2005). "Eternal Decision". Allmusic. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
94. ^ Moberg 2015, p. 38
95. ^ Huey, Steve. "Opprobrium". AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
96. ^ a b c Moberg 2015, p. 38
97. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Mortification". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
98. ^ Alfonso 2002a, p. 200, Mortification.
99. ^ a b "Mortification". Australian Music Online (AMO). Australia Council for the Arts (Government of Australia). Archived from the original on August 10, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
100. ^ Unger 2016, p. 538.
101. ^ Schulz, Peter (October 26, 2004). Carson, Gary (ed.). "Metal Down Under - Metal in Aussie style". Imperiumi.net. Translated by J.Grym; additional contributions by Mape Ollila. Archived from the original on October 26, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
102. ^ "History of Vomitorial Corpulence". Vomitorial Corpulence. April 2008. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
103. ^ a b Giffin, Brian (May 4, 2015). "Vomitorial Corpulence". Encyclopaedia of Australian Heavy Metal (3rd ed.). Katoomba: Dark Star. p. 2298\. ISBN 978-0-9943206-1-2.
104. ^ Moberg 2015, p. 38
105. ^ O'Gieblyn, Meghan (October 9, 2018). Interior States: Essays. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 143\. ISBN 978-0-525-56270-2.
106. ^ a b c McIver, Joel (March 4, 2010). Extreme Metal II. London: Omnibus Press. pp. PT117. ISBN 978-0-85712-224-7.
107. ^ a b c Downey, Ryan J. "Living Sacrifice". Allmusic. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
108. ^ Anderson, Jason. "Nonexistent - Living Sacrifice". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
109. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Soul Embraced". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
110. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Crimson Thorn". Allmusic. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
111. ^ Powell 2002, p. 206, Crimson Thorn.
112. ^ Morrow, Matt. Sympathy at the Wayback Machine (archive index). HM Magazine.
113. ^ Tormentor Erich. "Sympathy". Lords of Metal. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
114. ^ Ehrhardt, Claudia (July 14, 2004). "Sympathy". Ice Vajal. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
115. ^

* Extol, Immortal Souls, Deuteronomium, Pantokrator, Aletheian, and Becoming the Archetype: Moberg 2015, p 38
* Sacrificium: "Sacrificium - Cold Piece of Flesh". Rock Hard. No. 201\. January 20, 2004. Retrieved November 12, 2024.Schneider, Martin (November 7, 2007). "Konzertberichte | Sacrificium - Kaiserslautern". Powermetal.de (in German). Retrieved November 12, 2024.
* Embodyment: "Religious Infamy: In 1998, Embodyment pioneered the deathcore genre with "Embrace The Eternal"". Breaking Scene Media. February 8, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2024.; Smith-Engelhardt, Joe (March 6, 2020). "10 albums that inspired deathcore before it was a movement". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
* Holy Blood: "Holy Blood -". Folk-Metal.nl. Retrieved November 7, 2024.; Gatto, Chris (May 14, 2019). "Holy Blood: Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo". Heaven's Metal Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
* Feast Eternal: Lang, Stefan (February 2, 2014). "Review | FEAST ETERNAL - Forward Through Blood". Powermetal.de (in German). Retrieved November 18, 2020.; "Feast Eternal: More Details Revealed About 'Prisons Of Flesh' Reissue". Blabbermouth.net. September 24, 2006. Retrieved November 5, 2024.;
* Possession: Harp, Loyd (August 9, 2024). "Song of the Day: Possession - Have No Fear - News, Song of The Day". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved November 5, 2024.; Roy, Dale (1997). "Interview by Dale Roy with Nyk Late 1997…". Canadian Assault Zine. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
* Tortured Conscience: "13 Totally Rocking Christmas Songs". Kerrang! Radio. January 5, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
* Antidemon: Gonsalves, Michelle (March 19, 2011). "Brutus et Celestial Burn in concert with Brazil's Antidemon - Guyana Chronicle". Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved November 13, 2024.; Oliveira, Melqui (September 8, 2019). "Antidemon faz time de guitarristas para turnê mundial". Templo Metal • Rock e Heavy Metal Cristão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved November 13, 2024.; Oliveira, Melqui (January 6, 2024). "Antidemon comemora 30 anos e confirma Tour no Japão". Templo Metal • Rock e Heavy Metal Cristão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved November 13, 2024.

116. ^

* Impending Doom: Moberg 2015, p 39
* Blood Covenant: "Metal mania". Bangalore Mirror. October 15, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2024.; Deb, Poulomi (April 24, 2024). "Chennai's metal scene evolves with steady head banging and roars". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved November 7, 2024.; Thakkar, Drashti (April 15, 2013). "Metal, India style…". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved October 27, 2024.

117. ^ "MusikkOpp-ned oppnedkors!". Morgenbladet (in Norwegian). Oslonett. February 6, 1995. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
118. ^ Eithun, Bård G. "Faust". "Mayhem Interview". Orcustus zine. Blackmetal.nu. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2007. "[...] when it comes to bands like Crush Evil, we must take serious action. It's bad enough to have a couple of society bands, but a CHRISTIAN band is too much. But don't worry, we have plans. They will not continue for a very long time."
119. ^ a b c d e f Van Pelt, Doug (2010). "Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time" (PDF). HM Magazine / Heaven's Metal. Vol. August. pp. 6–14.
120. ^ Hottenbacher, Dirk (May 26, 2005). "Vaakevandring". CrossOver (in German). Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
121. ^ Kemman, Max (April 10, 2004). "Antestor". Jesus Metal. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
122. ^ "Seventh Avenue Biography". Vampire Magazine. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2007. Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Seventh Avenue Biography". MusicMight. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2007.; "Album Review - Seventh Avenue - Eternals". RevelationZ Magazine. December 20, 2004. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
123. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Seventh Avenue Biography". MusicMight. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
124. ^ Christian (September 5, 2005). "Jacobs Dream 'Emotions and Dreams Set to Music'". Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
125. ^ "Veni Domine". MusicMight. 2009. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
126. ^ Figgis, Alex (October 1999). "Mortal - Lusis/Fathom". Cross Rhythms. No. 53. Retrieved May 14, 2007. "Nothing rivals such true genre classics as 'Neplusultra', 'Rift' or the phenomenal 'Bright Wings'. Truly a musical milestone any industrial dance/rock/metal fan would appreciate."
127. ^ Torreano, Bradley (2007). "Circle of Dust - Circle of Dust". Allmusic. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
128. ^ "Klank Biography". Automatapedia webzine. 2007. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
129. ^ Morrow, Matt. "Klayton: Circle of Dust on leaving R.E.X. Records". HM Magazine webzine. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
130. ^ Johnson, Neil (2007). "Scream of Chaos exclusive YouTube documentary (official)". Morphius Film, Australia (video). Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
131. ^ Olson, Chad (2003). "Rackets & Drapes". HM Magazine. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
132. ^ Vaake. "Vomitorial Corpulence - Skin Stripper" (in Italian). Retrieved October 16, 2016.
133. ^ Feniak, Jenny (July 9, 2006). "Slayer likes bad-boy image". Jam.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2007.
134. ^ "Christina Patterson: "Every Word of the Bible is True": An Interview With Alice Cooper". Huffingtonpost.com. October 17, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
135. ^ Holtz, Adam R. "Lights in a Loud Place". Plugged in Online. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
136. ^ "Iron Maiden Drummer Nicko McBrain Gives His Life To Christ". Blabbermouth.net. June 4, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
137. ^ David Stagg (September 14, 2013). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: 'I have a personal relationship with Christ, but I don't believe in religion'". HM Magazine. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
138. ^ "Megadeth Bassist Wants to Be a Lutheran Pastor | Music News". Rolling Stone. January 20, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
139. ^ Moberg 2009
140. ^ a b c Moberg, Marcus (2007). The Transnational Christian Metal Scene Expressing Alternative Christian Identity through a Form of Popular Music (PDF). INTER: A European Cultural Studies Conference in Sweden. Linköping, Sweden: Inter-Disciplinary.Net.
141. ^ a b Aschan, Nadine. "Kristen metallmusik fascinerar". Meddelanden från Åbo Akademi (in Swedish). Retrieved October 21, 2007.
142. ^ Luhr, Eileen (March 2005). "Metal Missionaries to the Nation: Christian Heavy Metal Music, 'Family Values', and Youth Culture, 1984-1994". American Quarterly. No. 57\. pp. 103–128.
143. ^ Moberg 2009, p. 109
144. ^ "Violent Solutions Magazine interview with Rowan London from the band's official website". Virginblack.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2011.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) "Most of our members have had experience with what we would describe as spiritual abuse, and have also witnessed a lot of it around us. We write within that context but intentionally broaden the parameters to encompass a greater variety of personal situations which could include religious, political, social or many other stand points. I personally hope to play a part in helping people understand the difference between the church and God as I feel they are becoming ever more disparate with God often bearing the brunt of the church's atrocities." Archived 11 Feb 2005
145. ^ Yusko, Alan and Prior, Ed. "The Music of Devils in the CHURCH!!!". Bible Believers. Retrieved October 21, 2007.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
146. ^ Kahn-Harris, Keith. Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge. Oxford: Berg, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84520-399-3.
147. ^ Ryhänen, Pekka (2003). "Extol Interview". Imperiumi.net (in Finnish). Retrieved September 17, 2010.
148. ^ Moberg 2009, p. 228
149. ^ "Call FM". Retrieved December 27, 2009.
150. ^ "Almighty Metal Radio". Archived from the original on December 4, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
151. ^ "Savage Rock Radio". Retrieved January 2, 2010.
152. ^ "Reign Radio". Retrieved January 2, 2010.
153. ^ "Metal Blessing Radio". Retrieved December 27, 2009.
154. ^ "The Cross Stream". Retrieved December 27, 2009.
155. ^ "The Refinery Rock Radio". Retrieved January 2, 2010.
156. ^ "Fuel Radio FM". Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
157. ^ "Pastor Bob Beeman's Website". Retrieved December 27, 2009.
158. ^ "Sanctuary International / Intense Radio Website". Retrieved December 27, 2009.
159. ^ "HM Podcast Homepage". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
160. ^ "Full Armor of God Broadcast Website". Retrieved December 27, 2009.
161. ^ "HXC on Radio U". Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
162. ^ "Nation of Rockwell Website". Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2009.

### Sources

[edit]

* Alfonso, Barry (2002a). The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music. New York: Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-8230-7718-2.
* Hale, Mark (1993). Headbangers. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink. ISBN 1-56075-029-4.
* Moberg, Marcus (2009). Faster for the master: exploring issues of religious expression and alternative Christian identity within the Finnish Christian metal music scene. Turku: Åbo Akademi University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-951-765-492-0. pdf
* Moberg, Marcus (2015). Christian Metal: History, Ideology, Scene. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-47257-986-7.
* Moore, Bruce E. (2010). Metal Missionaries: The Assimilation of Extreme Christian Music into Mainstream Consciousness (e-book) (PDF). Australia: Undark.net.
* Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
* Thompson, John J. (2000). Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll (First printing ed.). Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-421-2.
* Unger, Matthew Peter (March 25, 2016). "Contingency and Experience of Christian Extreme Metal". In Reily, Suzel Ana; Dueck, Jonathan M. (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Music and World Christianities. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 538\. ISBN 978-0-19-061417-1.
* Weinstein, Deena (2000). Heavy metal: the music and its culture. US: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-80970-5.

## Further reading

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christian metal.

* Luhr, Eileen (2009). Witnessing suburbia: conservatives and Christian youth culture. California: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25594-4.
* Strother, Eric S. (2013). Unlocking the Paradox of Christian Metal Music. Lexington, Kentucky: University of Kentucky. (Doctoral Dissertation) link
* Pneuma, Esychia (2014). White Metal: Du Bruit Pour l'homme en Croix.

* v
* t
* e

Christian music

Roots and beginnings|

* Homophony vs. Polyphony
* Chorale
* Hymn
* Hymn tune
* Hymnody of continental Europe
* Exclusive psalmody
* Jesus music
* Sacred Harp
* Shape note
* Spirituals

Modern genres|

* Christian adult contemporary
* Contemporary Christian music
* Contemporary worship music
* Gospel music
* Neues Geistliches Lied
* Mass (music)

Fusion genres|

* Christian country music
* Christian electronic dance music
* Christian hip-hop
* Christian R&B
* Christian rock
* Christian alternative rock
* Christian metal
* Unblack metal
* Christian death metal
* Christian punk
* Christian hardcore
* Christian ska
* Gospel blues
* Gospel reggae
* Latin Christian music
* Southern gospel
* Black Gospel music
* Traditional
* Urban contemporary gospel

Chant|

* v
* t
* e

Christian liturgical chant

Eastern|

* Armenian
* Byzantine
* Coptic
* Ethiopian and Eritrean
* Galician
* Obikhod
* Kievan
* Prostopinije
* Syrian
* Znamenny

Western
(Plainsong)|

* Ambrosian (Milanese)
* Anglican
* Beneventan
* Celtic
* Gallican
* Gelineau
* Gregorian
* Mozarabic
* Old Roman
* Ravenna

Lists|

* Anglican church composers
* Christian bands and artists by genre
* Christian country artists
* Christian hardcore bands
* Christian rock bands
* Christian metal artists
* Christian hip-hop artists
* Christian punk bands
* Christian ska bands
* Christian record labels
* Christian vocal artists
* Christian worship music artists
* Gospel musicians

Related topics|

* Anglican church music
* Christian media
* Christian music festival
* Christian music industry
* Church music
* Contemporary Catholic liturgical music

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Heavy metal

Subgenres and
fusion genres|

* Alternative metal
* Avant-garde metal
* Beatdown hardcore
* Biker metal
* Black metal
* National Socialist
* Symphonic
* Blackened death metal
* Blackgaze
* Christian metal
* Christian death metal
* Unblack metal
* Crust punk
* Death metal
* Brutal
* Melodic
* Technical
* Deathgrind
* Death 'n' roll
* Deathcore
* Death-doom
* Funeral doom
* Djent
* Doom metal
* Drone metal
* Electronicore
* Extreme metal
* Folk metal
* Celtic metal
* Medieval metal
* Funk metal
* Glam metal
* Goregrind
* Pornogrind
* Gothic metal
* Grindcore
* Grunge
* Groove metal
* Industrial metal
* Kawaii metal
* Latin metal
* Mathcore
* Metalcore
* Melodic
* Progressive
* Neoclassical metal
* Neue Deutsche Härte
* Nintendocore
* Nu metal
* Pagan metal
* Pirate metal
* Pornogrind
* Post-metal
* Pop metal
* Power metal
* Progressive metal
* Rap metal
* Sludge metal
* Speed metal
* Stoner metal
* Symphonic metal
* Thrash metal
* Crossover thrash
* Viking metal

Musical elements|

* Bass
* Fuzz bass
* Drumming
* Blast beat
* Cymbal choke
* Gallop drumbeat
* Guitar
* Distortion
* Guitar solo
* Palm muting
* Power chord
* Shred guitar
* Lyrics
* Vocals
* Death growl
* Screaming

Notable scenes
and movements|

* African heavy metal
* Argentine heavy metal
* Australian thrash metal
* Australian heavy metal
* Bangladeshi heavy metal
* Bay Area thrash metal
* Brazilian thrash metal
* Canadian heavy metal
* Chinese heavy metal
* Florida death metal
* Hungarian metal
* Indigenous metal music
* Japanese metal
* Les Légions Noires
* New wave of American heavy metal
* New wave of British heavy metal
* Early Norwegian black metal
* Palm Desert
* Swedish death metal
* Teutonic thrash metal
* Ukrainian metal

Culture|

* Bands
* Environmentalism
* Fashion
* Festivals
* Headbanging
* Heavy metal subculture
* Poseur
* Umlaut

* Hard rock
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Contemporary Christian music

Subgenres|

* Christian country music
* Christian electronic dance music
* Christian hip hop
* Christian rock
* Christian alternative rock
* Christian metal
* Christian death metal
* Unblack metal
* Christian punk
* Christian hardcore
* Christian ska
* Contemporary worship music
* Neues Geistliches Lied
* Urban contemporary gospel

Background|

* Religious music in America
* Jesus music
* Contemporary Christian music

Key executives|

* Ralph Carmichael
* Tommy Coomes
* Mike Curb
* Cam Floria
* Billy Ray Hearn
* Kurt Kaiser

Popular culture|

* Christian culture
* Godspell
* Jesus Christ Superstar
* Politics and contemporary Christian music
* Popular music and contemporary Christian music
* Television and contemporary Christian music

Distribution and events|

* Christian Artists Seminar in the Rockies
* Christian Booksellers Association
* Christian radio and contemporary Christian music
* GMA Dove Award
* Christian festivals
* Gospel Grammy Awards
* Gospel Music Association
* Gospel Music Hall of Fame
* Praise and Worship music
* Christan record labels
* Retail and contemporary Christian music
* Zondervan

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template