Christian metal 1

Christian metal

Christian metalStylistic origins Jesus music

Heavy metalPsychedelic rockBlues-rockHard rockChristian rock

Cultural origins Late 1970s United States and Sweden in Jesus movement

Typical instruments Electric guitar - Bass guitar - Drums - Keyboards (occasional)

Mainstream popularity Some in the 1980s and 2000s.

Fusion genres

Unblack metal

Regional scenes

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

Other topics

Bands, Christianity in mainstream metal

Christian metal, also known as white metal,[2] is heavy metal music with a Christian message. Christian metal istypically performed by professed Christians sometimes principally for Christians who listen to heavy metal musicand many times produced and distributed through various Christian networks.[1]

Christian metal bands exist in all the subgenres of heavy metal music, and the only common link between mostChristian metal bands are the lyrics. The Christian themes are often melded with the subjects of the genre the band isrooted in, regularly providing a Christian take on the subject matter. It has been argued that the marginal yettransnational Christian metal subculture provides its core members an alternative religious expression and Christianidentity, and that the music serves the purpose of offering a positive alternative or counterbalance to secular metalmusic which is known for its generally dark and negative message.[1]

Christian metal emerged in the late 1970s as a means of evangelization to the wider heavy metal music scene, andwas pioneered by the American Resurrection Band and Swedish Jerusalem. Los Angeles' Stryper achieved widesuccess in the 1980s, otherwise the genre was mostly ignored by the mainstream. California's Tourniquet andAustralia's Mortification led the movement in the 1990s. The metalcore groups Underoath, Demon Hunter, As I LayDying, and Norma Jean (dubbed by Revolver Magazine as "The Holy Alliance") brought some mainstream attentionto the movement in the first decade of the 21st century, achieving ranks in the Billboard 200.[3]

CharacteristicsChristian metal is not a solitary style of music, but rather an ideological umbrella term that comprises almost everysubgenre of heavy metal music. The musicians within Christian metal bands typically base their lyrics onJudeo-Christian traditions. The lyrical approach of Christian metal bands is somewhat varied, as some emphasize thepositive aspects of faith matters while others iterate the teachings of Christ. Some bands keep their message hiddenin metaphors. Only a minority take an aggressive attitude towards those who speak against Christianity, "preachingfull-on fire and brimstone and Old Testament style God's wrath back at extreme satanists".[4] References toeschatology and apocalyptic themes, particularly the ongoing spiritual warfare between good and evil as well as theLast Judgment and fall from grace are typical.[1]

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The lyrical style varies depending on culture, denomination, and country. For example, in Northern Europe the bandswith Lutheran members usually prefer a personal lyrical approach, which is seldom meant to "convert" in anaggressive manner, since evangelism has been more typical among American bands. Christian bands never denytheir conviction but typically avoid preaching, and sometimes the matter is left unexpressed, leaving religion as aprivate issue of the listener.[4] Certain bands choose to deal with every day life experiences from a Christianperspective 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. Defininga Christian band is a much debated issue on Christian metal forums. A Christian band is expected to have eitherprofessed Christian members or a Christian message, preferably both.[1]

History

Background: Heavy metal music and ChristianityWhen heavy metal music popularized in the late 1960s it became associated with negative, rebellious themes. Heavymetal lyrics and themes often challenged Christian values, and Christianity was seen as an effective and easy targetfor the metal bands to rebel against. Among the early bands to add negative connotations to the term was BlackSabbath, combining heavy metal music with "occult symbols and odes to the Devil". The early bands' use of tritonus,a "dissonant sound of the medieval ‘Devil’s chord’", led to heavy metal being "cast as dumb, crass, and, on occasions,satanic; music hardly fit for intelligent debate, let alone theological reflection."[5]

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." In 1980s, With the growing appeal ofmetal, the National Coalition on Television Violence "called attention to the destructive potential of music videos,many of which graphically depict violence and rebellion."[5] A British cleric and metal fan analysed that because ofdistorted guitar sounds, “intense” beats and “muscular” vocals, heavy metal music songs are “unafraid to deal withdeath, violence and destruction” and that “much of metal’s fascination with Satan or evil is play-acting, driven by adesire to shock."[6] The Italian Capuchin friar and former metal vocalist Cesare Bonizzi ("Fratello Metallo") statedthat 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."[7]

OriginsChristian metal has its origins in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the Jesus movement, a hippie movement withChristian 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 southernCalifornia when hippie street musicians converted to Christianity. These musicians continued playing the same stylesof music they had played before converting, among them heavy metal music, though they infused their lyrics with aChristian message. Larry Norman was one of the earliest Christian rock musicians who released his first album titledUpon This Rock in 1969 which is arguably the first Christian rock album produced.[8] Norman's song "Why Shouldthe Devil Have All the Good Music?" summarised the ideas of these musicians.

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Resurrection Band, one of the first Christian hardrock bands, live in concert, August 1988.

The first Christian hard rock group was possibly the California basedband Agape, formed in the late 1960s. Known for their psychedelicrock and blues influences, the band released an album titled GospelHard Rock in 1971, followed by Victims of Tradition in 1972.[9]

After Agape, the Resurrection Band was formed in 1972 inMilwaukee's Jesus People community and released the hard rockalbum Music to Raise the Dead in 1974. The Swedish groupJerusalem was formed in 1975 and is cited as another early Christianhard rock group.[8] In 1978 Resurrection Band Released its albumAwaiting Your Reply and Jerusalem released Jerusalem (Volume 1).Both albums had a notable impact on Christian music culture.[10]

During that time, heavy metal was a new style of music for theChristian music industry, and many Christian labels did not expect it to sell well. However, Awaiting Your Reply hitbig in the Christian market, and reached #6 on the Gospel album sales charts. Jerusalem also became an instant hitamong listeners, and within the first six months the record sold 20,000 copies, unheard of within the genre ofChristian rock in Europe.[11] The Canadian Daniel Band is cited among the first bands,[8] [10] as is Barnabas.[12]

1980s

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

In the early 1980s there were four notable Christian heavy metalgroups: Messiah Prophet, Leviticus, Saint, and Stryper.[8] Although itis debatable as to which band was formed first, the Orange Countynative glam metal group Stryper was the most popular one. Stryperwas also the first band to identify as Christian metal. Stryper gainedattention with their way of throwing Bibles to the audience at theirconcerts.[8] In the beginning mostly Christians went to Stryper'sconcerts but soon they reached secular audience.[13] In the 1980s,Christian metal bands closely followed the trends of mainstream Metalbands.[8]

During the mid 1980s, heavy metal music divided into numerous subgenres with individual terms. The Chicagodoom metal group Trouble was known to be the first band that was publicly marketed as "white metal" since theirearly albums Psalm 9 and The Skull feature Biblical references, at the time when Christian beliefs were almostunheard of in the metal world, according to Allmusic.[14] The origin of the "white metal" term remains unclear; it ismerely known that the secular label Metal Blade Records used "white metal" as a marketing term in contrast to therising black metal movement which was led by the bands such as Venom, Bathory and Mercyful Fate. However,while the vocalist Eric Wagner wrote all of the Trouble's lyrics, the guitarist Bruce Franklin has said about theChristian themes: "I guess it came from Eric's early interest in Biblical subjects, not from his interest in being aChristian, but from searching for something that was interesting."[15] Later, HM magazine wrote about the band:"While certainly not what one would call a Christian band, many Christian headbangers have enjoyed Troubles'supfront lyrics about the Lord on its first two albums (when they were commonly called the "white metal" band)."[16]

Eric Wagner himself has commented on marketing the band as white metal:

“ It was Metal Blade. Back then they called all of it ´Black Metal´, y´know, Slayer, Danzig, etc., all those bands, they are ´Black Metal´, soI didn't grow up believing in all that crap and I think that people didn't believe in it either. It was a question about marketing your band insome way, so I had to do it. So I did this. Metal Blade called us as a “White Metal band” and I just wished they didn't. ”

—Eric Wagner on Trouble's white metal label in an interview with Metal-Rules.com, January 2004.[17]

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In another source he further explains: "I was brought up catholic, but you have to remember, back in the early 1980s,all the metal was kind of satanic, and I did not get into that vibe." He has implied that Metal Blade (or the ownerBrian Slagel) actually came up with the term in the first place: "I think it was more like Metal Blade trying to be cuteor something, with everything (satanic metal) being called black metal, so why not call us white metal, which is abunch of crap."[18] Soon the Christian metal bands became controversial for their beliefs and often evangelistic goalsin 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 headlined the Dutch metalfestival Dynamo, Eindhoven in 1985.[19] Regardless of this, Stryper helped to popularize the genre,[20] They werethe first Christian band to reach platinum status on an album.; The 1986 album To Hell with the Devil sold 2 millioncopies and achieved a Grammy nomination. The music videos for "Free", "Calling on You", and the power ballad"Honestly" all spent many weeks on Music Television's Top 10, and "Free" was in the number 1 position for 12weeks (60 days), May 4-July 24, 1987.[20] [21]

Not only was Christian metal criticized by secular metal fans, but soon the movement was also criticized byfundamentalists; 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 bandwas 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 secularaudiences."[22] For example, the televangelist Jimmy Swaggart wrote a book titled Religious Rock n' Roll – A Wolfin Sheep's Clothing in 1987 and criticized the scene, particularly Stryper, for using heavy metal music to preach thegospel of Christianity. Many new bands began to arise, eventually drawing the attention of record labels thatspecialized in Christian music.

Emergence of fanzines, record labels, and Sanctuary International

Christian metal soon developed into its own independent record labels and networks. The first Christian metal labelwas Pure Metal Records, a sublabel of Refuge Records. Soon there appeared other labels such as R.E.X. Records andIntense Records.The regular music magazines did not cover the phenomena of Christian metal music industry very often. Fanzineswere published in several countries, with Heaven's Metal as the first one in the US in 1985. During that time almostevery Christian record label became interested in Christian metal, and they advertised the newly signed metal bandson their roster on Heaven's Metal since it was the only publication exclusively covering the movement. SoonHeaven's Metal achieved more popularity and became an official, professional publication. Heaven's Metal achieveda dedicated flock of 15,000 readers. Bands' sales usually rose when the ensembles were covered on the magazine.[10]

[23] During the 1980s and early 1990s, the more underground Christian metal releases were typically distributed inChristian bookstores, and those as well as the fanzines also traded Christian metal cassette copies with the musicfans.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 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. It also reached many born again rock and metal musicians. For example, when Alice Cooper (Vincent Furnier) became a Christian, the Sanctuary personnel advised Cooper not to make "Christian music" since they felt that the Christian industry would turn off Cooper's fans and then he could not

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influence them carefully.[24]

By late 1990s, the parish's workers felt that regular churches' attitudes towards metalheads, rockers and punks hadbecome more permissive, and therefore did not feel the need to keep Sanctuary going on any longer, hence, most ofthe parishes of Sanctuary were closed. Sanctuary became Sanctuary International, and it currently gives internationalstudies and lessons on Christianity. Sanctuary also runs an internet radio station called "Intense Radio" which, in2003, reached approximately 150,000 listeners.[24]

Late 1980s and 1990sDoug Van Pelt of HM Magazine stated that Christian metal had its "heyday" in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[25]

By 1988 the four largest Christian metal bands (excluding the mainstream success Stryper) were Bloodgood, BarrenCross, Whitecross, and Leviticus.[26] The Kentucky based band Bride initially played speed metal, particularly onLive to Die, and reached wider audience on when they released Snakes in the Playground (1992). Despite beingcriticized for their abrupt changes in style in favor of what's "hot",[27] are still considered "a primeval force at thecentre of Christian heavy metal."[28]

Another Californian glam metal group, Holy Soldier 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 withLast Train, another critical success, leading to 60 city world tour. The band Guardian achieved some mainstreamattention for its album Fire and Love, and one of the videos was included in the MTV's Headbangers Ballrotation.[29] The heavy metal band Angelica introduced vocalist Rob Rock, who also achieved initial fame as thevocalist for guitar virtuoso Chris Impellitteri's band Impellitteri during the 1980s and 1990s and then went solo withhis Rage of Creation album.[30]

In the early 1990s, the rising musical styles, especially grunge, began to take their places as the dominant styles inthe mainstream, which resulted in heavy metal music losing popularity and going underground for a decade.[31]

Heavy metal musicians began to seek musical limits, therefore Christian metal musicians began to play extrememetal as well. Soon death metal replaced thrash metal in popularity. Audiences in many underground metal scenesbegan favoring more extreme sounds and disparaging the popular styles.[32] As with other glam metal acts of thetime, Stryper lost popularity and split up in 1993.[33]

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 artistswho played became influential in helping to define this relatively new, but growing genre."[34] With risen musicalquality and more street-credibility, Christian metal and hardcore bands were signed to record labels such as Toothand Nail, Solid State, Facedown Records as well as secular labels Metal Blade and Victory Records. Christian metalwas available through secular outlets; "For the first time Extreme Christian music moved from the dusty back bin ofthe Christian book stores to the front racks at super retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, FYE and even giant retailerslike Wal-Mart, Target and Hot Topic."[35] The German secular metal label Nuclear Blast Records also releasedChristian metal. Torodd Fuglesteg of Norway's Arctic Serenades Records has claimed: "The owner of Nuclear Blastwas 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 satanicstuff."[36]

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2000s

As I Lay Dying has been at the forefront ofmetalcore along with Underoath since 2002.[37]

In the first decade of the 21st century some groups reachedmainstream popularity. There are Christian metal bands that performvirtually every sub-genre of metal. Extol has a mixed (and oftenchanging) style, and is popular among both Christian andNon-Christian metal fans.[38] Extol has toured with secular bandssuch as Mastodon, Opeth and God Forbid, their 2005 album TheBlueprint Dives was nominated for Norway's Grammy,Spellemannsprisen, and it was voted for the top 5 metal albums ofthe year list by the readers of the biggest newspaper in Norwaycalled Dagbladet.[39]

The Christian metal movement has spread worldwide since itemerged in the early 1980s, and there are now hundreds of active Christian metal bands. Inspired by the metalrevival, many 1980s bands have made comebacks including Saint, Bloodgood and Stryper.[40] In October 2004,Doug Van Pelt brought Heaven's Metal back as its own fanzine.[41] The Internet has had a significant role on therevival of Christian metal as well. Many websites and online communities are dedicated to discussions aboutChristian metal's music, events, and bands.

Underoath, one of the more prominent metalcoregroups.

For the first time since Stryper's success in the 1980s, certain Christianmetal artists have found mainstream acceptance selling millions ofalbums to both Christian and non-Christian fans, including Underoathand P.O.D.. P.O.D. became the most successful Christian metal bandwhen their 2001 album Satellite went multi-platinum.[42] Metalcore'spopularity is especially based on Christian bands, including suchcrossover band such as Underoath, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red,Norma Jean, Haste the Day, The Devil Wears Prada, Disciple, andDemon Hunter. As I Lay Dying have entered the Billboard 200 charts(#8) for its record sales and were nominated for the "Best MetalPerformance" Grammy for the single "Nothing Left" from the 2007album An Ocean Between Us.[43] The album made its debut on Metal

Blade Records,' charting at #19 in Canada. In the United States, nearly 40,000 units were sold in its first week. Thesecond week after it was released, it charted at #39 in both the United States and Canada. Other Top 200 debutsaround the world include a #117 in the United Kingdom and #154 in Japan.[44]

In its 2006 In Review issue (February 2007), Revolver Magazine dubbed Christian metal the phenomenon of theyear.[45] Editor in Chief Tom Beaujour interviewed the lead vocalists of As I Lay Dying, Demon Hunter, NormaJean, and Underoath (Tim Lambesis, Ryan Clark, Cory Brandan Putman, and Spencer Chamberlain, respectively) asthe front-page article for the issue. Tooth and Nail Records, P.O.D., Zao, War of Ages, Still Remains, and He IsLegend were also mentioned.[3]

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Christian bands in metal subgenres

Thrash metal

Drummer Ted Kirkpatrick of the American thrashmetal band Tourniquet live in 2005.

Some notable American Christian thrash metal groups includeDeliverance, Believer, Vengeance and Tourniquet.[46] Allmusic statesthat Vengeance Rising's first two albums "were huge successes in theworld of Christian music, making them one of the few bands in thegenre to cross over into the secular music scene."[47] Tourniquet wascalled "arguably the greatest Christian metal band in history" by CrossRhythms in 1996.[48] Tourniquet's Psycho Surgery was ranked as thesecond most influential Christian metal album of all time by the HMMagazine. Deliverance's 1990 music video for the title track ofWeapons 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 neverbroke through to the mainstream for this very reason. With low expectations, Believer released this massive slab of molten metal. Although itnever really became popular, several mainstream magazines praised the album.[49] ”

The British bands Seventh Angel and Detritus introduced Christian thrash metal to Europe. Seventh Angel wereconsidered to be thrash metal pioneers,[50] and their albums achieved mainstream distribution through Music forNations label.[51] The band was known for its combination of doom metal and thrash metal.[52] Cross Rhythms statesthat for a long time Seventh Angel were considered to be the best metal act in the UK.[50] [53] [54]

In 1990s, New Mexico based Ultimatum and Oklahoman group called Eternal Decision gained some attention, thelatter with its thrash and groove metal style. The 1997 album Eternal Decision hit the record stores in the U.S. and16 other countries, achieving considerable acclaim and providing the band with even more notice.[55]

Death metal

German death metal groupSacrificium live at Elements of

Rock 2008, Switzerland.

Whilst Allmusic commented that "the term Christian death metal seems like oneof music's most comical oxymorons," the Brazilian-American band Opprobriumcombined Christian lyrics with death metal at the time when the style emerged.[56]

In 1990, the Australian group Mortification became the first widely recognizedChristian death metal band. Their 1992 album Scrolls of the Megilloth garneredthe band some attention from the heavy metal underground, according toAllmusic.[]

At roughly the same time the band Living Sacrifice was creating thrash and deathmetal, particularly on the albums Nonexistent (1992) and Inhabit (1994). Laterthey "evolved from their early death metal-inspired rumblings into a crushing,staccato-driven, heavily percussive metallic behemoth that pummels listeners withintense riffage and a decidedly personal, though nevertheless, often evangelicallyrical viewpoint."[57] The Minneapolis based Crimson Thorn is described byAllmusic as "one of the world's most extreme-sounding Christian metal

bands."[58]

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Unblack metal

Norwegian black metal band Antestor in 2007.

Horde is widely considered to be the first Christian black metal band.As a one man band with only one release (in 1994), Horde initiatedcontroversy within the extreme metal community, opposing the morecommon lyrical themes of Satanism and evil.[59] The title of Horde'sonly release — Hellig Usvart — means "Holy Unblack", which is nowoften used by Christians to refer to Christian black metal, in order toavoid the negative connotations of the term "black metal".

Antestor (then called Crush Evil) existed prior to the release of HelligUsvart but their music was a death/doom style, and was not yetmusically 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 tostop Crush Evil from continuing.[60] However, this never took place.

The release of Antestor's The Return of the Black Death on the British secular black metal label CacophonousRecords in 1998 proved influential on the Christian black metal movement. While the unblack scene is not part ofthe secular black metal scene, several musicians from both have co-operated: Stian Aarstad of Dimmu Borgirproduced Vaakevandring's eponymous EP,[61] and Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem played drums for Antestor's TheForsaken (2005) album.[62]

The movement has received some coverage in mainstream media; in 2006 Admonish achieved wider notice whentwins Emil (guitar) and Jonas Karlsson (bass) both appeared on the MTV Europe show Pimp My Ride Internationalon October 6.[63] [64] In 2007, the Norwegian band Frosthardr appeared on the documentary feature film MurderMusic – A History of Black Metal (2007). They were interviewed for a minute and represented the Christian point ofview in (un)black metal music.[65]

Power metal and progressive metal

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 morenotable Christian power metal bands in the 1990s. They releasedRainbowland in 1995, and after that the band was signed to TreasureHunt Records. Their first release on this label, Tales of Tales, topped at18 on the Japanese Heavy Metal Charts.[66]

Later in the 1990s, the Swedish group Narnia made contributions toChristian power metal history, having signed with Nuclear BlastRecords, Germany, and Pony Canyon Records, Japan.[67] Later thereappeared more notable European groups such as the German bands

Chrystyne and Lightmare, and the Swedish groups XT, Divinefire, Harmony, and Heartcry.[10]

Among the progressive metal representatives were Balance of Power, whose album When the World Falls Down waspicked by Japanese label Pony Canyon. Jacobs Dream was signed to Metal Blade Records.[68] The Athens, Georgiabased Theocracy achieved some popularity with their self-titled debut album in both Christian and secular scenes.[69]

Theocracy have since become a five member band [70] Their sophomore album Mirror of Souls in 2008 was releasedto very strong reviews.[71]

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Other

Dutch symphonic death/doom metal groupMorphia.

In 1987, the Swedish group Veni Domine started playing progressivedoom metal and released its first album Fall Babylon Fall in 1992,ranked as the 38th most influential Christian metal album of all time byHM.[72]

Zao and Dan Weyandt live in Karlsruhe,Germany, September 10, 2004.

The alternative metal style's leading groups included the nu metalbands POD, Thousand Foot Krutch, Disciple, and Pillar. Zao was apioneer of metalcore, paving way for bands such as UnderOath andNorma Jean. In 1988, the industrial metal movement began. Althougha fusion genre, there was a notable and mostly American basedChristian movement around the style in the 1990s. The Californiabased group Mortal is cited as one of the first Christian bands thatrepresented the style.[4] Mortal was not the first Christian band thatplayed industrial metal, but they had a notable role in that they openedways for 1990s industrial metal bands, both Christian and secular. Thesecond album Fathom (1993) was Mortal's most guitar-drivenmusically, and became one of the band's most popular releases.[73]

Another 1990s reputive Christian industrial metal band was Circle of Dust.[74] The band received MTV exposuredwith music video for ”Telltale Crime”, and a part of the song ”Deviate” was used as the intro-song for a long time inthe now defunct MTV Sports show.

Argyle Park, an underground supergroup of Christian industrial metal, received some success with the albumMisguided (1995) as did, to some extent, LVL and Klank with Still Suffering in 1997. klank's second album Numbwas somewhat successful because the song ”Blind” became a hit single.[75] [76] The Australian industrial metal bandcalled Screams of Chaos was known for its bizarre style that combined several extreme metal influences withindustrial.[77] 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.[78]

Christianity in mainstream metalThere are notable mainstream acts that feature or have featured Christian members. While these bands may or maynot have had lyrics using Christian themes or symbolism, some have caused controversy in their claims toChristianity, such as Tom Araya of Slayer[79] and Ralph Santolla of Deicide.[80] Others, such as Killswitch Engageand Linkin Park also have members who are Christian and frequently use spiritual themes.[81] [82]

Evangelistic goals, sociology and subcultureThe phenomenon of Christian metal music has been academically explored in US., Sweden and Finland.[83] Marcus Moberg, a scholar of Åbo Akademi University Department of Comparative Religion, explored the transnational and Finnish Christian metal scenes for five years interviewing Finnish Christian metal musicians and wrote a few articles as well as a ThD thesis in 2009 titled Faster for the Master! Exploring Issues of Religious Expression and

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Alternative Christian Identity within the Finnish Christian Metal Music Scene. Moberg believes that "In relation tocurrent debates on religious change and transformation in the West, it is argued that the Christian metal music sceneprovides its core members with important resources for the shaping of an alternative and complementary form ofreligious expression and practice and an alternative Christian identity."[84] While not uncommon in predominantlyCatholic countries, Christian metal is firmly rooted in evangelical Protestantism (evangelicalism), hence, beginningas a means of evangelism among secular metal scene. Moberg states Christian metal serves the following purposes:an alternative form of religious expression and identity; as a legitimate form of religious expression; as an effectivemeans of evangelism and fighting and standing up for the Christian faith; as a positive alternative to secularmetal.[85]

In a 2006 interview with HM Magazine Steve Rowe of Mortification, one of the best known figures in the scene,implies that evangelization is of secondary importance and that Christian metal should first and foremost bring"spiritual encouragement" for its Christian listeners.[1] Moberg suspects that Christian metal music may suggestdissatisfaction with traditional forms of worship among today's young Christians: "They may not feel comfortablewith just going to church and singing hymns, they need an alternative means to express the same faith."[83] Apartfrom evangelism, Christian metal may also provide a means "to get away from the image of Christianity assomething rigid and boring".[83] Moberg notes that while in the 1990s it was much debated whether Christian metalshould focus on evangelism or providing alternative Christian identity, the current scene have adopted the latter andseems to have very little interest in evangelization, especially in Northern Europe.[1]

American historian Eileen Luhr examined Christian metal fanzines from mid 1980s to mid 1990s and in 2005 wrotefor American Quarterly an extensive article titled “Metal Missionaries to the Nation: Christian Heavy Metal Music,‘Family Values,’ and Youth Culture, 1984-1994”. Luhr states that Christian metal expresses feeling of isolation andrebellion just like secular metal - but in a completely different way. Christian metal's rebellion is about "Christianopposition to the perceived sinfulness and immorality of a late modern society and culture in which traditionalfamily values have been eroded through such things as the legalization and increasing acceptability of abortion andpornography and the rise of gay rights and feminist movements." Causes for the feeling of isolation can be explainedwith the fundamental Christian struggle of being in the world but not of it. Bloodgood and Barren Cross inverted themeaning of rebellion by declaring that in western society and culture the Christian faith is true rebellion.[86] As insecular metal, fans are encouraged to stand up for their faith, think for themselves and not blindly follow authorities,including religious ones.[85]

According to Moberg, 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 marginalniche audience, the Christian metal scene is one of the few transnational Christian communities that do not have anyleaders or creed - only music connects its attendees. Just like secular metal, the Christian metal scene has developedits 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!",webstores and festivals. Brazil and Mexico have tiny parishes of Christian metal fans. Finland in particular, withmetal being more mainstream there than anywhere in the world, has held popular Metal Masses picked up by theLutheran former state church since 2006.[85] Most Christian metalheads also listen to secular metal; Christian metalmerely offers counterbalance for the dark message of secular metal, and most Christian metalheads only avoid themost satanic bands if even them since some ignore the issue altogether.[1] Some differences in concert gestures havebeen noticed: Los Angeles Times reported in 1985 that in Stryper shows the audience were seen "poking stubby 'oneway' fingers heavenward—a refutation of the double-fingered 'devil horns' salute of many metal groups".[5]

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Controversies

Australian gothic metal band Virgin Blackattempts to highlight the difference between the

Church and the spiritual aspects ofChristianity.[87]

Certain Christian groups, most notably those in some King James Onlydenominations,[88] consider all types of rock and metal music to beopposition to their faith, regardless of lyrical content or the lifestyles ofthe band members. However, fans and artists see metal as anothergenre of music, parallel to such genres as blues, classical, jazz, punk,and hip-hop. Bands such as Showbread and Antestor believe that theinstrumentation of the music is simply a medium of art, while theperson creating the music as well as the lyrics being presented providethe message. Therefore, Christian metal is created when Christianscompose metal music in a way that reflects their faith in Christ.[8]

Keith Khan-Harris states in the book Extreme Metal that sometimesfans of metal consider Christian faith and adherence in Church amembership of an established authority, and therefore Christian metal bands are seen as "posers" and the use ofChristian lyrics to be opposed to the "true" purpose of metal.[89] If any ideology can be linked to metal music, it isindividualism.[1] Their attitudes range from ignoring the opinions or rejection of religion, though some will admitthat Christian metal can contain enjoyable bands like secular metal.[90] Kerry King of Slayer was asked in New Yorkmagazine, March 2009, "What’s popular in metal right now that you wish would die?" and King replied Christianmetal: "There seems to be a plentiful amount of metal bands that are like, religious, so to speak. Personally, for me,it’s an odd thing … bands that are doing metal, but they’re singing, like, Jesus metal. And I don’t mean Stryper.When I hear them I’m like, “Oh they’re one of them Jesus bands.” It’s enough of a distaste to me that I don’t evenwant to hear it." King thinks God is "force-fed upon people, especially in America and especially in certain parts ofAmerica, where it’s just a way of life. People just accept it without questioning it. I think anybody’s entitled towhatever opinion on anything, but I also think you need to suss out these opinions and why you believe what youbelieve. Just don’t believe blindly."[91]

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Christian metal movement was criticized for lack of originality by both Christianand secular groups. In an interview with Mean Magazine, Kris Klingesmith of Barnabas stated that "If you want toknow what Christian music will be doing tomorrow, all you need to do is see what the secular guys are doingtoday."[8] Michael Sweet of Stryper discussed in Christianity Today magazine in 1985 why the band succeeded tosell albums to the unchurched unlike previous Christian rock and metal bands, and he implied that Christian rock andmetal musicians' problem is that their theology is stronger than their music: "If you're out there in the secular worldand you don't have Christ, you're not going to see a group because they talk about Christ. You're going to go hear aband because they're good, and because they have a good stage show."[5] Pastor Bob Beeman of SanctuaryInternational stated in a 2000 interview that while the issue of Christian bands copying mainstream bands may beseen as ripping off, it can also be seen as a compliment for the secular bands: "This allowed the Christian bands tocross over. People would be able to listen to the Christian bands and not feel like they were giving up the style ofmusic they loved. Then after you listen to the Christian bands more closely, you realize they are not just alike. But Ithink it is ultimately a good thing."[24]

Some groups within the Christian metal movement have criticized bands within the industry for isolating the genre from general industry too avidly. For example, Christer Espevoll of Extol stated in 2003: "I wish the scenes were more together. For a long time there has been a huge — and still growing — distance between Christian and secular music industries. This is the situation peculiarly in the US but also in Scandinavia. In my opinion this kind of polarization is not a good thing. Music is first and foremost about music so why should every band or artist that represents a religion or lack of it have its own industry? Music has no religious borders."[92] However, most Christian bands today oppose to being isolated in the Christian music industry and have become mainstream

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successes, such as Virgin Black.[93]

Christian metal radioSince Christian Metal is very much a counterculture of the Christian music scene, it has never had any majorcorporate radio outlets, as opposed to the more accepted CCM associated Christian music formats. Christian metalradio can be hard to reference and even more difficult to establish notability. Nevertheless, it has remained culturallysignificant in the genre, primarily enduring the test of time through word of mouth and through the help ofpioneering Christian rock and metal broadcasters. Despite the lack of commercial radio support, Christian metalbroadcasters have managed to hit the airwaves on public radio, campus radio, Internet radio, and in recent yearsthrough podcasting via the Internet. As digital broadcasting technology becomes more accessible, the number ofChristian Metal broadcasters has steadily increased. Some of today's largest non-commercial Christian alternativeradio stations such as RadioU, Call FM[94] and Effect Radio have some Christian metal programing late nights andon weekends. However, as a whole these larger stations generally maintain a GMA perscribed format. Other stationssuch as Almighty Metal Radio,[95] Savage Rock Radio,[96] Reign Radio,[97] Metal Blessing Radio,[98] The CrossStream,[99] The Refinery Rock Radio[100] and FuelRadio.fm[101] have been able to maintain twenty-four-hourChristian metal formats through internet radio. Some notable Christian Metal Radio DJs, shows and podcastsinclude: "Jesus Solid Rock" Show[102] ('74 - '80) Hosted by Pastor Bob Beeman, "Intense Radio"[103] ('95 - present)founded by Pastor Bob Beeman and Sanctuary International, "HM Podcast"[104] with HM Magazine founder &publisher Doug Van Pelt, "The Full Armor of God Broadcast"[105] ('97 - present) hosted by Bro Scotland Kubinski(A.K.A. Kuba "The Demon Slayer"), "Radio U Hardcore"[106] ('02 - present) hosted by Jaddeus Dempsey (A.K.A."Jad") and "The Nation of Rockwell"[107] ('03 - present) hosted by Quenton Rockwell (A.K.A. "Q Rock").

Record labels• Facedown Records• Flicker Records• Intense Records• Nightmare Records• R.E.X. Records• Rivel Records• Rowe Productions• Solid State Records• Tooth & Nail Records

See also• Christian rock• Heavy metal music• Jesus Movement• List of Christian metal bands• Unblack metal• Hell's Bells: The Dangers of Rock 'N' Roll

Christian metal 13

References

Citations and further reading• Thompson, John J (2000). Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll (First printing ed.). Ottawa,

Ontario Canada: ECW Press. ISBN 1550224212.• Hale, Mark (1993). Headbangers. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink. ISBN 1-56075-029-4..• Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody,

Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.• Moore, Bruce E (2010) (pdf). Metal Missionaries: The Assimilation of Extreme Christian Music into Mainstream

Consciousness (e-book). Australia: Undark.net.• Luhr, Eileen (2009). Witnessing suburbia: conservatives and Christian youth culture. California: University of

California Press. ISBN 0520255941, 9780520255944.• 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 9517654928, 9789517654920.

Notes[1] Moberg, Marcus (November 3, 2008). "Turn or Burn? The Peculiar Case of Christian Metal Music" (http:/ / www. inter-disciplinary. net/ ci/

mmp/ mmp1/ moberg. pdf). Heavy Fundamentalisms: Music, Metal & Politics (http:/ / www. inter-disciplinary. net/ critical-issues/ ethos/music-metal-politics/ project-archives/ 1st/ ). Salzburg, Austria: Inter-Disciplinary.Net. .

[2] John J. Thompson, Raised by Wolves: the Story of Christian Rock & Roll (Ottawa, Ontario Canada:, Ontario: ECW Press, 2000), ISBN1550224212, pp. 153-4.

[3] Johnson, Wesley. "Revolver on Christian metal" (http:/ / www. buzzgrinder. com/ 2006/ revolver-on-christian-metal/ ). Buzz Grinder. .Retrieved 2007-12-19. "The cover of the latest Revolver Magazine features members of As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean, Underoath and DemonHunter. The photo goes along with an extensive write-up on Christian Metal, which they’ve dubbed “phenomenon of the year.”"

[4] Lahtonen, Jussi (2005-10-25). "White Metal" (http:/ / www. suezine. fi/ haastattelut/ white-metal) (in Finnish). Sue Rock Punk Metal Zine. .Retrieved 2007-09-07.

[5] "CT Classic: A Christian 'Heavy-Metal' Band Makes Its Mark on the Secular Music Industry" (http:/ / www. christianitytoday. com/ ct/ 2001/julyweb-only/ 7-9-42. 0. html). Christianity Today. . Retrieved 2010-07-28.

[6] Beckford, Martin (31). "Christians could learn a lot about life from heavy metal says cleric" (http:/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ news/newstopics/ religion/ 7971749/ Christians-could-learn-a-lot-about-life-from-heavy-metal-says-cleric. html). The Telegraph. . Retrieved2010-11-29.

[7] Romagna, Emilia (June 26, 2008). "Friar to open heavy metal concert" (http:/ / www. italymag. co. uk/ italy/ emilia-romagna/friar-open-heavy-metal-concert). Italymag. . Retrieved 2010-11-29.

[8] Kapelovitz, Dan (February 2001). "Heavy Metal Jesus Freaks - Headbanging for Christ" (http:/ / www. kapelovitz. com/ christianmetal. htm).Mean Magazine. . Retrieved 2007-09-06.

[9] Thompson 2000, "Heavenly Metal", p. 154[10] Jonsson, Johannes. "Christian Metal History" (http:/ / www. metalforjesus. org/ history. htm). The Metal For Jesus Page!.

MetalForJesus.org. . Retrieved 2007-12-19.[11] Powell 2002, "Jerusalem", pp. 448–449[12] Thompson 2000, "Heavenly Metal", p. 155[13] Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. Pages 196. HarperCollins. ISBN

0-380-81127-8[14] Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Trouble" (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ artist/ p5703). Allmusic. . Retrieved 2007-11-29.[15] Siva, Shan. "Supershine" (http:/ / www. battlehelm. com/ interviews/ Supershine. html). . Retrieved 2007-11-29.[16] Hard News. 58. May 1996. "Trouble's most recent album, Plastic Green Head has finally benn released in US (After contractual obligations

only allowed the album to be released first in Europe first) Original drummer Jeff Olson has rejoined the fold for this album which is beingdistributed by century Media Records. As many of you know, Jeff left the band shortly becoming born again. Guitarist Bruce Franklin choseto remain with the band after his conversion, being a light in a somewhat troubling band. (Not every believer can handle its lead singer sayingf-word from the stage and in its songs) Musically speaking, imagine Axl Rose singing for the original Black Sabbath and you get some idea ofwhere the band's musical identity lies. While certainly not what one would call a Christian band. Many Christian headbangers have enjoyedTrouble's upfront lyrics about the Lord on its first two albums (When they were commonly called the 'White Metal' band) The band's last twoalbums have traveled in this direction, but inclusion of two Christians members have kept watching this band somewhat interesting.".

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Article Sources and ContributorsChristian metal Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=407347862 Contributors: 116Rebel, 3family6, 5aret, ACSE, AKnot, Absolon, Adamravenscroft, Airplaneman, Ajcfreak,Andrewlp1991, Angrysockhop, Anomie, Antonio Lopez, Archangel7861, Armorbearer777, AshTM, AzaToth, Azure Shrieker, BD2412, BGTopDon, Backtable, Badinfinity, Bardin, BaronLarf,Basswulf, Bfgmovies, BigHaz, Bill Kramme, Blackmetalbaz, Blindsnyper, Blue520, Bolley, Bookandcoffee, Brandt Luke Zorn, BrentonRyan, Brighterorange, Burningclean, Cab88,Can'thinkofscreename, Candyhammer, Cannibaloki, Carlaude, CattleGirl, Caturano, Cenarium, Choster, Chris Capoccia, Christianrocker, CillanXC, Circeus, Ckatz, ClaudioEM,Coasterlover1994, CommonsDelinker, Crabula, CrispyChicken, Crushthehorns, D6, DNewhall, Daal34, Danielaustinhall12, DantheCowMan, DarkPresence, Davidgjohnson, DeathmetalDave,Deiz, Delicious carbuncle, Delta Evere, Discospinster, Djwings, Donw35, Doulos Christos, Drgabber, E tac, EFindlicher, EdGl, Ensign beedrill, Esprit15d, Ex1le, FatalError, Fishingd,FletcherVaughn, Florentyna, Franamax, FrankCostanza, FreplySpang, Friginator, Friki, Fvw, GTBacchus, Gadfium, Gamer454, Garik 11, GateKeeper, Gcneighj, Genius101, Ghewgill, Gidonb,Giggy, Gilliam, Gipperman, Giraffedata, Golbez, Graham Laycock, Greswik, Hede2000, Hiilidioksidi, Hmains, II MusLiM HyBRiD II, IL7Soulhunter, ITshnik, Iamvery, Idont Havaname,Ihopeican143, Inhumer, Invisible Noise, IronCrow, J Milburn, J Scannell, J.delanoy, JHunterJ, JYi, Jaakonam, Jajawarrior2, JamieS93, Jamiewoody, Jason Gastrich, Jcags, Jdr360, Jerry teps,Jodawi, Joeblade, Joedrummer14, Johnboruff, Jona2112, Joost, Jparenti, Jpers36, Jrmd32, K-UNIT, KGasso, KJS77, Keilana, Kertrats, Kevinbrowning, KharBevNor, Kingpin13, Klowndave,Kmaster, Koavf, Kozuch, Kronix, KyraVixen, La Pizza11, LaHaine, Laveyan, LedgendGamer, Lexor, LilHelpa, Limetom, LoopyDood, LoserJoke, MacRusgail, Madden101,MakeChooChooGoNow, MansGreed, Marissa Coppins, Matt Crypto, Maxis ftw, MegX, Megamario3, Megobro, Melsaran, Michael Devore, Michaelas10, Mighty Zeus, Mike hayes,MikeCapone, Momo san, Mongoosey, Mormegil, Morriswa, Nathan565, NawlinWiki, Neutrality, Nfreader, NickBush24, OfficialDoughboy, Omnimmotus, Ours18, Oxymoron83, Pasajero, Paulfoord, Peter Fleet, Phantasy Phanatik, Phil Sandifer, Philip Trueman, Plasticup, Poccil, Portillo, Premsta, Pseudomonas, Pwnage8, Qrockity, R'n'B, R. fiend, RF2K7, RazedFlag, Razorx,Realkyhick, Remember the dot, Reyk, RickK, Ridernyc, Rjwilmsi, Rmerik, Rmhermen, Rrburke, Rremmy72, Rskrueger, Russavia, Ruthven, ST47, Sabrebd, Sagaci, Sam Hocevar, Sam Spade,Samuel Pepys, Sardanaphalus, Scotsman1979, Seegoon, Sennen goroshi, Senpaiottolo, Shawncito, Shawnhath, Shiftynifty, Shotwell, Shovi, Sjakkalle, Sn0wflake, Sophie, Sparkle marker,Spearhead, Spenglerian, Splitthesky, Sportsnut, Squeemu, Stealthound, SteinbDJ, SunCreator, Swpb, T-rex, TUF-KAT, Tabletop, Tassedethe, Template namespace initialisation script, Tgies, TheCrying Orc, The Random Editor, The Shadow-Fighter, Thedemonhog, Thingg, Tkynerd, Tligtm, Toroddfuglesteg, Trainra, Trevilor365, Triplestop, Tuxedo junction, Ulric1313, Vaake, WRK,Walter Görlitz, WereSpielChequers, WikHead, Wiki libs, Wolfrock, Woohookitty, Xcryoftheafflictedx, Yamamoto Ichiro, ZOMGITZACOW, Zeno Gantner, Zhou Yu, Ziggythehamster,Zouavman Le Zouave, 597 ,کشرز anonymous edits

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