Christian metal 1

Christian metal
Christian metal
Stylistic origins Jesus music
Heavy metal
Psychedelic rock
Blues-rock
Hard rock
Christian 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
[1]
United States, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland

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 is
typically performed by professed Christians sometimes principally for Christians who listen to heavy metal music
and 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 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 an alternative religious expression and Christian
identity, and that the music serves the purpose of offering a positive alternative or counterbalance to secular metal
music 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, and
was pioneered by the American Resurrection Band and Swedish Jerusalem. Los Angeles' Stryper achieved wide
success in the 1980s, otherwise the genre was mostly ignored by the mainstream. California's Tourniquet and
Australia's Mortification led the movement in the 1990s. The metalcore groups Underoath, Demon Hunter, As I Lay
Dying, and Norma Jean (dubbed by Revolver Magazine as "The Holy Alliance") brought some mainstream attention
to the movement in the first decade of the 21st century, achieving ranks in the Billboard 200.[3]

Characteristics
Christian metal is not a solitary style of music, but rather an ideological umbrella term that comprises almost every
subgenre of heavy metal music. The musicians within Christian metal bands typically base their lyrics on
Judeo-Christian traditions. The lyrical approach of Christian metal bands is somewhat varied, as some emphasize the
positive aspects of faith matters while others iterate the teachings of Christ. Some bands keep their message hidden
in metaphors. Only a minority take an aggressive attitude towards those who speak against Christianity, "preaching
full-on fire and brimstone and Old Testament style God's wrath back at extreme satanists".[4] 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.[1]
Christian metal 2

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, since evangelism has been more typical among American bands. Christian bands never deny
their conviction but typically avoid preaching, and sometimes the matter is left unexpressed, leaving religion as a
private issue of the listener.[4] Certain bands choose to deal with every day 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

Background: Heavy metal music and Christianity

When heavy metal music popularized in the late 1960s it became associated with negative, rebellious themes. Heavy
metal lyrics and themes often challenged Christian values, and Christianity was seen as an effective and easy target
for the metal bands to rebel against. Among the early bands to add negative connotations to the term was Black
Sabbath, 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 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."[5] 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."[6] 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."[7]

Origins
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 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.[8] Norman's song "Why Should
the Devil Have All the Good Music?" summarised the ideas of these musicians.
Christian metal 3

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.[9]
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.[8] In 1978 Resurrection Band Released its album
Awaiting Your Reply and Jerusalem released Jerusalem (Volume 1).
Resurrection Band, one of the first Christian hard
Both albums had a notable impact on Christian music culture.[10] rock bands, live in concert, August 1988.
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 #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.[11] The Canadian Daniel Band is cited among the first bands,[8] [10] as is Barnabas.[12]

1980s
In the early 1980s there were four notable Christian heavy metal
groups: Messiah Prophet, Leviticus, Saint, and Stryper.[8] 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.[8] In the beginning mostly Christians went to Stryper's
concerts but soon they reached secular audience.[13] In the 1980s,
Christian metal bands closely followed the trends of mainstream Metal Stryper's stage set during To Hell with the Devil
tour, 1986
bands.[8]

During the mid 1980s, heavy metal music divided into numerous subgenres with individual terms. The 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, at the time when Christian beliefs were almost
unheard of in the metal world, according to Allmusic.[14] The origin of the "white metal" term remains unclear; it is
merely known that the secular label Metal Blade Records used "white metal" as a marketing term in contrast to the
rising 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 the
Christian themes: "I guess it came from Eric's early interest in Biblical subjects, not from his interest in being a
Christian, 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's
upfront 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´, so
I 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 in
some 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. ”
[17]
—Eric Wagner on Trouble's white metal label in an interview with Metal-Rules.com, January 2004.
Christian metal 4

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 owner
Brian Slagel) actually came up with the term in the first place: "I think it was more like Metal Blade trying to be cute
or something, with everything (satanic metal) being called black metal, so why not call us white metal, which is a
bunch of crap."[18] 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 headlined the Dutch metal
festival Dynamo, Eindhoven in 1985.[19] Regardless of this, Stryper helped to popularize the genre,[20] 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 Music Television's Top 10, and "Free" was in the number 1 position for 12
weeks (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 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."[22] 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. 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

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.
The regular music magazines did not cover the phenomena of Christian metal music industry very often. 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.[10]
[23]
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 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
Christian metal 5

influence them carefully.[24]

By 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.[24]

Late 1980s and 1990s

Doug 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, Barren
Cross, Whitecross, and Leviticus.[26] The Kentucky based band Bride initially played speed metal, particularly on
Live to Die, and reached wider audience on when they released Snakes in the Playground (1992). Despite being
criticized for their abrupt changes in style in favor of what's "hot",[27] are still considered "a primeval force at the
centre 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 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.[29] 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.[30]
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.[31]
Heavy metal musicians began to seek musical limits, therefore Christian metal musicians began to play extreme
metal as well. Soon death metal replaced thrash metal in popularity. Audiences in many underground metal scenes
began favoring more extreme sounds and disparaging the popular styles.[32] As with other glam metal acts of the
time, 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 artists
who played became influential in helping to define this relatively new, but growing genre."[34] 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 secular 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."[35] 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."[36]
Christian metal 6

2000s
In the first decade of the 21st century some groups reached
mainstream popularity. There are Christian metal bands that perform
virtually every sub-genre of metal. Extol has a mixed (and often
changing) style, and is popular among both Christian and
Non-Christian metal fans.[38] Extol has toured with secular bands
such as Mastodon, Opeth and God Forbid, their 2005 album The
Blueprint Dives was nominated for Norway's Grammy,
Spellemannsprisen, and it was voted for the top 5 metal albums of
the year list by the readers of the biggest newspaper in Norway As I Lay Dying has been at the forefront of
[37]
called Dagbladet.[39] metalcore along with Underoath since 2002.

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.[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 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 have found mainstream acceptance selling millions of
albums to both Christian and non-Christian fans, including Underoath
and P.O.D.. P.O.D. became the most successful Christian metal band
when their 2001 album Satellite went multi-platinum.[42] Metalcore's
popularity is especially based on Christian bands, including such
crossover band such as Underoath, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red,
Norma Jean, Haste the Day, The Devil Wears Prada, Disciple, and
Demon Hunter. As I Lay Dying have entered the Billboard 200 charts
Underoath, one of the more prominent metalcore
(#8) for its record sales and were nominated for the "Best Metal
groups.
Performance" Grammy for the single "Nothing Left" from the 2007
album 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. The
second week after it was released, it charted at #39 in both the United States and Canada. Other Top 200 debuts
around 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 the
year.[45] 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.[3]
Christian metal 7

Christian bands in metal subgenres

Thrash metal
Drummer Ted Kirkpatrick of the American thrash
metal band Tourniquet live in 2005.
Some notable American Christian thrash metal groups include
Deliverance, Believer, Vengeance and Tourniquet.[46] 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."[47] Tourniquet was
called "arguably the greatest Christian metal band in history" by Cross
Rhythms in 1996.[48] Tourniquet's Psycho Surgery was ranked as the
second most influential Christian metal album of all time by the 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.
[49]

The British bands Seventh Angel and Detritus introduced Christian thrash metal to Europe. Seventh Angel were
considered to be thrash metal pioneers,[50] and their albums achieved mainstream distribution through Music for
Nations label.[51] The band was known for its combination of doom metal and thrash metal.[52] Cross Rhythms states
that 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, the
latter with its thrash and groove metal style. The 1997 album Eternal Decision hit the record stores in the U.S. and
16 other countries, achieving considerable acclaim and providing the band with even more notice.[55]

Death metal
Whilst Allmusic commented that "the term Christian death metal seems like one
of music's most comical oxymorons," the Brazilian-American band Opprobrium
combined Christian lyrics with death metal at the time when the style emerged.[56]
In 1990, the Australian group Mortification became the first widely recognized
Christian death metal band. Their 1992 album Scrolls of the Megilloth garnered
the band some attention from the heavy metal underground, according to
Allmusic.[]

German death metal group
Sacrificium live at Elements of
Rock 2008, Switzerland.
bands."[58]
At roughly the same time the band Living Sacrifice was creating thrash and death
metal, particularly on the albums Nonexistent (1992) and Inhabit (1994). Later
they "evolved from their early death metal-inspired rumblings into a crushing,
staccato-driven, heavily percussive metallic behemoth that pummels listeners with
intense riffage and a decidedly personal, though nevertheless, often evangelical
lyrical viewpoint."[57] The Minneapolis based Crimson Thorn is described by
Allmusic as "one of the world's most extreme-sounding Christian metal
Christian metal 8

Unblack metal
Horde is widely considered to be the first 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.[59] 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
Norwegian black metal band Antestor in 2007. 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.[60] However, this never took place.
The release of Antestor's The Return of the Black Death on the British secular black metal label Cacophonous
Records in 1998 proved influential on the Christian black metal movement. While the unblack scene is not part of
the secular black metal scene, several musicians from both have co-operated: Stian Aarstad of Dimmu Borgir
produced Vaakevandring's eponymous EP,[61] and Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem played drums for Antestor's The
Forsaken (2005) album.[62]
The movement has received some coverage in mainstream media; in 2006 Admonish achieved wider notice when
twins Emil (guitar) and Jonas Karlsson (bass) both appeared on the MTV Europe show Pimp My Ride International
on October 6.[63] [64] In 2007, the Norwegian band Frosthardr appeared on the documentary feature film Murder
Music – A History of Black Metal (2007). They were interviewed for a minute and represented the Christian point of
view in (un)black metal music.[65]

Power metal and progressive metal

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.[66]

Later in the 1990s, the Swedish group Narnia made contributions to

Christian power metal history, having signed with Nuclear Blast
German power metal group Seventh Avenue.
Records, Germany, and Pony Canyon Records, Japan.[67] Later there
appeared 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 was
picked by Japanese label Pony Canyon. Jacobs Dream was signed to Metal Blade Records.[68] The Athens, Georgia
based 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 released
to very strong reviews.[71]
Christian metal 9

Other
In 1987, the Swedish group Veni Domine started playing progressive
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.[72]

Dutch symphonic death/doom metal group

Morphia.

The alternative metal style's leading groups included the nu metal

bands POD, Thousand Foot Krutch, Disciple, and Pillar. Zao was a
pioneer of metalcore, paving way for bands such as UnderOath and
Norma Jean. In 1988, the industrial metal movement began. Although
a fusion genre, there was a notable and mostly American based
Christian movement around the style in the 1990s. The California
based group Mortal is cited as one of the first Christian bands that
represented the style.[4] Mortal was not the first Christian band that
played industrial metal, but they had a notable role in that they opened
Zao and Dan Weyandt live in Karlsruhe,
ways for 1990s industrial metal bands, both Christian and secular. The
Germany, September 10, 2004.
second album Fathom (1993) was Mortal's most guitar-driven
musically, 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 exposured
with 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.[75] [76] The Australian industrial metal band
called Screams of Chaos was known for its bizarre style that combined several extreme metal influences with
industrial.[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 metal

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[79] and Ralph Santolla of Deicide.[80] Others, such as Killswitch Engage
and Linkin Park also have members who are Christian and frequently use spiritual themes.[81] [82]

Evangelistic goals, sociology and subculture

The 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
Christian metal 10

Alternative Christian Identity within the Finnish Christian Metal Music Scene. Moberg believes that "In relation to
current debates on religious change and transformation in the West, it is argued that the Christian metal music scene
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."[84] While not uncommon in predominantly
Catholic countries, Christian metal is firmly rooted in evangelical Protestantism (evangelicalism), hence, beginning
as 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 effective
means of evangelism and fighting and standing up for the Christian faith; as a positive alternative to secular
metal.[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 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."[83] Apart
from evangelism, Christian metal may also provide a means "to get away from the image of Christianity as
something rigid and boring".[83] Moberg notes that while in the 1990s it was much debated whether Christian metal
should focus on evangelism or providing alternative Christian identity, the current scene have adopted the latter and
seems 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 wrote
for 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 and
rebellion just like secular 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.[86] As in
secular 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 marginal
niche audience, 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 secular 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!",
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.[85] Most Christian metalheads also listen to secular metal; Christian metal
merely offers counterbalance for the dark message of secular 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".[5]
Christian metal 11

Controversies
Certain Christian groups, most notably those in some King James Only
denominations,[88] 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
Australian gothic metal band Virgin Black
the message. Therefore, Christian metal is created when Christians
attempts to highlight the difference between the
compose metal music in a way that reflects their faith in Christ.[8] Church and the spiritual aspects of
[87]
Christianity.
Keith Khan-Harris 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.[89] If any ideology can be linked to metal music, it is
individualism.[1] Their attitudes range from ignoring the opinions or rejection of religion, though some will admit
that Christian metal can contain enjoyable bands like secular metal.[90] Kerry King of Slayer was asked in New York
magazine, March 2009, "What’s popular in metal right now that you wish would die?" and King replied Christian
metal: "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 even
want to hear it." King thinks God is "force-fed upon people, especially in America and especially in certain parts of
America, where it’s just a way of life. People just accept it without questioning it. I think anybody’s entitled to
whatever opinion on anything, but I also think you need to suss out these opinions and why you believe what you
believe. Just don’t believe blindly."[91]

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Christian metal movement was criticized for lack of originality by both Christian
and secular groups. In an interview with Mean Magazine, Kris Klingesmith of Barnabas stated that "If you want to
know what Christian music will be doing tomorrow, all you need to do is see what the secular guys are doing
today."[8] Michael Sweet of Stryper discussed in Christianity Today magazine in 1985 why the band succeeded to
sell albums to the unchurched unlike previous Christian rock and metal bands, and he implied that Christian rock and
metal musicians' problem is that their theology is stronger than their music: "If you're out there in the secular world
and you don't have Christ, you're not going to see a group because they talk about Christ. You're going to go hear a
band because they're good, and because they have a good stage show."[5] Pastor Bob Beeman of Sanctuary
International stated in a 2000 interview that while the issue of Christian bands copying mainstream bands may be
seen as ripping off, it can also be seen as a compliment for the secular bands: "This allowed the Christian bands to
cross over. People would be able to listen to the Christian bands and not feel like they were giving up the style of
music they loved. Then after you listen to the Christian bands more closely, you realize they are not just alike. But I
think 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
Christian metal 12

successes, such as Virgin Black.[93]

Christian metal radio

Since Christian Metal is very much a counterculture of the Christian music scene, it has never had any major
corporate radio outlets, as opposed to the more accepted CCM associated Christian music formats. Christian metal
radio can be hard to reference and even more difficult to establish notability. 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[94] and Effect Radio have some Christian metal programing late nights and
on weekends. However, as a whole these larger stations generally maintain a GMA perscribed format. Other stations
such as Almighty Metal Radio,[95] Savage Rock Radio,[96] Reign Radio,[97] Metal Blessing Radio,[98] The Cross
Stream,[99] The Refinery Rock Radio[100] and FuelRadio.fm[101] have been able to maintain twenty-four-hour
Christian metal formats through internet radio. Some notable Christian Metal Radio DJs, shows and podcasts
include: "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), ISBN
1550224212, 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 Demon
Hunter. 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. . Retrieved
2010-11-29.
[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 being
distributed by century Media Records. As many of you know, Jeff left the band shortly becoming born again. Guitarist Bruce Franklin chose
to remain with the band after his conversion, being a light in a somewhat troubling band. (Not every believer can handle its lead singer saying
f-word from the stage and in its songs) Musically speaking, imagine Axl Rose singing for the original Black Sabbath and you get some idea of
where the band's musical identity lies. While certainly not what one would call a Christian band. Many Christian headbangers have enjoyed
Trouble's upfront lyrics about the Lord on its first two albums (When they were commonly called the 'White Metal' band) The band's last two
albums have traveled in this direction, but inclusion of two Christians members have kept watching this band somewhat interesting.".
Christian metal 14

[17] Lahtonen, Luxi. "Interview with Trouble" (http:/ / metal-rules. com/ interviews/ trouble-jan2004. htm). Metal-rules.com. . Retrieved
2007-09-06.
[18] Popoff, Martin. Forewords for the re-issue of Psalm 9 booklet. 2006. Escapi Music.
[19] Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. Pages 204. HarperCollins. ISBN
0-380-81127-8
[20] Hale 1993, "2869 Stryper", p. 336
[21] Thompson 2000, "Heavenly Metal", p. 152-156
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Article Sources and Contributors 17

Article Sources and Contributors

Christian 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, Paul
foord, 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, The
Crying 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, ‫کشرز‬, 597 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

Image:Rez band live.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rez_band_live.png  License: Attribution  Contributors: Azure Shrieker
Image:Stryper Concert 1986.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Stryper_Concert_1986.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Rafael Faria
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User:Matthias Bauer
Image:Underoath.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Underoath.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.5  Contributors: Azure Shrieker,
Infrogmation, Lindsey8417, MECU, Mauricio500, Tiptoety, 3 anonymous edits
Image:Tedinaction.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Tedinaction.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:BotMultichillT
Image:Sacrificium1.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sacrificium1.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.5  Contributors: Valerio Mei original
description
Image:Antestor Endtime festival.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Antestor_Endtime_festival.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0
 Contributors: Jon Andre
Image:Seventh avenue-guitarplayer2.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Seventh_avenue-guitarplayer2.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
 Contributors: User:Secorion
Image:Morphia2005.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Morphia2005.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Original uploader was Cobus-Jan at nl.wikipedia
Image:Zao US band.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Zao_US_band.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Michael Dreher M Turner
Image:Virgin Black EoR 2007.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Virgin_Black_EoR_2007.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Germany
 Contributors: Original uploader was Plauderbaerchen at de.wikipedia

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