Christian metal is a form of heavy metal music which, as well as its many subgenres, contains Christian lyrics and themes. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a Musical keyboard. This article contains links to lists of notable Christian Music artists organized by Music genre. Christian alternative rock music ( ACM) is a form of Alternative rock music lyrically grounded in a Christian worldview Contemporary Christian Music (or CCM; also by its religious neutral term " inspirational music " is a genre of Popular music which is Contemporary Christian Music (or CCM; also by its religious neutral term " inspirational music " is a genre of Popular music which is Christian hardcore or Christcore refers to Hardcore punk and Metalcore bands that promote Christian beliefs Christian hip hop (originally Gospel rap, also known as holy hip hop or Christ hop) is a form of Hip hop music which uses Christian Unblack metal (also known as holy unblack metal It is viewed as an ideology rather than a subgenre since there is no method to play black metal in a Christian way Christian punk (or Christ punk) is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of Punk rock with some degree of Christian Christian rock (occasionally abbreviated CR) is a form of Rock music played by bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on Contemporary Christian Music (or CCM; also by its religious neutral term " inspirational music " is a genre of Popular music which is Christian media refers to various aspects of Mass media which is primarily targeting the Christian Demographic. Contemporary worship music is a loosely defined style of music used in a variety of Christian churches A number of heavy metal genres have developed since the emergence of heavy metal (often shortened to metal) during the late 1960s and early 1970s A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth ^[1]

Christian metal came to existence in the late 1970s Jesus movement, and was pioneered by the American Resurrection Band and Swedish Jerusalem. The Jesus movement was the major Christian element within the Hippie Counterculture, or conversely the major hippie element within some strands of The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, is a Christian rock band "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Los Angeles' Stryper brought the genre into media spotlight during the mid 1980s. Stryper is a Grammy Award nominated Christian metal band from Orange County California, USA. The term ”Christian metal” itself was born in 1984,^[2] around the time when heavy metal music divided into numerous subgenres. At the same time the secular label Metal Blade Records came up with the term "white metal" in contrast to the rising black metal movement to market the doom metal band Trouble, known for its Biblical lyrics. Artists Current artists 3 The Absence Aeon A Love Ends Suicide(Now Let's Fighting Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, Doom metal is a form of Heavy metal music that typically employs very slow Tempos low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other metal Trouble is an American Doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. ^[3] As a result, "white metal" was used interchangeably with "Christian metal" until the early 1990s when the mainstream popularity of the scene ended and the movement went underground. After that, English-speaking countries (North America, Australia, United Kingdom etc. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located ) and Central and Northern European scenes adopted the "Christian metal" term, while "white metal" remained in use in South America and southwestern Europe. Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Northern Europe is a term for the northern part of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as (Finland South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a ^[4] California's Tourniquet and Australia's Mortification lead the movement in the 1990s. Tourniquet is a Christian neo-classical progressive Thrash metal band formed in 1989 Los Angeles California USA. Mortification is both the most successful Australian Extreme metal band and the most successful Christian extreme metal group in the world The metalcore groups Underoath, As I Lay Dying and Norma Jean pioneered the genre's revival in the 2000s. Underoath (sometimes stylized as underOATH) is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from Tampa Florida, formed in 1998 As I Lay Dying is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from San Diego, California. Norma Jean is a Christian Metalcore / Mathcore band from Douglasville Georgia, USA, a suburb of Atlanta.

Although the term ”Christian metal” is used for the musical movement, it has established itself as a cross-genre term. Christian metal bands exist even in the more extreme subgenres, which is contrary to the general belief that Christian metal represents softer styles of heavy metal music. For example, All Music Guide defines Christian metal as "between arena rock and pop metal, though there are the occasional bands that are heavier. allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. Glam metal (also known as pop metal) is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States. "^[1] However, the only common link between most Christian metal bands are the lyrics, and often the Christian themes are melded with the subjects of the genre the band is rooted in, regularly providing a Christian take on the subject matter.

Characteristics

The Christian metal musical genre has all of the characteristics of heavy metal music, particularly loud guitars, declamatory riffs, long solos, and pseudo-operatic vocals. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles In Music, a riff is an Ostinato figure a repeated Chord progression, pattern refrain or melodic figure, often played by the Rhythm Guitar solos are a melodic passage section or entire piece of music written for an Electric guitar or an Acoustic guitar. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. ^[1] Christian metal is not a solitary style of music, but rather is comprised of almost every subgenre of heavy metal music. Therefore the only notable difference lies in the lyrics. The musicians within Christian Metal bands typically base their lyrics on Judeo-Christian traditions. Judeo-Christian (or Judaeo-Christian, sometimes written as Judæo-Christian) is a term used to describe the body of concepts and values which are thought to be held 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. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Some bands keep their message covered in metaphors. Metaphor (from the Greek: μεταφορά - metaphora, meaning "transfer" is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects Only a minority take an aggressive attitude towards those who speak against Christianity, such as Vengeance Rising. Vengeance Rising was a Christian Thrash metal band from Los Angeles CA. ^[5]

The lyrical style varies depending on culture, denomination, and country. For example, in Northern Europe the bands usually prefer a personal lyrical approach, which is seldom meant to "convert" in an aggressive manner. Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religious identity or a change from one religious identity to another Christian bands almost never deny their conviction, but typically avoid preaching since they want their music to be entertaining while still containing their message. Some Christian metal bands do not declare their conviction at all and only concentrate on the entertainment aspect of music. ^[5]

History

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 Jesus movement was the major Christian element within the Hippie Counterculture, or conversely the major hippie element within some strands of The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world 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. The Jesus movement was the major Christian element within the Hippie Counterculture, or conversely the major hippie element within some strands of Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United These musicians continued playing the same styles of music they had played before converting, though they infused their lyrics with a Christian message. Possibly the very first documented appearance of a rock band playing in church is Mind Garage in 1967, whose music was called "electric liturgy", and it was finally recorded for RCA in 1969 and released in 1970 on an album titled The Liturgy. Mind Garage is a 5 man psychedelic rock and roll band from Morgantown West Virginia, and progenitor of Christian rock music RCA Corporation, founded as Radio Corporation of America, was an electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986 ^[6] Larry Norman was another early Christian rock musician who released his first album titled Upon This Rock in 1969 which is arguably the first Christian rock album produced. Larry David Norman ( April 8 1947 &ndash February 24 2008) was an American musician singer songwriter and producer ^[7] After joining the band People!, he began to draw attention writing songs such as "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?", opposing the growing beliefs that the devil is the father of rock and roll music. People! was a rock band originally formed in San Jose California in 1965 ^[8]

Resurrection Band, one of first Christian hard rock bands, live in concert, August 1988. Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, is a Christian rock band

Following Larry Norman in early 1970s, there appeared other musicians and ensembles within the Christian hippie movement that played folk rock and released their first recordings: Randy Matthews, The Archers, Dallas Holm, Benny Hester, Petra, Mylon LeFevre, Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, and The Way. Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of Folk music and rock music. Randy Matthews (1951-) is a Christian singer-songwriter guitarist and pioneer of Jesus music. The Archers were one of America 's earliest Jesus music and Contemporary Christian music groups Dallas Holm (born November 5, 1948 in Saint Paul Park Minnesota) is a singer-songwriter of Christian music whose musical ministry has spanned almost Benny Hester is a Contemporary Christian music Artist and Songwriter. Petra was a prominent Christian rock band regarded by many as a pioneer of the Christian rock and of the Contemporary Christian music genres Mylon LeFevre (born on October 6, 1944 in Gulfport Mississippi) is the former Christian rock singer of the Grammy Award -winning band Mylon Philip Tyler Keaggy (born March 23, 1951 in Youngstown, Ohio He was heavily involved in drugs at the time and that same day was badly hurt Randy Stonehill (born March 12, 1952) is an American Singer/songwriter from Stockton California, best known as one of the so-called The Way was a Jesus music band who were active during the early seventies who released two albums on Maranatha! Records. However, although these groups were more part with the Contemporary Christian Music scene rather than what would become known as Christian metal, amongst them there began appearing bands that played the emerging musical styles of the 1970s such as psychedelic rock, progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal. Contemporary Christian Music (or CCM; also by its religious neutral term " inspirational music " is a genre of Popular music which is Psychedelic rock is a style of Rock music that attempts to replicate the mind-altering experiences of hallucinogenic drugs. Progressive rock (often shortened to " progressive " " prog " or " prog rock " is a form of Rock music that evolved Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock ^[8]

 Music samples:

"Lightshine"

Sample of "Lightshine" by Resurrection Band, from Awaiting Your Reply (1978). Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, is a Christian rock band Awaiting Your Reply is the debut Album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1978 Presenting the band's hard rock style, the song is considered the highlight of the acclaimed album and has been a concert favorite of the band for as long as the group has been around. ^[9]

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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. ^[10] 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. Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, is a Christian rock band Music to Raise the Dead is the first independent cassette from American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1974 The Swedish group Jerusalem was formed in 1975 and is cited as another early Christian hard rock group. Jerusalem is a Swedish Christian rock band founded in 1975 by Ulf Christiansson. ^[7] In 1978 Resurrection Band Released its album Awaiting Your Reply and Jerusalem released Jerusalem (Volume 1). Awaiting Your Reply is the debut Album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1978 Jerusalem is the debut album from Swedish Hard rock band Jerusalem. Both albums had a notable impact on Christian music culture. ^[2] During that time, heavy metal was a new style of music for the Christian 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] Later, Jerusalem released the album Dancing on the Head of the Serpent, regarded as their greatest work by fans and critics. Dancing on the Head of the Serpent is the fifth studio album and sixth album overall from Swedish Hard rock band Jerusalem. ^[12]

The Canadian progressive hard rock group Daniel Band was formed in 1979 and is cited as one of the first together with Resurrection Band and Jerusalem. The Daniel Band was a Canadian Hard rock group They were pioneers in Contemporary Christian Music (CCM for their sound that ranged from rock to heavy ^[7][2] Daniel Band released the albums On Rock and Straight Ahead on the following years. A female-fronted hard rock band called Barnabas was formed in 1977, but the band was more active in the 1980s. Barnabas was a Christian rock band that performed during the 1980s ^[13]

1980s

Breakthrough

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

In the early 1980s there were four notable Christian heavy metal groups: Messiah Prophet, Leviticus, Saint, and Stryper. Stryper is a Grammy Award nominated Christian metal band from Orange County California, USA. To Hell with the Devil is the Grammy Award nominated fourth release and third full-length album by the Christian metal and Glam metal Leviticus was a Christian metal band from Sweden. The band formed in 1982 and was led by Bjorn Stiggson Saint is a Christian metal band first active in the mid-1980s releasing their first album "Warriors of the Son" in 1984. Stryper is a Grammy Award nominated Christian metal band from Orange County California, USA. ^[7] The Swedish band Leviticus was formed by Bjorn Stiggson in 1982. The band's early releases were glam metal typical of the 1980s style. ^[14] Their second 1985 album The Strongest Power was put as one of the best records of that year in overviews by magazines such as Kerrang!. Kerrang! is a weekly rock Magazine published by Bauer Consumer Media in the United Kingdom. ^[15] This was the worldwide-breakthrough for the band. ^[15] Saint was compared to the British heavy metal band Judas Priest mostly due to the Rob Halford sounding style vocals of lead singer Josh Kramer. Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in 1970 in Birmingham. Robert John Arthur Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band ^[16][17] Saint are best known for the negativity reflected in their lyrics. Negativity can represent several things the property of something of being Negative. Common themes of their early releases include hell, evil, and apocalyptic themes such as the End times. Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering Evil, in many cultures is used to describe acts or thoughts which are contrary to some particular religion End time, End times, or End of days are the eschatological writings in the three Abrahamic religions and in doomsday scenarios in various other ^[16] Their most successful album was Time's End (1986). ^[16] Although it is debatable as to which band was formed first, the Orange County native glam metal group Stryper was the most popular out of the two. Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Glam metal (also known as pop metal) is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States. Stryper is a Grammy Award nominated Christian metal band from Orange County California, USA. Although Saint was way heavier than Stryper. Stryper was also the first band to identify as Christian metal. Stryper gained attention with their way of throwing Bibles with the band logo stickers on the covers at the end of their concerts. ^[7] In the beginning mostly Christians went to Stryper's concerts but soon they reached secular audience. ^[18] In the 1980s, Christian metal bands closely followed the trends of more mainstream bands. ^[7]

During the mid 1980s, heavy metal music divided into numerous subgenres and the term "Christian metal" was officially born in 1984. ^[2] 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. Trouble is an American Doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. Psalm 9 was the debut Album by the American Doom metal band Trouble, released in 1984 The Skull was the second Album by the American Doom metal band Trouble, released in 1985 ^[19] The term was born outside the Christian circles; it was the secular label Metal Blade Records that came up with and arose the term "white metal" in contrast to the rising black metal movement which was led by the bands such as Venom and Sodom. Artists Current artists 3 The Absence Aeon A Love Ends Suicide(Now Let's Fighting Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, Venom are an English Sodom are a German Thrash metal band from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1982 ^[8] 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. Eric Wagner is an American heavy metal singer who is best known for his work with Doom metal band Trouble. "^[20] 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). HM The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and Hard rock. "^[21] 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. ^[3]

Stryper's To Hell with the Devil (1986) is the best selling Christian metal album to date. To Hell with the Devil is the Grammy Award nominated fourth release and third full-length album by the Christian metal and Glam metal

It took a year for the metal music subculture to realize that the members of these groups were Christians who actually claimed to believe in Christ. Stryper, for instance, although a commercial success at that time, received a hostile reception when they played at a Dutch metal festival in 1985. ^[22] Regardless of this, Stryper helped to popularize the genre,^[23] being the first Christian metal band to reach platinum status on an album. Christian metal made its breakthrough in 1984 when Stryper released The Yellow and Black Attack EP. The Yellow and Black Attack! is the first release from the Christian metal band Stryper. ^[5] The 1986 album To Hell with the Devil sold 2 million copies and achieved a Grammy nomination. To Hell with the Devil is the Grammy Award nominated fourth release and third full-length album by the Christian metal and Glam metal The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences 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. Honestly is the American glam metal band Stryper 's fifth single and their highest charting single on The Billboard Hot 100. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. Following Stryper's success, Christian metal music became popular and was brought to media spotlight. ^[24][25]

 Music samples:

"To Hell with the Devil"

Sample of "To Hell with the Devil" by Stryper, from To Hell with the Devil (1986). Stryper is a Grammy Award nominated Christian metal band from Orange County California, USA. To Hell with the Devil is the Grammy Award nominated fourth release and third full-length album by the Christian metal and Glam metal Representing Stryper's glam metal style, this is one of the most popular songs from the album that greatly bolstered the popularity of Christian metal.

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Not only was Christian metal criticized by secular metal fans, but soon the movement was also criticized by fundamentalists. ^[26] For example, the televangelist Jimmy Swaggart wrote a book triggering off Stryper titled Religious Rock n' Roll – A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing in 1987 and criticized the scene for using heavy metal music to preach the gospel of Christianity. Jimmy Lee Swaggart (born This drew the attention of the secular media to the Christian metal movement, which allowed the genre to gain fans worldwide. Many new bands began to arise, eventually drawing the attention of record labels that specialized in Christian music. ^[8][27]

Stryper and Barnabas were the main targets for criticism in the 1980s. While Barnabas went on to record some of the more notable Christian metal achievements of the early to mid 1980s, they were controversial and took some of heat and criticism from several "Christian leaders". However, Barnabas broke a lot of ice for the heavy Christian music scene in terms of sound, appearance, and lyrical content. Their best known albums were Approaching Light Speed, Feel The Fire, and the lyrically controversial Little Foxes. ^[28]

The scene develops

Christian metal soon developed into its own music industry. The first Christian metal label was Pure Metal Records, a sublabel of Refuge Records. Artists Joe English ( Held Accountable in 1982 Daniel Amos ( Vox Humana in 1984 Forerunner Soon there appeared other labels such as R.E.X. Records and Intense Records. REX Records was an Independent record label that operated from 1987 until running into financial difficulty in 1995. Intense Records was a sublabel of Frontline Records. Releases on this label were mostly in the metal genre ^[27]

The regular music magazines did not cover the phenomena of Christian metal music industry very often. In 1985, Doug Van Pelt answered to this and published the first issue of Heaven's Metal fanzine. HM The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and Hard rock. A fanzine (see also Zine) is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre for the pleasure 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, with five full-time journalists working for the magazine. Heaven's Metal achieved a dedicated flock of 15,000 readers, and Van Pelt became a well-known and respected music author. Bands' sales usually rose when the ensembles were covered on the magazine. ^[29][2]

Following Heaven's Metal, there were began appearing other less-known fanzines such as White Throne. It started in the mid-late 1980s and continued into the early 1990s. However, as time went on the fanzine's focus shifted to include other music styles, including hip hop. Other American fanzines included Wreathe of Thorns, Turn Or Burn, Narrowpath, Screams of Abel, White Metal Review (USA), and White Metal Alternatives (USA). In Europe and South America, the emerging fanzines included Adonai Metal Rock (France), White Rock (Sweden), Blood Sacrifice (Germany), White Metal Crusades (Brazil 1987–1988), and White Metal Detonation (Brazil 1991–1992). Like these titles imply, the term "white metal" was also used alongside with "Christian metal" in the early Christian metal underground press in some parts of the world. However, the use of "white metal" was mainly limited to compilation album titles, such as White Metal Invasion and White Metal Warriors Last Ship Home, since it was a common term among secular metal fans. 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. ^[27]

Sanctuary International

Many rock and metal fans were rejected from churches in 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. Mortal was a Christian industrial / dance band fronted by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. Sanctuary's first worship leader was Stryper's vocalist Michael Sweet and later Barren Cross' bass player Jim LaVerde. Michael Sweet (programmer Michael Harrison Sweet (born 4 July, 1963) is a Christian rock singer from the United States. Barren Cross is a Christian metal band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983 by high school pals Ray Parris (guitar and Steve Whitaker ^[2] 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 significant impact on the Christian metal movement: groups that would later become notable such as P.O.D. performed their first concerts in Sanctuary. POD, initials standing for Payable On Death, is a rock band from San Diego California. 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 influence them carefully. ^[30]

However, by late 1990s the parish's workers felt that regular churches' attitudes towards metalheads, rockers and punks had became more permissive, and therefore did not feel the need to keep Sanctuary going on any longer. All the parishes of Sanctuary were closed, apart from San Diego's Sanctuary, where pastor Dave Hart kept his parish that was aimed at reborn Christian goths. 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. ^[30]

Late 1980s metal groups

There were also other notable hard rock, heavy metal and glam metal groups active from the late 1980s. Whitecross was formed 1986 in Chicago, releasing their first recording Whitecross the following year. Whitecross is a Christian metal band that formed in 1986 in Chicago, releasing their first recording the following year Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work of Rex Carroll, who became well-known as a talented guitar virtuoso. Ratt is an American Glam metal band that formed in San Diego and enjoyed significant commercial success in the 1980s Rex Carroll is a Christian metal guitarist and was well known for his work in the band Whitecross. ^[31] Sacred Warrior, formed in 1988 was also from Chicago and their music is often compared to that of Queensrÿche or Metal Church. Sacred Warrior was a Christian Classic metal band formed in 1988 and based in Chicago, Illinois. Of all their albums, their first release, Rebellion, is considered to be their best. ^[32] The California native group Barren Cross was formed in 1983. Barren Cross is a Christian metal band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983 by high school pals Ray Parris (guitar and Steve Whitaker Musically, the band is often compared to Iron Maiden, mainly due to the similarity of the vocals between Mike Lee and Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson. For other uses see Iron maiden. Paul Bruce Dickinson (born 7 August 1958 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England) is a British singer Airline pilot, radio show ^[33] Their most notable album, Atomic Arena was distributed to both secular and Christian markets and a music video was made for "Imaginary Music", which received some MTV airplay. Atomic Arena is a 1988 Heavy metal album released by the Christian metal band Barren Cross. The Washington group Bloodgood was formed in 1985. Bloodgood is a Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington. Their first major United States tour was in 1987, and was protested by groups on the Christian right. ^[34] The band was more popular in Europe than in the United States,^[35] and they toured the United Kingdom in 1988. This tour featured lead vocalist Les Carlsen portraying Pontius Pilate during the song "Crucify," as well as a graphic, live-action portrayal of Christ being crucified. ^[36] Bloodgood opened ways for Christian speed and thrash metal styles. ^[37]

 Music samples:

"Hell No"

Sample of "Hell No" by Bride, from Live to Die (1988). Bride is a Christian Heavy Metal / Hard rock band formed in the 80s by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Live to Die is the second album by the American heavy metal band Bride. A popular song from the album that showcases the band's speed metal era at its finest, "Hell No" has become a Christian metal anthem. ^[9]

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The Kentucky based band Bride, formed in 1983, started out playing speed metal and released the albums Show No Mercy (1986) Live to Die (1988) Silence is Madness (1989). Bride is a Christian Heavy Metal / Hard rock band formed in the 80s by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. Show No Mercy is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Bride. Live to Die is the second album by the American heavy metal band Bride. Silence is Madness is the third album by the American heavy metal band Bride, released in 1989 Bride's early albums did not sell well. It was not until they changed to hard rock style that Bride began reaching wider audience on the 1993 album Snakes in the Playground. Snakes in the Playground is the fifth album by the band Bride. Despite being criticized for their abrupt changes in style in favor of what's "hot",^[38] Bride have gained a large following,^[39] and are still considered "a primeval force at the centre of Christian heavy metal. "^[40] The band X-Sinner was formed in 1988 and is known for having a very similar sound to that of AC/DC,^[41] and released the popular albums Get It (1989) and Peace Treaty (1991) on Pakaderm Records. X-Sinner is an American Christian heavy metal band formed in the late 1988 by guitarist Greg Bishop AC/DC are an Australian Hard rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. X-Sinner was named the favorite new band of 1989 by the readers of HM Magazine. HM The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and Hard rock. ^[41] The California speed metal band Recon, formed in late 1980s, released only one yet popular album, Behind Enemy Lines on Intense Records in 1990. The Connecticut glam metal group Rage of Angels was cited as "one of the most promising bands in Christian metal" and were often compared to the likes of Mötley Crüe. However, the band split up before they even released their only album Rage of Angels in 1989, and several members went to play in the secular band Steelheart. ^[42]

The band Neon Cross was formed in California in 1983. Neon Cross is a Christian rock and Heavy Metal band that was formed in California in 1983 Neon Cross started playing clubs in Hollywood during the 80s and attracted the attention of record company Regency Records in 1987 and was asked to record two songs for their upcoming compilation album. After the release of that CD, Neon Cross was signed to Regency to record their self titled album. In 1993 the band got back together and was signed by Rugged Records to record their second full length CD, Torn. ^[43] Another Californian glam metal group, Holy Soldier, formed in early 1985, released its self-titled debut on Word and A&M Records (Myrrh imprint) in 1990 to critical and commercial acclaim. Holy Soldier is a Christian Metal band from Los Angeles California. Two years later, the band followed up their debut with Last Train, another critical success. The commercial success of Last Train, however, did not live up to its critical acclaim, and after their 60 city world tour, lead vocalist Steven Patrick abruptly left the group. The band Guardian, formed in 1982, released their notable second album Fire and Love in 1991 under the Pakaderm label. Guardian is a Contemporary Christian Music Christian Metal band that was originally formed in the 80's Fire and Love is the second album of Christian Metal band Guardian. The response to the album was overwhelming and one of the videos was included in the MTV's Headbangers Ball rotation. ^[44] The heavy metal band Angelica introduced vocalist Rob Rock, who would later gain notice for his soloproject. Robert Rock is a Christian Heavy metal Singer and Songwriter. Rob Rock also sang in the band Joshua, formed in early 1980s in California, which released the albums The Hand is Quicker Than the Eye (1983) Surrender (1985), and Intense Defense (1988). The group Shout was compared to Stryper as their glam metal styles were similar. For the church music sound see Shout band Shout was a Christian Glam metal band formed in 1987 by Ken Tamplin ^[45] The band Crystavox was compared to Skid Row and released two albums, Crystavox (1990) and The Bottom Line (1992). The band Mastedon played glam metal and released the album It's a Jungle Out There (1989) and Lofcaudio (1990).

1990s

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. ^[46] Heavy metal musicians began to seek musical limits. Therefore Christian metal musicians began to play extreme music as well. Soon death metal replaced thrash metal in popularity. For the time being it was typical that Christian bands took it seriously how secular bands affected their audience. Death metal and black metal styles had grown more and more dominant in the metal underground. Themes such violence, evil, and occult had become growing subjects in the lyrics of secular bands, such as Deicide and Morbid Angel. Deicide is an American Death metal band formed in 1987 The band has sold close to 500000 releases in the USA since the SoundScan era making them Morbid Angel is an American Death metal band based in Tampa Florida. As a counteraction to this, there was a significant phenomenon that Christian bands wrote lyrics that encouraged to go to idealistic war against evil. ^[47] The mainstream was no longer interested in the Christian metal movement, and the metal audiences in many underground metal scenes began favoring more extreme sounds and disparaging the popular styles, including Christian metal. ^[48] This affected notably on how the more traditional Christian heavy metal bands such as Saint, Bloodgood, and Leviticus, who, for example, split up in the 1990s. Even Stryper's popularity went through a regression. The band could not return its success even though they tried to change their style from pop metal to classic metal on the 1990 album Against the Law, and eventually Stryper split up in 1993. Against the Law is the sixth release and fifth full-length album from the Christian metal band Stryper, released on August 21 1990 (see 1990 ^[49]

Several changes happened: the metal scene in the United States focused more on the alternative styles. This caused the regional change that the center of heavy metal music moved to Middle and Northern Europe. ^[50] Even Heaven's Metal changed to HM: The Hard Music Magazine in 1995, and focused more on the mainstream Christian hard music rather than underground metal music. HM The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and Hard rock. With the lead of Heaven's Metal magazine, the term "white metal" was abandoned by the Christian metal scenes in English-speaking countries as well as the Central and Northern European countries. They adopted the "Christian metal" term, and "white metal" remained in use in South America and southwestern Europe, although several groups in those scenes began rejecting the "white metal" tag as well. During the 1990s, Christian metal was almost forgotten in the eyes of the mainstream. Very few metal groups saw mainstream success. However, bands such as Tourniquet remained popular despite their drastic stylistical changes, and for example Bride survived by changing its style to post-grunge by mid-1990s, rapcore by late 1990s and back to traditional heavy metal in 2000s. Tourniquet is a Christian neo-classical progressive Thrash metal band formed in 1989 Los Angeles California USA. Participants in wedding ceremonies, also known as the wedding party, include the bride and groom (or bridegroom) the maid of honor Post-grunge is a subgenre of Alternative rock that emerged in the early 1990s as a derivative of Grunge music. Rap rock is a fusion genre of rock and hip-hop. It blends vocal and instrumental parts of hip-hop and various forms of rock including punk and rock ^[27]

The 1990s Christian underground metal benefited remarkably from the major German secular metal label Nuclear Blast Records's active distribution and sudden interest in Christian metal. Nuclear blast may refer to Nuclear explosion Nuclear Blast, a record label 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. For the Christian metal band see Mortification (band. For the record label see Mortification Records. "^[51]

2000s: Revival

Return to mainstream

As I Lay Dying has been at the forefront of metalcore along with Killswitch Engage and Unearth since 2002. As I Lay Dying is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from San Diego, California. Metalcore is an umbrella term used to describe fusion genres that incorporate elements of the Hardcore punk and heavy metal genres ^[52]

The movement's revival began in the 2000s as the media began to show interest towards the scene again, with some groups reaching 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. Extol was a Progressive metal band from Oslo, Norway that formed in 1993 and disbanded in 2007 ^[53] 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 called Dagbladet. Mastodon is a Grammy -nominated heavy metal band and are one of the most notable bands in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band that formed in 1990 in Stockholm. God Forbid is an American Thrash metal band formed in 1996 in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The Blueprint Dives is the sixth studio release by Norwegian Christian metal band Extol. ^[54][55] Rob Rock 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. Chris Impellitteri (born September 251964 in Connecticut is a Guitarist. Impellitteri is a heavy metal band from USA formed and led by Guitarist Chris Impellitteri in 1987 Rage of Creation is a Heavy metal album by Rob Rock. It is his first album as a solo artist and was released on July 26 2000 in Japan with 12 tracks ^[56] He also performed guest vocals for the heavy metal band Warrior. Warrior is an American Heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1983

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. ^[57][58] In October 2004, Doug Van Pelt brought Heaven's Metal back as its own fanzine. HM The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and Hard rock. ^[59] 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.

Underoath, one of the more prominent metalcore groups. Underoath (sometimes stylized as underOATH) is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from Tampa Florida, formed in 1998

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., which became the most successful Christian metal band when their 2001 album Satellite went multi-platinum. Stryper is a Grammy Award nominated Christian metal band from Orange County California, USA. Underoath (sometimes stylized as underOATH) is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from Tampa Florida, formed in 1998 POD, initials standing for Payable On Death, is a rock band from San Diego California. Satellite is the fourth studio album and the second major label studio release by Rap metal quartet P ^[60] Metalcore's popularity is especially based on Christian bands, including such crossover successes as UnderOath, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red, Norma Jean, Haste The Day, and Demon Hunter. Metalcore is an umbrella term used to describe fusion genres that incorporate elements of the Hardcore punk and heavy metal genres Underoath (sometimes stylized as underOATH) is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from Tampa Florida, formed in 1998 As I Lay Dying is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from San Diego, California. August Burns Red is a Metalcore band from Lancaster Pennsylvania. The term Norma Jean can refer to several people Norma Jeane Mortensen the given name of actress Marilyn Monroe. Haste the Day is a Christian Metalcore band signed with Solid State Records from Indianapolis Indiana, formed in 2001 Demon Hunter is a Christian Metal band from Seattle Washington, started by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark. As I Lay Dying have entered the Billboard's Top 200 charts (#8) for its record sales and were nominated for the "Best Metal Performance" Grammy for the single "Nothing Left" from the 2007 album An Ocean Between Us. Nothing Left is the first single from the Metalcore band As I Lay Dying 's fourth album An Ocean Between Us. An Ocean Between Us is the fourth Studio album by Metalcore band As I Lay Dying. ^[61] 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. ^[62]

In its 2006 In Review issue (February 2007), Revolver Magazine dubbed Christian metal the phenomenon of the year. Revolver is a monthly Hard rock and heavy metal magazine published by Future US. ^[63] Editor in Chief Tom Beaujour interviewed the lead singers 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. Tim Lambesis is a founding member and the lead vocalist of the band As I Lay Dying. Spencer Chamberlain (born January 4, 1983) is the current lead singer of the Christian Metalcore band Underoath. Tooth and Nail Records, P. Tooth & Nail Records is a Record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U O. D. , Zao, War of Ages, Still Remains, and He Is Legend were also mentioned. For other uses of the term "zao" see Zao. Zao (ˈzeɪoʊ is a band from Greensburg Pennsylvania and War of Ages (formerly known as Point Zero) is a Christian Metalcore band formed during the summer of 2002 in Erie Pennsylvania Still Remains was a Metalcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan signed to Roadrunner Records He Is Legend is a Metal / Post-hardcore band formed in Wilmington, North Carolina and signed to Solid State Records. ^[64]

Christian bands in metal subgenres

Thrash metal

Drummer Ted Kirkpatrick of the American thrash metal band Tourniquet live in 2005. Ted Kirkpatrick (born 1960 is an American heavy metal Drummer who is most well known for his work with the American Christian metal band Tourniquet is a Christian neo-classical progressive Thrash metal band formed in 1989 Los Angeles California USA.

In 1986, the band Bloodgood opened ways for Christian speed and thrash metal styles with their song "Black Snake". Bloodgood is a Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington. Speed metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music originating in the late 1970s and early 1980s that was the direct musical progenitor of Thrash metal. Thrash metal (sometimes referred to simply as thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized by its fast tempo and aggression During the mid 1980s the bands The Crucified and One Bad Pig infused their punk rock with metal and influenced later Christian thrash metal groups. The Crucified was an American crossover thrash metal band from Fresno, California that formed in 1984 One Bad Pig is a Christian punk and metal crossover band from Austin, Texas which formed in 1985. The Crucified was formed in 1984 and the band released Take Up Your Cross in 1986 and Nailed in 1987. The guitarist Greg Minier was noted for his guitar playing skills and was featured in Guitar World magazine in 1991. ^[65] One Bad Pig was formed in 1985 by Carey Womack and released A Christian Banned in 1989 they released Smash on Pure Metal Records and two following albums Swine Flew and I Scream Sunday on Myrrh Records.

 Music samples:

"Ark of Suffering"

Sample of "Ark of Suffering" by Tourniquet, from Stop the Bleeding (1990). Ark of Suffering is a song by the American Thrash metal band Tourniquet. Tourniquet is a Christian neo-classical progressive Thrash metal band formed in 1989 Los Angeles California USA. Stop the Bleeding was the debut album by the Christian metal band Tourniquet, originally released in 1990 on Intense Records. A video was done for the song, containing footage of animal abuse, and it received some airplay on MTV before it was banned for being too graphic. ^[66]

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The four biggest Christian thrash metal groups were Deliverance, Believer, Vengeance and Tourniquet. For the pop band refer to Deliverance (pop band. Deliverance is an United States Christian speed / Thrash metal Believer is a Christian Thrash metal band from the late 1980s and early 1990s that played a hybrid of thrash and Progressive metal. Vengeance Rising was a Christian Thrash metal band from Los Angeles CA. Tourniquet is a Christian neo-classical progressive Thrash metal band formed in 1989 Los Angeles California USA. They all released their early material on Intense Records, apart from Believer which was on R.E.X. Records. REX Records was an Independent record label that operated from 1987 until running into financial difficulty in 1995. Deliverance was formed in 1985, Believer in 1986, and Vengeance was formed in 1987 and in 1988 year published its first album Human Sacrifice, the first Christian thrash metal album. Human Sacrifice is the first studio album of the Christian death and Thrash metal band Vengeance Rising, as the first The group soon changed its name to Vengeance Rising since there was another band called Vengeance in Holland. ^[67] Especially Tourniquet was one of the more popular Christian thrash metal groups. The band was formed in 1989 and in 1990 released the album Stop the Bleeding. Stop the Bleeding was the debut album by the Christian metal band Tourniquet, originally released in 1990 on Intense Records. The band's unique style brought them fans all over the world and broke new ground. ^[2] A music video was made for the song "Ark of Suffering", but it was banned from MTV because of its violent content that pointed out the horrors of animal abuse. Ark of Suffering is a song by the American Thrash metal band Tourniquet. In the early 1990s both Believer and Tourniquet, known for their technical styles, caught the interest bigger record labels: Believer was signed to Roadrunner Records and Tourniquet to Metal Blade Records. Roadrunner Records (Roadrunner Music Group BV is a Record label that concentrates on heavy metal bands Artists Current artists 3 The Absence Aeon A Love Ends Suicide(Now Let's Fighting On their new labels, Believer released Sanity Obscure and Dimensions, and Tourniquet released Psycho Surgery and Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance, which was voted as the "Favourite album of the 1990s" by the readers of HM Magazine. Sanity Obscure (RR-9312-2 is the second album by the Christian Thrash metal band Believer, published in 1990 by R Dimensions is the GMA Dove Award nominated third album by the Christian technical thrash metal band Believer, released in 1993 on both Roadrunner Psycho Surgery was the second album by the Christian metal band Tourniquet, released in 1991 Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance was the third album by the Christian metal band Tourniquet, released in 1992 Deliverance released Weapons of Our Warfare in 1990. Weapons of Our Warfare is an album released by the Christian Speed / Thrash metal band Deliverance and is considered by many to A music video was made for the title track and received some airplay on MTV. These 1990 releases marked a turning point in Christian metal music. All Music Guide has written about Believer's Sanity Obscure album:

The British bands Seventh Angel and Detritus introduced Christian thrash metal to Europe. Seventh Angel is a British Thrash metal band that formed in 1987 Seventh Angel was formed in 1987 and were considered to be thrash metal pioneers. ^[69] They released the albums The Torment (1990) and Lament for the Weary (1992). These records achieved mainstream distribution through Music for Nations label. Music for Nations was a British Independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. ^[70] The band was known for its combination of doom metal and thrash metal. ^[71] Although Seventh Angel disbanded in 1992, for a long time they were considered to be the best metal act in the UK. ^[69] Another British group, Detritus also played thrash metal on the 1990 album Perpetual Defiance,^[72] but changed to power metal on the critically acclaimed album If But for One (1993). ^[73]

During the late 1990s, an Oklahoman group called Eternal Decision gained attention with its thrash and groove metal style. Eternal Decision is an American Christian Thrash metal band Musically the band blends Pantera influenced riffs with a mix of James The 1997 album Eternal Decision hit the record stores in the U. Eternal Decision is the self-titled first album of the American Christian heavy metal band Eternal Decision. S. and 16 other countries, achieving considerable acclaim and providing the band with even more notice. ^[74] In 2005 Temple of Blood released their debut album Prepare for the Judgement of Mankind which is one of the more recent acclaimed releases for the Christian speed and thrash metal genre. Temple of Blood is an American Christian metal band Musically they are influenced by the Thrash metal music of bands like Annihilator and Prepare for the Judgement of Mankind is the 2005 debut album by the Christian Speed / Thrash metal band Temple of Blood ^[75][76]

Death metal

German death metal group Sacrificium live at Elements of Rock 2008, Switzerland. Sacrificium is a Death metal band from Stuttgart Germany, formed in 1993

In 1990, the Australian group Mortification became the first widely recognized Christian death metal band. Mortification is both the most successful Australian Extreme metal band and the most successful Christian extreme metal group in the world Though they played an old style of death metal, on the album Mortification (1990), very close to its thrash roots, their 1992 album Scrolls of the Megilloth is still considered classic death metal,^[77] and was released in both Christian and secular markets as the band was signed to Nuclear Blast Records. Mortification is Mortification's second studio release and eponymous debut album released in 1991 Scrolls of the Megilloth is the Christian Extreme metal band Mortification's third release and second full length recording released in Nuclear blast may refer to Nuclear explosion Nuclear Blast, a record label The album was almost as ground breaking as Stryper's To Hell With the Devil. ^[2] Scrolls of the Megilloth brought Mortification to the elite of the death metal movement. ^[77] The band enjoyed notable commercial success with Blood World,^[78] and eventually became possibly the most successful Christian extreme metal group. Blood World is the sixth release and fifth studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1994 ^[79]

 Music samples:

"Scrolls of the Megilloth"

Sample of "Scrolls of the Megilloth" by Mortification, from Scrolls of the Megilloth (1992). Scrolls of the Megilloth is a single from the album of the same name Scrolls of the Megilloth. Mortification is both the most successful Australian Extreme metal band and the most successful Christian extreme metal group in the world Scrolls of the Megilloth is the Christian Extreme metal band Mortification's third release and second full length recording released in The album's music garnered the band some attention from the heavy metal underground and, according to All Music Guide, contains some of the most frightening vocals ever recorded. ^[80] >

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Prior to Mortification the Brazilian band Incubus (later known as Opprobrium) already combined Christian lyrics to death metal on their albums Serpent Temptation (1988) and Beyond the Unknown (1990). Opprobrium is a Death metal band from Metairie, Louisiana. Founded in 1986 by brothers Francis and Moyses Howard under the name Incubus, ^[81] At roughly the same time the band Living Sacrifice was creating thrash and death metal. Living Sacrifice is an influential Christian metal band that formed in 1989 in Little Rock Arkansas, U Their albums Nonexistent (1992) and Inhabit (1994) presented deathgrind style. Nonexistent is the second album by the Christian metal band Living Sacrifice. Inhabit is the third album by the Christian metal band Living Sacrifice and the last album in which DJ record with Living Sacrifice 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. "^[82] The Minneapolis based Crimson Thorn released albums such as 1995's Unearthed, 1999's Dissection, and 2002's Purification. Crimson Thorn are an American Christian Blackened death metal band Unearthed is the first full-length album by Crimson Thorn. This album has been produced by 3 different record labels Dissection is the second full-length album by Crimson Thorn. The album was released in 1997 on Morphine Records and later released on Little Rose Purification is the third full-length album by Crimson Thorn. All Music Guide describes them as "one of the world's most extreme-sounding Christian metal bands. "^[83] Other notable American death metal bands include Disencumbrance, Clemency, and Embodyment. Embodyment was a Christian Metalcore band from Arlington Texas which formed in 1993 and were first known by the name "Supplication" ^[84]

The best-known Christian grindcore group that focused on goregrind style is the Australian band Vomitorial Corpulence. For the fictional character with this name see Grindcore (Transformers. The band released its albums Karrionic Hacktician and Skin Stripper in 1990s. The Norwegian death metal group Schaliach gained a notable cult following for its album Sonrise (1996), which had a slightly more melodic and doomier approach than most Christian death metal albums. The fellow Norwegian band Groms combined traditional heavy metal with groovy death metal and achieved notice in the local scene since they were signed to Arctic Serenades Records that had a satanic band called Suffering on its roster. ^[85] The album Ascension was released in 1994 (later re-released through Pleitegeier Records in 1996). Later, Norway's Extol and Finland's Deuteronomium and Immortal Souls began playing post-death and received notable attention. Extol was a Progressive metal band from Oslo, Norway that formed in 1993 and disbanded in 2007 Deuteronomium is a Christian Death metal band formed in 1993 Jyväskylä, Finland. Immortal Souls is a Melodic death metal band from Kokkola, Finland, formed in 1991 Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a Subgenre of Death metal which combines the melody of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal The Norwegian band Extol's early style combined elements of old school death metal, power metal and traditional heavy metal with experimental guitar leads. All Music Guide described their 1999 album Burial as "a breath of fresh air among a genre that relies on satanic gimmicks. Burial is the debut album by Norwegian Christian metal band Extol. "^[86] The band were hailed as accomplished musicians,^[86] and noted for their exceptionally precise guitarwork. ^[87] Technical death metal is currently presented by bands such as Aletheian and Sympathy. Aletheian are a Christian progressive Technical death metal band that was formed in Lebanon Pennsylvania in 1997 under the name "Crutch" Sympathy is a Technical death metal band from London, Ontario, Canada, formed in 1991

Unblack metal

Main article: Unblack metal

Norwegian black metal band Drottnar live at Elements of Rock 2008, Switzerland. Unblack metal (also known as holy unblack metal It is viewed as an ideology rather than a subgenre since there is no method to play black metal in a Christian way Drottnar is a technical and progressive Black metal band from Fredrikstad, Norway.

Horde is widely considered to be the first Christian black metal band. Horde is the single-album Christian black metal project of Australian musician Jayson Sherlock, formerly of Mortification and Paramaecium 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. ^[88][89][90] 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". Hellig Usvart is the debut album by Australian Unblack metal band Horde, released in 1994 on Nuclear Blast Records ^[91]

 Music samples:

"Invert the Inverted Cross"

Sample of "Invert the Inverted Cross" by Horde, from the album Hellig Usvart (1994). Horde is the single-album Christian black metal project of Australian musician Jayson Sherlock, formerly of Mortification and Paramaecium Hellig Usvart is the debut album by Australian Unblack metal band Horde, released in 1994 on Nuclear Blast Records Horde's lyrical themes were known to be anti-satanic, and the music represents the older school of unblack metal.

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"A Sovereign Fortress"

Sample of "A Sovereign Fortress" by Antestor, from the album The Return of the Black Death (1998). Antestor is a Norwegian Black metal band that formed in 1990 The group is credited for starting the whole northern European Christian Extreme The Return of the Black Death is the second studio album by the Norwegian Black metal band Antestor, released in 1998 This sample represents Antestor's "sorrow metal" style: a mixture of viking metal and doom metal. Viking metal is a subgenre of Heavy metal music characterised by its galloping pace keyboard-rich anthemic sound bleakness and dramatic emphasis on Norse mythology Doom metal is a form of Heavy metal music that typically employs very slow Tempos low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other metal

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Antestor (then called Crush Evil) existed prior to the release of Hellig Usvart but their music was a death/doom style (or as they called it, "Sorrow Metal"), and was not yet musically considered black metal. Antestor is a Norwegian Black metal band that formed in 1990 The group is credited for starting the whole northern European Christian Extreme 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. Øystein Aarseth ( March 22, 1968 - August 10, 1993) Born in Egersund was a guitarist for the Norwegian Black metal Mayhem is a Black metal band formed during 1984 in Oslo Norway. ^[92] However, this never took place. By some sources, Antestor started the northern European Christian extreme metal scene. Extreme metal is an Umbrella term, somewhat loosely defined for a number of related heavy metal subgenres that have developed since the 1980s ^[93]

The Swedish band Admonish was also formed around 1994 or 1995, and is known to be the first Christian black metal band in Sweden. Admonish is a Swedish Black metal band formed in 1994 They were one of the first bands in the Christian black metal movement and the first Christian They gained notoriety for calling their style "Christian black metal" publicly on their website. This caused some debate in metal underground and soon one black metal fan started an anti-Admonish website. Although the band did not release anything until 2005, the magazine Metal Hammer called Admonish "One of the leading Christian black metal bands" in a 1990s issue which focused on black metal. ^[94]

Horde's "anti-satanic" and "crusade mentality" themes dominated the unblack metal movement for years. ^[89] In late 1990s, Antestor, Crimson Moonlight and Vaakevandring set a new direction: their lyrics focused more on philosophical and personal themes. Crimson Moonlight is a Swedish black metal In 1998 Crimson Moonlight released a live album titled Live in Varsås, and in 2001 released their second Vaakevandring is a Norwegian Unblack metal band that was active in the late 1990s and early 2000s ^[95] 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. The Return of the Black Death is the second studio album by the Norwegian Black metal band Antestor, released in 1998 Cacophonous Records is an independent British Record label, specializing in metal, Black metal, Death metal, and Gothic 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 Demo 98/99,^[96] and Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem played drums for Antestor's The Forsaken (2005) album. Stian Aarstad is a Norwegian pianist and keyboard player best known for his four-year (1993-97 stint with the Black metal band Dimmu Borgir during Dimmu Borgir (ˌdɪmuːˈbɔːrɡɪr is a Symphonic black metal band from Norway. Jan Axel ‘Hellhammer’ Blomberg born August 2, 1969, is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning Heavy Metal Drummer from The Forsaken is the third Studio album by the Christian black metal band Antestor released in 2005 on Endtime Productions. ^[97]

The movement has received some interest in mainstream media, and 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. Admonish is a Swedish Black metal band formed in 1994 They were one of the first bands in the Christian black metal movement and the first Christian Pimp My Ride is a TV show produced by MTV. Each episode consists of taking one car in poor condition and restoring it as well as customizing On that show, in which their car was modified, the twins advertised their band and Admonish's music was played. ^[98][99] In 2007, the Norwegian band Frosthardr appeared on the documentary feature film Murder Music – Black Metal (2007). Frosthardr is a Norwegian Christian black metal band formed in 1997 They were interviewed for a minute and represented the Christian point of view in (un)black metal music. ^[100] A documentary film was made on "the Christian concept of black metal" titled Light in Darkness – Nemesis Divina by Mayhem documentarist and premiered on late May 2008. Light in Darkness – Nemesis Divina is a documentary about the Christian concept of black metal music. ^[101] There are unblack bands in different parts of the world but the prominent scenes exist in Scandinavia, USA and South America. The latter is known to have a more radical, highly anti-satanic unblack metal scene than other regional scenes. ^[102]

Power metal and progressive metal

German power metal group Seventh Avenue.

 Music samples:

"The Witch and the Lion"

Sample of "The Witch and the Lion" by Narnia, from Desert Land (2001). At least 2 Bands called Narnia have become more widely known Narnia (English band, an English band 3 members of which later joined After the This article is about the album by the band Narnia. For the Super Mario Bros The song represents Narnia's neoclassical metal and power metal style. The virtuoisic solo in the beginning is influenced by classical music, and the lyrics portray the band's metaphorical approach on Christian topics.

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Sacred Warrior preceded Christian power metal in the United States. Sacred Warrior was a Christian Classic metal band formed in 1988 and based in Chicago, Illinois. Power metal is a style of Heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with Thrash metal or Speed metal, often within The German group Seventh Avenue, formed in 1989, was one of more notable Christian power metal bands in the 1990s. Seventh Avenue is a Christian Heavy metal band from Wolfsburg, Germany, formed in 1989 Power metal is a style of Heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with Thrash metal or Speed metal, often within They released Rainbowland 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. The 1998 release, Southgate, was licensed to Megahard Records for release in Brazil, where the band subsequently toured. They released two albums, Between The Worlds (2003) and Eternals (2004), on Massacre Records. ^{[103][104][105]}

Later in the 1990s, the Swedish group Narnia made notable contributions to Christian power metal history. At least 2 Bands called Narnia have become more widely known Narnia (English band, an English band 3 members of which later joined After the Previously, Christian Liljegren was in a melodic metal band called Modest Attraction which released the albums The Truth in Your Face and Divine Luxury before Liljegren teamed up with guitarist Carl Johan Grimmark to form Narnia in 1996 and released the first album Awakening in 1998. Christian Liljegren (born in 1971) is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the Swedish Christian melodic power metal band Carl Johan Grimmark is a Christian guitarist born in Gothenburg, Sweden October 14, 1977. Awakening is the debut album of progressive metal band Narnia. Narnia was later signed to Nuclear Blast Records, Germany, and Pony Canyon Records, Japan, and broadened its popularity. ^[106][107] Later there appeared more notable European groups such as the German bands Chrystyne and Lightmare, and the Swedish groups XT, Harmony, and Heartcry. Harmony is a Swedish Christian Progressive Power metal band The group formed in 2000 and released their debut album Dreaming Awake ^[2]

The British group Balance of Power was a notable Christian progressive metal band, although their lyrics became gradually less Christian based album by album. Balance of Power are a British melodic Progressive metal group started in 1995. Progressive metal (often referred to simply as prog metal) is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music which blends the powerful guitar-driven sound of metal with the complex The band was formed in 1995, released their first album When the World Falls Down in 1996, was picked by Japanese label Pony Canyon, and received significant airplay on Japanese radio stations. When The World Falls Down, released in 1997 was the first Album by Balance of Power. After Lance King joined them as vocalist, the band released Book of Secrets in 1998. Lance King an American heavy metal vocalist and a former member of the Aurora Tigers Book of Secrets, released in 1998 was the second Album by Balance of Power. ^[108][109]

It was not until late 1990s and early 2000s when some United States based power metal and progressive metal groups began to appear. Jacobs Dream, formed in 1997, became popular and was signed to Metal Blade Records. Jacobs Dream is an American Christian Power metal band originally based out of Columbus Ohio, that formed in the mid 1990s under the name of Iron Angel They soon released the albums Jacobs Dream (1997) and Theater of War (2000). Jacobs Dream is the self titled debut by the Ohio based Christian Power metal band Jacobs Dream. Theater of War is the second album by the Ohio based Christian Power metal band Jacobs Dream. ^[110][111] Magnitude Nine released the albums Chaos to Control (1998), Reality in Focus (2001) and Decoding the Soul (2004). ^{[112][113][114]} In 2003 a one man project called Theocracy created by Matt Smith released their self titled debut Theocracy, which achieved notable popularity in both Christian and secular scenes. Theocracy is a Christian Progressive Power metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia. Theocracy is the self-titled debut album by the Christian Progressive Power metal band Theocracy. ^{[115][116][117]}

Doom metal and gothic metal

Dutch symphonic death/doom metal group Morphia. Morphia is a Dutch symphonic Death/doom metal band formed in 1995

In 1987, the Swedish group Veni Domine started playing progressive doom metal and released its first album Fall Babylon Fall in 1992. Veni Domine is a Christian progressive Doom metal band The band was founded in 1987 in Sollentuna, Sweden. Doom metal is a form of Heavy metal music that typically employs very slow Tempos low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other metal Fall Babylon Fall (ECD7028 is the debut album of the Swedish progressive doom metal band Veni Domine, released in 1992 The album was called a "masterpiece" by some critics. ^[118] The following album Material Sanctuary featured a heavier output, however, the band abandoned most of their epic style on later releases.

 Music samples:

"The Unnatural Conception in Two Parts: The Birth and Massacre of the Innocents"

Sample of "The Unnatural Conception" by Paramaecium, from Exhumed of the Earth (1993). Paramaecium is an Australian Death/doom metal band formed in 1991. Exhumed of the Earth is the debut album by Paramaecium. It was released in 1993 The song represents Paramaecium's doom metal style. The song opens with soprano vocals which then progresses to a heavy guitar riff.

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"Legion"

Sample of "Legion" by Saviour Machine, from Saviour Machine I (1993). Saviour Machine is a neoclassical Christian gothic Symphonic metal band from California, USA, formed in 1989 Saviour Machine I is the 1993 debut album of the American opera metal band Saviour Machine. The song represents Saviour Machine's gothic opera metal style. Containing lyrics with a gothic horror feel and apocalyptic themes, because of this song the album was banned from Christian music stores in the United States. Gothic fiction (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance.

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Paramaecium and Ashen Mortality are the two best known doom metal bands in Christian metal. Paramaecium is an Australian Death/doom metal band formed in 1991. Ashen Mortality were a British Doom metal band that was formed in early 1993 by Ian Arkley (ex- Seventh Angel) and Melanie Bolton ^[119] Australian group Paramaecium incorporated violin, flute, and acoustic guitars to its atmospheric music on their album Exhumed of the Earth, and continued on adding more symphonic elements on the following albums. Exhumed of the Earth is the debut album by Paramaecium. It was released in 1993 What sets Paramaecium apart from other bands in the doom metal scene, is the fact that they are the only Christian death doom band that made it to the top of the genre. ^[120] Paramaecium would influence later Christian bands such as Pantokrator. British group Ashen Mortality was formed after thrash metal band Seventh Angel split up. Ashen Mortality mixed elements of medieval music and goth in their doom metal sound. This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. The critics usually wrote that Ashen Mortalitys overall quality set them apart from competitors. The 1998 Your Caress was called "essential album". ^[121] In 2000, the ex-Pentagram guitarist Victor Griffin formed a traditional doom metal group called Place of Skulls, and released the albums Nailed (2002) and With Vision (2003)

Christian gothic metal was pioneered by Saviour Machine, which mixed David Bowie type rock-opera and classic metal. Place of Skulls is a Doom metal band from Knoxville Tennessee. Saviour Machine is a neoclassical Christian gothic Symphonic metal band from California, USA, formed in 1989 David Bowie (ˈboʊiː born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947 is an English Musician, actor producer, and arranger. Saviour Machine was more popular in Europe, particularly in Germany, than US. ^[122] After releasing the albums Saviour Machine I and Saviour Machine II, the band gained attention with its ambitious Legend trilogy. Saviour Machine I is the 1993 debut album of the American opera metal band Saviour Machine. The vocalist Eric Clayton also produced the United States gothic metal band Wedding Party's album Anthems (1997). Later Wedding Party changed its name to I-Dragon-I.

In the 1990s, there were three other notable gothic metal bands: Undish, Necromance and Kohllapse. Undish is a Gothic metal Biography Undish was originally known as Graviora Manent and was formed in 1991 by Robert Baum (drums and vocals Michal Christoph Necromance was a Christian Gothic metal band from Spremberg, Germany, formed in 1987 disbanded in 2002 Kohllapse is a gothic-doom metal band from Canberra, Australia, formed in the early 1990s All of them started out in early 1990s playing death metal before developing their gothic metal sound. The Polish band Undish, formerly known as Graviora Manent, released the 1997 album ...Acta Est Fabula on Massacre Records and made a European tour afterwards, also performing at Wacken Open Air. Wacken Open Air (WOA is a popular German music festival focusing on various forms of Extreme metal and Heavy metal. ^[123] The German group Necromance released the albums White Gothic and Wiederkehr der Schmerzen in the 1990s. White Gothic is the debut album by the German Gothic metal band Necromance released in 1997 Wiederkehr der Schmerzen is the second album by the German Gothic metal band Necromance, released on Pleitegeier Records in 1999 The latter incorporated industrial elements, which continued on the band's 2001 release Tribulation Force. Tribulation Force is the third album by the German Gothic metal band Necromance, released on Pleitegeier Records in 2001 Their two latest albums were well-received by magazines such as Rock Hard and Metal Heart. ^[124] Australian group Kohllapse self-released the albums Kohllapse (1996) and Distant Mind Alternative (1999). Distant Mind Alternative is the self-titled debut full-length album by the Australian group Kohllapse. Distant Mind Alternative is the second full-length album by the Australian group Kohllapse, released in 1999 These albums were distributed through Nuclear Blast USA,^[125] gaining the band some attention in secular circles for its unique style that combined darkwave and doom metal. Nuclear blast may refer to Nuclear explosion Nuclear Blast, a record label ^[126][127]

Alternative metal

Zao and Dan Weyandt live in Karlsruhe, Germany, September 10, 2004. For other uses of the term "zao" see Zao. Zao (ˈzeɪoʊ is a band from Greensburg Pennsylvania and

The alternative metal style's leading groups included the nu metal bands P.O.D. and Pillar. Alternative metal is an eclectic form of Heavy metal music that gained popularity in the early 1990s alongside grunge. Nu metal (sometimes named new metal or nü metal) is a musical genre that emerged in the mid 1990s which fuses influences from grunge and Alternative POD, initials standing for Payable On Death, is a rock band from San Diego California. Pillar is a Grammy -nominated Christian rock band currently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Zao was a pioneer of metalcore, paving way for bands such as UnderOath and Norma Jean. Underoath (sometimes stylized as underOATH) is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from Tampa Florida, formed in 1998 Norma Jean is a Christian Metalcore / Mathcore band from Douglasville Georgia, USA, a suburb of Atlanta. In 1988, the industrial metal movement began. Industrial metal is a Musical genre that draws from Industrial music and heavy metal. Although a fusion genre, there was a notable and mostly American based Christian movement around the style in the 1990s. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The California based group Mortal is cited as one the first Christian bands that represented the style. Mortal was a Christian industrial / dance band fronted by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. ^[5] Mortal was not the first Christian band that played industrial metal, but they had a notable role in that they opened ways for 1990s industrial metal bands, both Christian and secular. The second album Fathom (1993) was Mortal's most guitar-driven musically, and became one of the band's most popular releases. ^[128] The song ”Rift” was rearranged later and a music video, which delt with the issue of child abuse, was shot for it in 1994, achieving MTV airplay. ^[129]

 Music samples:

"Deviate"

Sample of "Deviate" by Circle of Dust, from Brainchild (1992). Circle of Dust was a mid-1990s Industrial rock band created and run by Klayton (then known as Scott Albert his birth name who is now famous for his solo band The song represents the band's industrial metal style. A part of "Deviate" was used as the intro for a long time in the now defunct MTV Sports show.

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Another 1990s Christian industrial metal cult band was Circle of Dust, which was formed by New York based Scott Albert after his former thrash metal outfit Immortal (USA) disbanded. Circle of Dust was a mid-1990s Industrial rock band created and run by Klayton (then known as Scott Albert his birth name who is now famous for his solo band Scott Albert (born November 13, 1963) better known as Klayton, is an Electronic rock musician who has performed under a variety of stage ^[130][131] Albert rerecorded the album in 1995. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 The second album, Brainchild was more extreme than first one, and showcased dark cyberpunk-esque lyrics. ^[132] The album is characterized by strong elements of thrash metal. Thrash metal (sometimes referred to simply as thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized by its fast tempo and aggression ^[130] A music video was shot for ”Telltale Crime” in Tennessee state penitentiary which was closed due to inhuman conditions. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. ^[132] The album was exclusively distributed to secular market, where the band achieved moderate success:^[133] Part of the song ”Deviate” was used as the introsong for a long time in the now defunct MTV Sports show. ^[130]

Albert led the Christian industrial metal movement at one point and he was a part of many other groups such as Argyle Park, the underground supergroup of Christian industrial metal, which released the successful album Misguided (1995). Argyle Park was an underground Industrial music supergroup founded in 1994 and active until 1996. Misguided is Argyle Park 's first and only release as Argyle Park Albert produced the sideproject of The Crucified members, Chatterbox's only album Despite. The Crucified was an American crossover thrash metal band from Fresno, California that formed in 1984 After a some disagreements with the label occurred, the touring line up of Circle of Dust disbanded. ^[132] Daren Diolosa started a soloproject under the name Klank and recorded the album Still Suffering in 1997. Klank is an Industrial metal band created by guitarist Daren "Klank" Diolosa who started it after the end of the 1990s cult band Circle of Dust, in The second album Numb was somewhat successful because the song ”Blind” became a hit single. ^[134] Dan Albert recorded under the name Level. Scott Albert grew tired of R. E. X. Records' policy and the critique that he did not write Christian lyrics enough, and eventually left the Christian scene. ^[135] In 1998 Scott Albert recorded the "last" Circle of Dust album Disengage which incorporated elements of darkwave and synthpop. He took the pseudonym Klayton and formed Celldweller, and its music has been featured on many movie soundtracks, including Superman Returns and Spider-Man 3. Celldweller is a Detroit, United States based Industrial metal band that was created by Klayton (formerly created music as the 90's Superman Returns is a 2006 Academy Award -nominated Superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character For the video game based on the film see Spider-Man 3 (video game. ^[132] The Australian industrial metal band called Screams of Chaos was known for its bizarre style that combined several extreme metal influences with industrial. The band achieved significant attention for Genetic War (1997), its only album, as leader Neil Johnson is a professional film maker. He shot numerous music videos for the songs on the album. Some of the videos caused controversy in Germany for featuring video material from World War II concentration camps. ^[136] The late 1990s and early 2000s popular American shock rock group Rackets & Drapes was known to have elements of industrial metal, and achieved a wide following. ^[137]

Christianity in mainstream metal

For more details on this topic, see Christianity in mainstream metal. This article is about Christianity in mainstream metal for more about the movement see Christian 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, it is worth noting that some have caused controversy in their claims to Christianity, such as Tom Araya of Slayer^[138] and Ralph Santolla of Deicide. Tom Araya (born Tomás Enrique Araya June 6, 1961 in Viña del Mar, Chile Araya's older brother played the Guitar Slayer is an American Thrash metal band founded by Guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King in Ralph Santolla, born on December 8th is an Italian-American metal Guitarist He has played in many bands in the past most recently Deicide, For the American death metal band see Deicide (band Deicide is the killing of a god either the God of a monotheistic religion ^[139] Others, such as Killswitch Engage and Linkin Park also have members who are Christian and frequently use spiritual themes. Killswitch Engage (often abbreviated as KSE or Killswitch) is a Metalcore band from Westfield Massachusetts. Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. ^[140][141] Phil Labonte of All That Remains is a Christian and includes Christian themes in his lyrics.

Controversies

Australian gothic metal band Virgin Black attempts to highlight the difference between the Church and the spiritual aspects of Christianity. Virgin Black is an Australian band that combines gothic-doom and Symphonic metal influences ^[142]

Certain Christian groups, most notably those in some King James Only denominations,^[143] 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. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Hip hop is a cultural movement which developed in New York City in the 1970s primarily among African Americans and Latinos. Bands such as Showbread and Antestor believe that the instrumentation of the music is simply a medium of art, while the person creating the music as well as the lyrics being presented provide the message. Showbread is a Post-hardcore / Alternative rock band from the Savannah Georgia area Antestor is a Norwegian Black metal band that formed in 1990 The group is credited for starting the whole northern European Christian Extreme Therefore, Christian metal is created when Christians compose metal music in a way that reflects their faith in Christ. ^[7]

Certain fans of metal consider the use of Christian lyrics to be opposed to the "true" purpose of metal. 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. ^[144] 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. "^[7]

Some groups within the Christian metal movement, most notably bands from the 1980s and 1990s, have criticized bands within the industry for isolating the genre from the secular industry too avidly. For example, Callisto has stated that when a band becomes part of the movement, it is difficult to be portrayed as anything more than just a "Christian band," due to the isolation. Callisto is a Post-metal band from Turku, Finland. The band was formed in 2001 in Kokkola. ^[145] However, most Christian bands today oppose to being isolated in the Christian music industry and have become mainstream successes, such as Underoath, Virgin Black,^[146] and Tourniquet. Underoath (sometimes stylized as underOATH) is a Grammy -nominated Metalcore band from Tampa Florida, formed in 1998 Virgin Black is an Australian band that combines gothic-doom and Symphonic metal influences Tourniquet is a Christian neo-classical progressive Thrash metal band formed in 1989 Los Angeles California USA.

See also

• Christian rock
• Heavy metal music
• Jesus Movement
• List of Christian metal bands
• Unblack metal

Record labels

• Facedown Records
• Flicker Records
• Intense Records
• Mono Vs Stereo
• Nightmare Records
• Raging Storm Records
• Retroactive Records
• R.E.X. Records
• Rivel Records
• Rowe Productions
• Solid State Records
• Tooth & Nail Records

References

Citations

• Thompson, John J (2000), Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll (First printing ed. Christian rock (occasionally abbreviated CR) is a form of Rock music played by bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on The Jesus movement was the major Christian element within the Hippie Counterculture, or conversely the major hippie element within some strands of See also Christian metal This list omits some bands of disputed status as a " Christian band " Unblack metal (also known as holy unblack metal It is viewed as an ideology rather than a subgenre since there is no method to play black metal in a Christian way Facedown Records is an independent Christian Record label based in Fallbrook, California, devoted mostly to Hardcore punk and Flicker Records is a Christian Record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. Intense Records was a sublabel of Frontline Records. Releases on this label were mostly in the metal genre Mono Vs Stereo is an independent Record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. Lance King an American heavy metal vocalist and a former member of the Aurora Tigers Raging Storm Records is an Independent record label started in Suffolk, Virginia. REX Records was an Independent record label that operated from 1987 until running into financial difficulty in 1995. Rivel Records / CMSweden is a Swedish Heavy metal music record label founded by Christian Liljegren (ex- Narnia) in 1997 Rowe Productions is a Christian Record label. It was founded by Mortification vocalist Steve Rowe. This article is about the metal subdivison of Tooth & Nail Records, for the Jazz label see Solid State Records (jazz label Tooth & Nail Records is a Record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U ), Ottawa, Ontario Canada: ECW Press, ISBN 1550224212 
• Hale, Mark (1993), Headbangers, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink, ISBN 1-56075-029-4 . Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page ECW Press is a North American Small press Book Publisher. It began in 1974 as a Canadian Literary magazine Ann Arbor is a city in the US state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America.
• Powell, Mark Allan (2002), Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed. ), Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, ISBN 1-56563-679-1 

Notes