Jump to content

Christian metal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Burningclean (talk | contribs) at 01:49, 21 December 2007 (rv). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Christian metal
Stylistic originsJesus music
Heavy metal
Psychedelic rock
Blues-rock
Hard rock
Cultural originsLate 1970s United States and Sweden in Jesus movement
Typical instrumentsElectric guitar - Bass - Drums - Keyboards (occasional)
Fusion genres
Unblack metal
Regional scenes
United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland
Other topics
Bands

Christian metal is a form of heavy metal music and its many subgenres with Christian lyrics and themes. Every band has inspirational and religious lyrics.[1]

Christian metal came to existence in the late 1970's Jesus movement, and was pioneered by United States' Resurrection Band and Sweden's Jerusalem. Los Angeles' Stryper brought the genre into media spotlight during the mid 1980s. 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 some people in the metal scene began to refer to the Christian metal bands of the 1980s as ”white metal” – a play on black metal, which was a rising movement at the time. ”White metal” co-existed alongside with "Christian metal" until the early 1990s when the golden era of the scene ended and the movement went underground. After that, the English-speaking countries (North America, Australia, United Kingdom etc.) and Middle and Northern European scenes adopted the "Christian metal" term, and "white metal" remained in use in South America and southwestern Europe. "White metal" is still used in the non-religious media as well.[3] California's Tourniquet and Australia's Mortification dominated the 1990s underground era. The alternative metal groups P.O.D., Demon Hunter, and As I Lay Dying pioneered the genre's revival in the 2000s.

In the actual essence of the term, ”Christian metal” is more like a movement rather than a style of music. However, it is nowadays relatively common to use it as a genre term. Christian metal bands exist even in the more extreme subgenres, which is contrary to general belief that Christian metal represents softer styles of heavy metal music. For example, All Music Guide defines Christian metal musically as ”between arena rock and pop metal, though there are the occasional bands that are heavier.”[1]

Characteristics

Musically, Christian metal has all of the heavy metal's trademarks, particularly loud guitars, bombastic riffs, long solos, and pseudo-operatic vocals.[1] Christian metal is not a solitary style of music, on the contrary, it is comprised by almost every subgenre of heavy metal music. Therefore the only notable difference lies in the lyrics. The musicians are believers almost without exception and typically base their lyrics on Judeo-Christian traditions. The lyrical approach depends on bands: some emphasize in pointing out the positive aspects of faith matters, others iterate the teachings of Christ, and part of the bands keep their message gentle and covered in metaphors. Only a minority takes an aggressive attitude towards those who speak against Christianity.[4]

The lyrical style varies depending on culture, denomination, and country. For example, in Northern Europe the bands usually prefer personal lyrical approach, which is seldom meant to "convert" in an aggressive manner. 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.[4]

History

Origins

Resurrection Band live in concert, August 1988.

Christian metal has its origins in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the Jesus movement, which was a hippie movement with Christian ideology.[5] It has been said that Christian metal was unavoidable because Christian musicians have always copied secular trends.[5] Larry Norman was the first Christian rock band.[5] The band released Upon This Rock in 1969 which is arguably the first Christian rock album.[5]

The first Christian hard rock group is thought to be Resurrection Band, which was formed in 1972 in Milwaukee's Jesus People community. Resurrection Band released the hard rock album Music to Raise the Dead in 1974. The Swedish group Jerusalem was formed in 1975 and is cited as another early Christian hard rock group.[5] In 1978 Resurrection Band Released its album Awaiting Your Reply and Jerusalem released Jerusalem (Volume 1). Both albums had a notable impact on Christian music culture.[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 Christian listeners, and within the first six months the record sold 20,000 copies, unheard of within the genre of Christian rock in Europe.[6] Later, Jerusalem released the album Dancing on the Head of the Serpent, regarded as their greatest work by fans and critics.[7]

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.[5][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.

1980s: The golden era

First heavy metal groups

In the early 1980s there were four notable Christian heavy metal groups: Messiah Prophet, Leviticus, Saint, and Stryper.[5] The Swedish band Leviticus was formed by Bjorn Stiggson in 1982. The band's early releases were glam metal typical of the 1980s style.[8] Their second 1985 album The Strongest Power was called "One of the best records of the year" by Kerrang!.[2] 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.[9][10] Saint are best known for the negativity reflected in their lyrics. Common themes of their early releases include hell, evil, and apocalyptic themes such as the End times.[9] Their most successful album was Time's End (1986).[9] It is not sure which one was the first, but Stryper was the biggest.[5] Stryper was also the first band to say "Hey, we're Christian metal."[5] Stryper gained attention with their way of throwing Bibles with the band logo stickers on the covers at the end of their concerts.[5] In the beginning mostly Christians went to Stryper's concerts but soon they reached secular audience.[11] In the 1980s, Christian metal bands closely followed the trends of more mainstream bands, and it was typical that many Christian bands were compared to certain secular counterparts.[5]

Stryper's To Hell with the Devil (1986) is the best selling Christian metal album to date.

In 1984 heavy metal music divided into numerous sub genres and the term "Christian metal" was officially born.[2] During the mid 1980s, the black metal movement was rising rapidly. The Chicago doom metal group Trouble was known to be the first band that was publicly labeled as "white metal" - in contrast of black metal - by Metal Blade Records since their early albums Psalm 9 and The Skull feature biblical references.[12] 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, although reaching commercial success at that time, received a hostile reception when they played at a Dutch metal festival in 1985.[13] Regardless of this, Stryper helped to popularize the genre,[14] as they were the first Christian metal band to reach platinum status on an album. The 1986 album To Hell with the Devil sold 2 million copies, achieved a Grammy nomination and produced many MTV favorites.[15] Following Stryper's success, Christian metal was brought to media spotlight. The golden era of Christian metal movement had begun.

Not only was Christian metal criticized by secular metal fans, but soon the movement became also a fundamentalist's target for criticism.[16] 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. This drew a lot of attention of the secular media for the Christian metal movement, and then began to drag more fans worldwide. Many new bands began to arise, and drew the attention of record labels that specialized in Christian music.[17][18]

Barnabas, together with Stryper, was the main target 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.[19]

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. The first groups on its roster were Bride, Messiah Prophet, Whitecross, The Crucified, Tempest, Xalt, Seraiah, Eternal Ryte, Scarlet Red, Rosanna's Raiders, Light Force (Australia), Creed (Germany), Force 3 (UK), and Leviticus (Sweden). Soon there appeared other labels such as R.E.X. Records and Intense Records.[20]

There were requests for a magazine that would cover the phenomena of Christian metal music industry since regular music magazines did not cover Christian metal very often. In 1985, Doug Van Pelt answered to this demand and published the first issue of Heaven's Metal fanzine. It started out as six-page xeroxed edition covering Stryper. Despite the humble beginning, the classified ad Van Pelt's friend placed in Kerrang! happened to be in the British rock magazine's 100th issue — an issue with 100,000 extra copies.[21] This affected enormously on the amount of people ordering subscriptions. During the that time almost every Christian record label had become 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 covering exclusively that movement.[21] 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 changed from xeroxed fanzine to professional printer capable of regular magazine format. It achieved a dedicated flock of 15,000 readers, and Van Pelt became a well-known and respected music author.[21] Bands' sales usually rose when the ensembles were covered on the magazine.[21] For example, during mid-1990s, Heaven's Metal (then abbravated to HM) was the only magazine that covered P.O.D. The band's label appreciated HM for this and eventually Atlantic Records bestowed upon Van Pelt the gold P.O.D. plaque that hangs in his magazine's Austin offices. Gold records are given to industry figures that impact sales.[21] During 1990s HM sealed a distribution deal with a major magazine wholesaler that immediately increased its print-run from 13,000 to 22,000 copies and allowed Van Pelt and his co-workers to double ad rates, making HM a stable a business enterprise.[21] Two specific article's greatly bolstered HM's popularity. The first is the band King's X's vocalist Doug Pinnick revealing a fact about his intimate life that caused some controversy.[21][2] The second is Alice Cooper's interview in 2002 when he for the first time in public admitted being a Christian — he had avoided becoming a "Celebrity Christian" — since other news portals in the world quickly noted this interview.[22]

While Heaven's Metal was probably the first and the biggest Christian metal zine, there were 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 emerging fanzines included Adonai Metal Rock (France), White Rock (Sweden), White Metal Review (USA), White Metal Alternatives (USA), Blood Sacrifice (Germany), White Metal Crusades (Brazil 1987-1988), and White Metal Detonation (Brazil 1991-1992).[20] 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.[20] During 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.

Sanctuary International

Many rock and metal fans were rejected from churches in 1980s.[2] In 1984, California, pastor Bob Beeman saw this problem and soon started the ministry called Sanctuary - The Rock and Roll Refuge.[2] This fellowship brought many musicians together and formed groups such as Tourniquet, Deliverance, Vengeance and Mortal that would soon become ground breaking acts in Christian music culture. Sanctuary's first worship leader was Stryper's vocalist Michael Sweet and later Barren Cross' bass player Jim LaVerde.[2] Sanctuary sponsored the first Christian metal festival, The Metal Mardi Gras, held in 1987 in Los Angeles.[23] 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.[23] 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. 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.[23]

However, by late 1990s the parish's workers felt that regular churches' attitudes towards metalheads, rockers and punks had became more permissive, and therefore didn't feel need to keep Sanctuary going on any longer.[23] 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.[23] Sanctuary became Sanctuary International, and it currently gives international studies and lessons on Christianity.[23] Sanctuary also runs an internetradio called "Intense Radio" which reached around 2003 approximately 150, 000 listeners.[23]

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. 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.[24][25][26] Sacred Warrior, formed in 1988 was also from Chicago and their music is often campared to that of Queensrÿche or Metal Church. Of all their albums, their first release, Rebellion, is considered to be their best.[27] The California native group Barren Cross was formed in 1983. 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.[28] 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. The Washington group Bloodgood was formed in 1985. Their first major United States tour was in 1987, and was protested by groups on the Christian right.[29] The band was more popular in Europe than in the United States,[30] and they toured the United Kingdom in 1988.[31] 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.[31] Bloodgood opened ways for Christian speed and thrash metal styles.

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's early albums did not sell well. It wasn't until they changed to hard rock style that Bride began reaching wider audience on the 1993 album Snakes in the Playground. Despite being criticized for their abrupt changes in style in favor of what's "hot",[32] Bride have gained a large following,[33] and are still considered "a primeval force at the centre of Christian heavy metal."[34] The band X-Sinner was formed in 1988 and is known for having a very similar sound to that of AC/DC,[35] and released the popular albums Get It (1989) and Peace Treaty (1991) on Pakaderm Records. X-Sinner was named the favorite new band of 1989 by the readers of HM Magazine.[35] 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"[3] and were often compared to the likes of Mötley Crüe. However, the band split up before they even released the only album Rage of Angels in 1989, and several members went to play in the secular band Steelheart.[3]

The band Neon Cross was formed in California in 1983. Neon Cross started playing clubs in Hollywood during the 80's 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.[36] 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. 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. The response to the album was overwhelming and one of the videos was included in the MTV's Headbangers Ball rotation.[37] The heavy metal band Angelica introduced vocalist Rob Rock, who would later gain notice for his soloproject. 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.[38] 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).

Thrash metal movement

Vengeance's Human Sacrifice (1988) was a ground breaking Christian thrash metal album.

In 1986, the band Bloodgood opened ways for Christian speed and thrash metal styles with their song "Black Snake". Soon speed and thrash metal bands like Deliverance, Believer, Vengeance and Tourniquet began to appear. They all released their early material on Intense Records, apart from Believer which was on R.E.X. Records. 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. The group soon changed its name to Vengeance Rising since there was another band called Vengeance in Holland.[39] In 1989 both Deliverance and Believer released their first albums. Deliverance published Deliverance and Believer Extraction from Mortality.

During 1989 the band Tourniquet was also formed and in 1990 released the album Stop the Bleeding. 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. 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. On their new labels, Believer released Sanity Obscure and Dimensions, and Tourniquet released Psycho Surgery and Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance. Deliverance released Weapons of Our Warfare in 1990. 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: "Before 1990, the Christian heavy metal genre rarely strayed from generic riffing and poor lyrics. Bands like Petra and Sacred Warrior never broke through to the mainstream for this very reason. With low expectations, Believer released this massive slab of molten metal. Although it never really became popular, several mainstream magazines praised the album."[40]

During the late 1990s, an Oklahoman group called Eternal Decision gained attention with its thrash and groove metal style. The 1997 album Eternal Desicion hit the record stores in the U.S. and 16 other countries, achieving considerable acclaim and providing the band with even more notice.[41]

There were also some thrash groups in Europe. The British band Seventh Angel was formed in 1987 and were considered to be thrash metal pioneers.[42] They released the albums The Torment (1990) and Lament for the Weary (1992). These records achieved mainstream distribution through Music for Nations label.[43] The band was known for its combination of doom metal and thrash metal.[44] Although Seventh Angel disbanded in 1992, for a long time they were considered to be the best metal act in the UK.[42] Another British group, Detritus also played thrash metal on the 1990 album Perpetual Defiance,[45] but changed to power metal on the critically acclaimed album If But for One (1993).[46]

A couple of Christian groups played crossover style of punk rock and thrash metal: The Crucified and One Bad Pig. 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.[47] The Crucified was a notable influence on several of the aforementioned groups. 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.

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.[48][49]

1990s: The underground era

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. 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 Decide and Morbid angel. As a counteraction to this, there was a significant phenomenon that Christian bands wrote lyrics that encouraged to go to idealistic war against evil.[50] The attitude towards Christian metal bands became more negative, and affected notably on how the more traditional Christian heavy metal bands such as Saint, Bloodgood and Leviticus for example split up in the 1990s. Even Stryper's popularity went through a regression. The band couldn't 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. This marked the end of Christian metal movement's golden era and the beginning of its underground era.

Several changes happened: 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 Middle and Northern European countries.[20] 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.[20] During the 1990s, Christian metal was almost forgotten in the eyes of the mainstream.[20] Very few metal groups saw mainstream success. However, bands such as Tourniquet remained popular despite their drastic stylistical changes.

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. Torodd Fuglesteg of Norway's Artic 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."[51]

Death metal movement

Mortification's Scrolls of the Megilloth (1992) was a ground breaking Christian deathgrind album.

In 1990, the Australian group Mortification became the first widely recognized Christian death metal band. 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,[52] and was released in both Christian and secular markets as the band was signed to Nuclear Blast Records. 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.[52] The band enjoyed notable commercial success with Blood World,[53] and eventually became possibly the most successful Christian extreme metal group.[54]

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).[55] At roughly the same time the band Living Sacrifice was creating thrash and death metal. Their albums Nonexistent (1992) and Inhabit (1994) presented deathgrind style. 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."[56] The Minneapolis based Crimson Thorn released albums such as 1995's Unearthed, 1999's Dissection, and 2002's Purification. All Music Guide describes them as "one of the world's most extreme-sounding Christian metal bands."[57] Other notable American death metal bands include Disencumbrance, Clemency, and Embodyment.[58]

The most well-known Christian grindcore group that focused on goregrind style is the Australian band Vomitorial Corpulence. 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 Artic Serenades Records that had a satanic band called Suffering on its roster.[59] Arctic Serenades released Groms' demo album titled Turn in 1993, and 3 labels released the band's only album titled Ascension in 1994. Later, Norway's Extol and Finland's Deuteronomium and Immortal Souls began playing post-death and received notable attention. 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."[60] The band were hailed as accomplished musicians,[60] and noted for their exceptionally precise guitarwork.[61] Technical death metal is currently presented by bands such as Aletheian and Sympathy.

Unblack metal movement

Main article: unblack metal

Horde's Hellig Usvart (1994) was the first album that mixed Christian lyrics and black metal.

Horde is widely considered to be the first Christian black metal band. As a one man band with only one release (in 1994), Horde initiated controversy within the extreme metal community, opposing the more common lyrical themes of Satanism and evil.[62][63][64] 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".[65]

Antestor 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. 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.[66] However, this never took place. By some sources, Antestor started the northern European Christian extreme metal scene.[67]

The Swedish band Admonish was also formed around 1994 or 1995, and is known to be the first Christian black metal band in Sweden.[68] They gained notoriety for calling their style "Christian black metal" publicly on their website.[68] This caused some debate in metal underground and soon one black metal fan started an anti-Admonish website.[68] While the band didn't 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.[68]

Horde's "anti-satanic" and "crusade mentality" themes dominated the unblack metal movement for years.[63] In late 1990s, Antestor, Crimson Moonlight and Vaakevandring set a new direction: their lyrics focused more on philosophical and personal themes.[69] The release of Antestor's The Return of the Black Death on the British secular black metal label Cacophonous Records in 1998 proved influential on the Christian black metal movement. While the unblack scene is not part of the secular black metal scene, several musicians from both have co-operated: Stian Aarstad of Dimmu Borgir produced Vaakevandring's Demo 98/99,[70] and Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem played drums for Antestor's The Forsaken (2005) album.[71]

Crimson Moonlight and others such as Divine Symphony make up today's more polished style of Christian black metal comparable to more mainstream high production black metal bands. However, more traditional and raw low-production black metal bands such as Abdijah, Light Shall Prevail, Offerblod, Arch of Thorns, Flaskavsae, Eligbbor, Bedeiah, Dormant, Firethrone, etc., still exist on record labels such as Sneeuwstorm Produkties and GES Productions, among others. 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.[72]

Power metal and progressive metal movements

During the 1990s, 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.[73] This is why most Christian power metal bands existed in Europe in the 1990s. 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.

File:Narnia - Awakening.jpg
Narnia's album Awakening (1998) is a notable Christian power metal album.

The German group Seventh Avenue, formed in 1989, was one of more notable Christian power metal bands in the 1990s. 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.[74][75][76]

File:Theocracyalbumcover.jpg
Theocracy's debut Theocracy (2003) is a notable American release in the genre.

Later in the 1990s, the Swedish group Narnia made notable contributions to Christian power metal history. 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. Narnia was later signed to Nuclear Blast Records, Germany, and Pony Canyon Records, Japan, and broadened its popularity.[77][78]

Later there appeared more notable European groups such as the German bands Chrystyne and Lightmare, and the Swedish groups XT, Harmony, and Heartcry.[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. 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. After Lance King joined them as vocalist, the band released Book of Secrets in 1998.[79][80]

It wasn't 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. They soon released the albums Jacobs Dream (1997) and Theater of War (2000).[81][82] Magnitude Nine released the albums Chaos to Control (1998), Reality in Focus (2001) and Decoding the Soul (2004).[83][84][85] 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.[86][87][88]

Doom metal and gothic metal movements

In 1987, the Swedish group Veni Domine started playing progressive doom metal and released its first album Fall Babylon Fall in 1992. The album was called a "masterpiece" by some critics.[89] The following album Material Sanctuary featured a heavier output, however, the band abandoned most of their epic style on later releases.

Paramaecium's Exhumed of the Earth (1993) is one of the most respected doom metal albums in both secular and Christian circles.

Paramaecium and Ashen Mortality are the two most well-known doom metal bands in Christian metal.[90] 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. 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.[91] Paramecium 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. The critics usually wrote that Ashen Mortalitys overall quality set them apart from competitors.[92] The 1998 Your Caress was called "essential album".[92] 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)

Saviour Machine's Saviour Machine I (1993) is a pioneering Christian gothic metal album.

Christian gothic metal was pioneered by Saviour Machine, which mixed David Bowie type rock-opera and classic metal. Saviour Machine was more popular in Europe, particularly in Germany, than US.[93] After releasing the albums Saviour Machine I and Saviour Machine II, the band gained attention with its ambitious Legend trilogy. 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. 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 an European tour afterwards, also performing at Wacken Open Air.[94] The German group Necromance released the album White Gothic and Wiederkehr Der Schmerzen in the 1990s. The band began incorporating industrial elements on their later release Tribulation Force. Their two latest albums were well-received by magazines such as Rock Hard and Metal Heart.[95] Australian group Kohllapse self-released the albums Kohllapse (1996) and Distant Mind Alternative (1999). These albums were distributed through Nuclear Blast USA,[96] gaining the band some attention in secular circles for its unique style that combined darkwave and doom metal.[97][98]

Industrial metal movement

See also: Christian industrial

In 1988 the industrial metal movement began. Although a fusion genre, there was a notable and mostly United States based Christian movement around the style in the 1990s, and the California based group Mortal is cited as one the first Christian bands that represented the style.[4] A duo led by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan, Mortal was not exactly the first Christian band that played industrial but they had a notable role in that they opened ways for 1990s Christian industrial and industrial metal bands.[99] Originally known as Mortal Wish, the band started out playing synthpop but changed to industrial metal around 1991. The band signed a record deal with Intense Records and released its first album Lusis in 1992, and it was well-received.[99] The second album Fathom (1993) was Mortal's most guitar-driven musically, and became one of the band's most popular releases.[100][99] The song ”Rift” was rearranged later and a music video was shot for it in 1994. The video dealt with the horrors of child abuse.[99] Later, Mortal abandoned industrial metal and went for grunge sound.[99]

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.[101] Albert recorded and produced most of the Circle of Dust material himself. For the touring line up, the band was joined by lead guitarist Daren ”Klank” Diolosa and Scott's brother Dan ”Leveler” Albert. The band was signed to R.E.X. Records, which released the band's first album Circle of Dust in 1992. The album combined metal and dance music.[102] Albert rerecorded the album in 1995. The second album, Brainchild was more extreme than first one, and showcased dark cyberpunk-esque lyrics.[103] The album is characterized by strong elements of thrash metal.[101] A music video was shot for ”Telltale Crime” in Tennessee state penitentiary which was closed due to inhuman conditions.[103] The album was exclusively distributed to secular market, where the band achieved moderate success:[104] Part of the song ”Deviate” was used as the introsong for a long time in the now defunct MTV Sports show.[101]

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).[103] Albert produced the sideproject of The Crucified members, Chatterbox's only album Despite.[103] After a some disagreements with the label occurred, the touring line up of Circle of Dust disbanded.[103] Daren Diolosa started a soloproject under the name Klank and recorded the album Still Suffering in 1997. The second album Numb was somewhat successful because the song ”Blind” became a hit single.[105] Dan Albert recorded under the name Level. Scott Albert grew tired of R.E.X. Records' policy and the critique that he didn't write Christian lyrics enough, and eventually left the Christian scene.[106] 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.[103]

There was also the Australian industrial metal band called Screams of Chaos which 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.[107] The late 1990s and early 2000s United States shock rock group Rackets & Drapes was known to have elements of industrial metal as the band was often compared to Marilyn Manson. The band toured with Saviour Machine and their albums were distributed through MCM Music. Several secular labels were interested in them but Rackets & Drapes remained unsigned.[108]

2000s: Revival

Return to mainstream

As I Lay Dying has been at the forefront of metalcore along with Killswitch Engage and Unearth since 2002.[109]

Christian metal movement's revival began in 2000s as the media began to show interest towards the scene again, with some groups reaching almost mainstream popularity.

Currently, there exist Christian metal bands for 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. Theocracy, Narnia, Rob Rock, Jacobs Dream, and Divinefire are the most prominent Christian power metal bands. 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. He also performed guest vocals for the heavy metal band Warrior. There are many other notable bands, including Ultimatum, Becoming the Archetype, Temple of Blood, Aletheian, Crimson Thorn, Harmony, Saviour Machine, Majestic Vanguard, Sympathy, Virgin Black, Disciple, and Veni Domine. Some of TobyMac's earlier solo work impacted Christian rapcore.

The Christian metal movement has spread world wide 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. In October 2004, Doug Van Pelt brought Heaven's Metal back as its own fanzine.[110] The Internet has had a significant role on the Christian metal revival as well. Many websites and online communities are deditated to discussions about Christian metal's music, events, and bands.

For the first time since Stryper's success in 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.[111] Metalcore's popularity is especially based on Christian bands, including such crossover successes as UnderOath, As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean, August Burns Red, Haste The Day and Demon Hunter. 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.[112] The album made highest debut in their label Metal Blade Records' 25-year history, charted in Canada at #19 and nearly 40,000 units its first week out in the USA and landed, hanging in the Top 40 its second week out, in the USA and Canada, charting at #39 in both countries. Other Top 200 debuts around the world include a #117 debut in the UK and #154 in Japan.[113]

In its 2006 In Review issue (February 2007), Revolver Magazine dubbed Christian metal the phenomenon of the year.[114] 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. Tooth and Nail Records, P.O.D., Zao, War of Ages, Still Remains, and He Is Legend were also mentioned.[115]

Christianity in mainstream metal

Several general market metal bands do not identify themselves as a "Christian band" but still use their lyrics to portray God in a positive light. There are some bands who have Christian members but prefer to remain in the general market. For example, Virgin Black used to be a part of the Christian scene,[116] but grew tired of the criticism towards the band's melodramatic lyrics, such as on "Museum of Iscariot", which some Christians called "blasphemous",[116] and eventually Virgin Black went to general market.[116] There are also other more notable mainstream acts that feature or have featured Christian members. Anthrax's lead guitarist Dan Spitz is a Messianic Jew (seen as Christian to Jewish and Christian groups)[117] and Accept's former bassist Peter Baltes left to start a Christian solo project.[118]

Blind Guardian's Hansi Kürsch is openly Christian although critical in faith.

Some of the most well-known groups in heavy metal music have dealt with Christian themes in their songs. Black Sabbath, sometimes referred as the first heavy metal band, wrote the song ”After Forever” (from Master of Reality, 1971), which talks about life after death from Christian point of view. Iron Maiden, whose drummer Nicko McBrain is a Christian,[119] has portrayed God in positive light on its recent song "For the Greater Good of God". James Hetfield of Metallica was raised in a Christian home and reflects this background on songs like "The Four Horsemen" (from Kill 'Em All, 1983) and "Creeping Death" (from Ride the Lightning, 1984) which make references to the Bible scriptures of Revelations and Exodus. Finland's Stratovarius with a strong focus on melody and uplifting, positive (religion, life and nature) themes on songs like "Against the Wind", "Phoenix", "Learning to Fly" and "I'm Still Alive". Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci is a practicing Catholic and the lyrics on songs such as "Scarred" and ”Lines in the Sand” are reflective of that. John Myung and James Labrie have also claimed to hold Christian beliefs.[120] Blind Guardian's vocalist Hansi Kürsch, who has said in an interview that he's a faithful but very critical Christian,[121] has incorporated Christian themes on songs such as ”Precious Jerusalem”, ”Another Holy War” and ”Sadly Sings Destiny”. The Spanish band Tierra Santa has many lyrics related to Christian topics. Alice Cooper (Vincent Furnier) became a Christian in the 1980s but he avoided becoming a "celebrity Christian" for a long time, until his interview with HM Magazine about his faith was noted world wide.[122] Cooper has kept his trademark shock rock image but has also written some Christian references on the album Brutal Planet. Megadeth's former bassist David Ellefson is a Christian,[123] and frontman Dave Mustaine became a Christian in 2002, at a time when he was recovering from a wrist injury.[124][125] Megadeth's 2004 album The System Has Failed contains Christian lyrics and Bible references on songs such as "Shadow Of Deth" and "My Kingdom Come". The thrash metal group Testament's song "Sins of Omission" (from Practice What You Preach, 1989) is known to have Christian vibe and was recently covered by the Christian metal band Ultimatum.

Type O Negative's Peter Steele returned to his Roman Catholic roots in 2006.

Michael Weikath has said that most of the members of Helloween are Christians, apart from former member Uli Kusch, and that their lyrics tend to have a spiritual feeling.[126] Weikath also states that bands should take the responsibility for what kind of lyrics they write for their fans.[126] In 2006, Peter Steele, the vocalist of Type O Negative, announced in an interview that he is no longer a "foxhole atheist" and has become a devout Roman Catholic.[127] Steele has written Christian based lyrics on the 2007 album Dead Again, though he has kept his twisted sense of humor and colourful lanquage as a part of his lyrics and personality. Tuomas Holopainen has also incorporated Christian themes in almost every Nightwish album but he has stated in one interview from Nightwish's site that he has his own views respecting Christianity. Killswitch Engage and Linkin Park have members who were raised in Christian homes, and occasionally use spiritual themes.[128][129]

The Italian and German dark metal group Graveworm has caused controversy since its lyrics on the early albums When Daylight's Gone (1997) and As the Angels Reach the Beauty (1999) contain Christian themes that are uncommon in the style. In an interview, the vocalist Stefan Fiori has said that he "believes in religion" but underlines that he does not like the Church as an institution.[130]

Some Asian bands have also dealt with Christian topics. The Taiwanese power metal band Seraphim talks about God in a positive light in some of its songs. The Japanese hard rock artist Hyde (of L'Arc-en-Ciel) has written strong Christian references on his solo album Faith (2006), most notably on the song "Jesus Christ". Hyde describes that he tried to capture the power he felt when he visited some churches in Europe on the album.[131]

Few musicians of well-known secular groups have left their bands after announcing their Christian faith. Kittil Kittilsen was a guitarist in the Norwegian black metal pioneer group Mayhem for a short while, during 1987, and left the band shortly after becoming a Christian.[132] Ron Rinehart used to sing in the thrash metal group Dark Angel but after discovering faith he left and formed a Christian metal band called Oil.[133]

Certain artists, however, are controversial in that they claim Christianity while playing in bands with overt anti-Christian lyrics or themes. Tom Araya, Slayer's lead vocalist, claims to be a Roman Catholic despite singing overtly anti-Christian lyrics.[134] Deicide, known for their Satanic and anti-Christian themes, included guitarist Ralph Santolla, another professing Roman Catholic.[135]

The dichotomy of the definition

In English-speaking countries the term used is "Christian metal". "White Metal" has been a term used particularly in southwestern Europe and Latin America but is not a term used in English. However, in some countries it is disputed whether to call the movement "Christian metal" or "white metal". In the early years of the movement, "white metal" co-existed and was used alongside with "Christian metal", and was mostly used to refer to the early hard rock and heavy metal bands.[136] However, in the late 1980s and early 1990s the "white metal" definition also included groups that played thrash and death metal. After the golden period of the scene when it was exposed to media spotlight, the movement that was born from the ashes of the first (but in reality overlapping seamless continuity) was underground, and mainly North American, and took the definition of "Christian metal".[137] On a geographical level, "white metal" is expressed in a greater use in Latin America,[3] not in the old environments of USA, and in southwestern Europe (Italy, Spain, France, and partly Switzerland), and prevalent use of "Christian metal" appear in the rest of the world, primarily in Northern Europe.

Controversies

Certain fans of metal consider the use of Christian lyrics to be opposed to the "true" purpose of metal, despite the fact that the musical content is hardly any different from secular metal bands. Their attitude range from ignoring the opinions to rejection of religion, although admit that there are musically good Christian metal bands as well as bad Christian metal bands, just like in metal scene in general.[138] During the 1980s and 1990s, Christian metal movement was criticized for lack of originality.[5] In an interview with Mean Magazine, Kris Klingesmith of Barnabas said 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."[5] Some bands were mainly considered to be positive substitutes for certain secular bands, hence for example X-Sinner being compared to AC/DC. Several sites take advantage of this, such as Rad Rockes, and have so-called "Sounds Like" lists that states what Christian bands sound similar to certain well-known secular bands.

Some musical ensembles have criticized Christian metal industry for isolating itself from the secular industry too avidly. For example the Finnish post-metal band Callisto has somewhat accused Christian metal industry that once a band gets in it, they can not get out.[139] This problem developed during the 1990s. Originally the groundbreaking bands such as Tourniquet and Vengeance Rising had played for secular audiences as well. However, currently Tourniquet among others play mostly for Christian audiences. Christian metal circles are smaller than secular metal ones. This is why many Christian metal bands won't achieve as much commercial success in Christian metal scene as secular bands in secular scene since the typical Christian audience is also smaller, because they aren't that good. This might be one of the reasons why some musical groups oppose being isolated in the Christian industry. For example, the alternative rock band Evanescense had its roots within the Christian community prior to the release of Fallen and achieved notable chart success in Christian industry but later tried to flee from their "Christian tag." Evanescence announced that the band is secular, and eventually they achieved mainstream success.[140]

On the other side, certain Christian groups, most notably those in some King James Only denominations,[141] consider all types of rock and metal music opposed to their faith regardless of lyrical content or the lifestyles being led by band members. However, many fans and artists see metal as another genre of music, parallel to such genres as blues, classical, jazz, punk, and hip-hop. These people claim that the instrumentation of the music is simply a medium, agnostic to a worldview, while the person creating the music as well as the lyrics being presented provide the message. Therefore, Christian metal is created when Christians compose metal music in a way that reflects their faith in Christ.

See also

Record labels

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Christian metal". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jonsson, Johannes. "Christian Metal History". The Metal For Jesus Page!. MetalForJesus.org. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  3. ^ a b c d Van Pelt, Doug. "White Metal, La Historia del Heavy Metal Cristiano". Az Heavy Metal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2007-10-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Lahtonen, Jussi (25.10.2005). "White Metal". Sue Rock Punk Metal Zine (in Finnish). Retrieved 2007-09-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessdaymonth=, |accessyear=, |accessmonthday=, and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kapelovitz, Dan (2001). "Heavy Metal Jesus Freaks - Headbanging for Christ". Mean Magazine. Retrieved 2007-09-06. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 448–449. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  7. ^ Majalahti, Michael. "The Best Kept Secrets in Rock". Imperiumi. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  8. ^ Powell 2002, "Leviticus", p. 524 harvnb error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFPowell2002 (help)
  9. ^ a b c Powell 2002, "Saint", p. 787 harvnb error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFPowell2002 (help)
  10. ^ Hale 1993, "Saint", p. 2497 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFHale1993 (help)
  11. ^ Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. Pages 196. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-380-81127-8
  12. ^ "Interview with Trouble". Lahtonen, Luxi, Metal-rules.com. Retrieved 2007-09-06. Citation: "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." (Vocalist Eric Wagner comments on Troubles white metal tag.)
  13. ^ Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. Pages 204. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-380-81127-8
  14. ^ Hale, Mark (1993). "2869". Headbangers (First edition, second printing ed.). Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink. p. 336. ISBN 1-56075-029-4.
  15. ^ Norton, R. E. "Top Ten Songs by Stryper". AC - The People's Media Company. Associated Content. Retrieved 2006-04-21.
  16. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Stryper - The Yellow and Black Attack!". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-19. When church leaders were accusing heavy metal of encouraging Satanism, Stryper set out to prove that metal and hard rock could be used to promote Christianity. The southern California band was viewed with suspicion by both ministers (who refused to believe that Christianity and metal were compatible) and fellow headbangers -- and yet, Stryper managed to sell millions of albums to both Christian and secular audiences.
  17. ^ "History of Christian Rock/Metal part 1". Rock for the King (in Portuguese). Ope Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  18. ^ "History of Christian Rock/Metal part 2". Rock for the King (in Portuguese). Ope Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  19. ^ "Barnabas". Firestream. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  20. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Rock_for_the_King_2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ a b c d e f g Langer, Andy (2000-08-07). "Heaven's Metal". Weekwire. Retrieved 2007-12-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessdaymonth=, |accessmonthday=, and |accessyear= (help)
  22. ^ "Alice Cooper goes with God". Charisma News Service. World Net Daily. 2000-01-07. Retrieved 2007-12-11. Although he became a Christian in the 1980s, apart from brief comments in some interviews the 54-year-old singer has always been guarded about his faith – until now. But in a frank interview with a Christian music magazine [HM:The Hard Music Magazine], he spoke at length publicly for the first time about his love for God and reluctance to become a "Christian celebrity."
  23. ^ a b c d e f g Borgmasters, Mazi (2003). "Sanctuary International". Ristillinen. 3: 22–28. Interview with pastor Bob Beeman {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  24. ^ Broom, Rob (1995-12-01). "Rex Carroll - The Rex Carroll Sessions". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19. I last encountered this ex-Whitecross man's technical finger work and electric rocking guitar chords on his 1994 album project 'King James'.
  25. ^ "Rex Carroll - The Rex Carroll Sessions". Christian Guitarist. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-19. It was 1987 when Whitecross first hit the scene with their debut self titled album on Pure Metal records. That is when we were first introduced to Rex Carrol - one of Christian music's most legendary guitarists. It's been two decades and Carroll and his bandmates have given us a true treasure. A complete studio re recording of their first album and I have to say that this CD is pure ear candy. We can hear every note he plays with digital clarity. He is trully an amazing player and for that CGM is paying him this six string salute!
  26. ^ "Rex Carroll Sessions". Christian Music Online. 1995. Retrieved 2007-12-19. It wouldn't be fitting for the ax-slinging guitar hero from Christian music's premiere metal band to rest on his laurels.
  27. ^ Powell 2002, "Sacred Warrior", p. 786 harvnb error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFPowell2002 (help)
  28. ^ Hale 1993, "Barren Cross", p. 67-68 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFHale1993 (help)
  29. ^ "Bloodgood reunites". Wise Men Promotions. 2007-02-26. Retrieved 2007-02-28. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Powell 2002, "Bloodgood", p. 94 harvnb error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFPowell2002 (help)
  31. ^ a b Hale 1993, "0405", p. 45-46 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFHale1993 (help)
  32. ^ Long, Andy (2000-12-01). "Bride - The Best of Bride". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  33. ^ Clarck, Richard (1992-02-01). "Bride - Kinetic Faith". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  34. ^ Spenceley, Haydon (2007-02-18). "Bride - Skin for Skin". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  35. ^ a b Hale 1993, "X-Sinner", p. 1060 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFHale1993 (help)
  36. ^ Hale 1993, "Neon Cross", p. 241 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFHale1993 (help)
  37. ^ Powell 2002, "Guardian", p. 393-395 harvnb error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFPowell2002 (help)
  38. ^ Powell 2002, "Shout", p. 821-822 harvnb error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFPowell2002 (help)
  39. ^ Powell (2002). "Vengeance Rising". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. pp. 993–994.
  40. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Believer - Sanity Obscure". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  41. ^ Mesquita Borges, Mario (2005-04-30). "Eternal Decision". All Music Guide. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-09-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ a b Sammons, Greg (2006-07-31). "Seventh Angel - Heed the Warning Demo Recordings". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  43. ^ Hoff, Brian (1990-07-01). "Seventh Angel - The Torment". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  44. ^ Williams, Lynn (1992-07-01). "Seventh Angel - Lament fot the Weary". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  45. ^ Cummings, Tony (1991-06-01). "Detritus - Perpetual Defiance". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  46. ^ Raybold, Marc (1993-08-01). "Detritus - If But for One". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  47. ^ Waters, Scott. "The Crucified". No Life 'til Metal. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  48. ^ Henn, Ralf (2006-05-26). "Temple of Blood - Prepare for the Judgement of Mankind". The Metal Observer. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  49. ^ Trampakoulas. "Temple of Blood - Prepare for the Judgement of Mankind". The Forgotten Scroll. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  50. ^ Examples of lyrics that encouraged to go to idealistic war against evil include the following albums: Deliverance - Weapons of Our Warfare (1990), Mortification - Mortification (1990), Tourniquet - Stop the Bleeding, Horde - Hellig Usvart and Antestor - Despair among others.
  51. ^ Fuglested, Torudd. "Arctic Serenades". Toroddfuglesteg.com. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  52. ^ a b Kraemer, Chris. "Mortification - Scrolls of the Megilloth Review". The Metal Observer. Retrieved 2006-04-21.
  53. ^ "Mortification Biography". Mono.net. Australian Music Online. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  54. ^ Interviews by Gary Garson and Peter Schultz, translations by J. Grym, additional notes by Mape Ollila. Maailman metalli: Australia. Article about Australian metal today in the biggest Finnish metal site Imperiumi.Net (in Finnish).
  55. ^ "Opprobrium". Tartarean Desire. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-19. One final note about the band, they are Christian-oriented, making Australian religious thrash band Mortification a close match. Opprobrium/Incubus lyrics aren't preachy, but do make numerous favorable references to Christianity and God.
  56. ^ Downey, Ryan J. "Living Sacrifice". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  57. ^ Rivadavia, Eduard. "Crimson Thorn". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  58. ^ daRonco, Mike. "Embodyment". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  59. ^ Fuglested, Torudd. "Arctic Serenades". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-11. This demo CD [turn (1993)] now became a "proper release" through Arctic Serenades. The problem was that this band [Groms] was a Christian White Metal act. Suffering was a Satanic Black Metal act. And here is something for the history books: Arctic Serenades did release a very Satanic album and a very Christian album on the same day. It was the debut albums of the label, no less.
  60. ^ a b DaRonco, Mike. "Extol - Burial". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  61. ^ Jeffries, Vincent. "Extol - Undeceived". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  62. ^ "MusikkOpp-ned oppnedkors!". Morgenbladet (in Norwegian). Oslonett. 1995-02-06. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  63. ^ a b Erasmus. "Horde Interview". Son of Man Records. Unblack.de. Retrieved 2007-12-19. So the album was created with a prophetic, free, submissive, obedient, reverent, anti-Satan and Christian mindset.
  64. ^ EvilVasp. "Horde - Hellig Usvart". Necromancy. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  65. ^ Morrow, Matt. "Horde - Hellig Usvart". The Whipping Post. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  66. ^ Eithun, Bård G. "Faust" (1990-1993, correct date unknown). "Mayhem Interview". Orcustus zine. Blackmetal.nu. Retrieved 2007-08-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  67. ^ Morrow, Matt. "Antestor - The Defeat of Satan". The Whipping Post. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  68. ^ a b c d Morrow, Matt (2005-05-26). "Admonish Interview". The Whipping Post. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-09-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  69. ^ Hottenbacher, Dirk (2001). "Vaakevandring Interview". CrossOver (in German). Unblack.de. Retrieved 2007-12-19. Our songs deal with personal challenges as well as on spiritual struggles. (Pål Dæhlen)
  70. ^ Hottenbacher, Dirk (2005-05-26). "Vaakevandring". CrossOver (in German). Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ Kemman, Max (2004-04-1010). "Antestor". Jesus Metal. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  72. ^ Black Metal Primer Redux Heaven’s Metal #67 2-3/07
  73. ^ "Pedon Meteli". Suezine (in Finnish). 2005-09-17. Retrieved 2007-09-24. "The heart of comtemporary metal is in Middle and Northern Europe." ("Nykypäivän metallin sydän on Keski- ja Pohjois-Euroopassa, piste.") {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessdaymonth=, |month=, |accessyear=, |accessmonthday=, and |coauthors= (help)
  74. ^ "Seventh Avenue Biography". Vampire Magazine. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |accessdaymonth=, |month=, |accessyear=, |accessmonthday=, and |coauthors= (help)
  75. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Seventh Avenue Biography". Rock Detector. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  76. ^ http://www.revelationz.net/index.asp?ID=1360
  77. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Seventh Avenue Biography". Rock Detector. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  78. ^ "Narnia Biography". Tartarean Desire. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  79. ^ "Balance of Power Biography". Metal Storm. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  80. ^ "Balance of Power Biography". Tartarean Desire. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  81. ^ Henn, Ralf (2005-06-22). "Jacobs Dream - Drama of Ages". The Metal Observer. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  82. ^ Christian (2005-09-05). "Jacobs Dream "Emotions and Dreams Set to Music"". Metal Glory. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  83. ^ Silvyera, Marcelo. "Magnitude Nine - Chaos Control". Progressive World. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  84. ^ Sollow, Stephanie. "Magnitude 9 - Reality in Focus". Progressive World. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  85. ^ Hannaleck, Keith. "Magnitude Nine - Decoding the Soul". Progressive World. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  86. ^ Rockwell, Andy. "Theocracy - Theocracy". Angelic Warlord. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  87. ^ Ben (2003). "Theocracy Interview". Metal Reviews. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  88. ^ "Theocracy Biography". Prog Archives. 2003. Retrieved 2007-12-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  89. ^ Melzer, Alexander (2000–2007). "Veni Domine - Fall Babylon Fall". The Metal Observer. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-09-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  90. ^ Spencer, John (1999-08-14). "Ashen Mortality - Your Caress". The Phantom Tollbooth. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-09-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  91. ^ Panagiotou, Kostas. "Paramaecium". Doom-metal.com. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  92. ^ a b Quispel, Aldo. "Ashen Mortality". Doom-metal.com. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  93. ^ Vanderpoel, David (1997). "Eric Clayton Talks". Deus Ex Machina. Retrieved 2007-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  94. ^ "Undish Biography". Tartarean Desire. Open Publishing. 2005-04-30. Retrieved 2007-09-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  95. ^ "Ncromance". Pleitegeier Records. Retrieved 2007-09-22. (German)
  96. ^ Jonsson, Johannes (1997–1998). "News 1997". The Metal For Jesus!. Retrieved 2007-09-29. Kohllapse is, at last, receiving major label interest!! (1997-12-18); "Congrats to Kohllapse on obtaining Nuclear Blast America for its distributor." (1998-03-05); "Kohllapse recently inked a distribution deal with Nuclear Blast USA.. unfortunately, they also, again, lost their bassist, Bevan Carroll, and are now seeking bassists.." (1998-02-26){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  97. ^ St.Laurent, Neil (1996). "Kohllapse - Kohllapse and interview with Ro". Tracks of Creation #9. Retrieved 2007-09-29. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  98. ^ Morrow, Matt (HM Magazine) (2005). "Kohllapse - Distant Mind Alternative (Re-Issue)". The Whipping Post. Retrieved 2007-09-29. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  99. ^ a b c d e "Mortal". Automatapedia webzine. Open Publishing. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  100. ^ Figgis, Alex (1999-10-01). "Mortal". Cross Rhythms. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-10-13. Nothing rivals such true genre classics as 'Neplusultra", 'Rift' or the phenomenal 'Bright Wings'. Truly a musical milestone any industrial dance/rock/metal fan would appreciate.
  101. ^ a b c Waters, Scott (2007). "Circle of Dust". No Life 'til Metal. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  102. ^ Torreano, Bradley (2007). "Circle of Dust - Circle of Dust". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  103. ^ a b c d e f "Circle of Dust Biography". Automatapedia webzine. Open Publishing. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  104. ^ Florez, Joe (2007). "Celldweller - Celldweller". The Metal Observer. Retrieved 2007-10-13. Klayton is the one man army who is responsible for Celldweller. He sings, writes, produces and mixes. He's pretty much the industrial version of Peter Tägtgren. The man has not just popped up on the music scene by pure luck. He was responsible for two bands that had moderate success in the 90's in the underground Metal/Industrial scene: Argyle Park Circle of Dust.
  105. ^ "Klank Biography". Automatapedia webzine. Open Publishing. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  106. ^ Morrow, Matt. "Klayton: Circle of Dust on leaving R.E.X. Records". HM Magazine webzine. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  107. ^ Johnson, Neil (2007). "Scream of Chaos exclusive Youtube documentary (official)" (video). Morphius Film, Australia. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  108. ^ Olson, Chad (2003). "Rackets & Drapes)". HM Magazine. Open Publishing. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  109. ^ Harris, Chris and Wiederhorn, Jon (2007-06-01). "As I Lay Dying Get Sick of Metalcore". Mtv.com. MTV. Retrieved 2007-09-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  110. ^ "Heaven's Metal Re-launches As A Fanzine". Phantom Tollbooth. Open Publishing. 2004-10-04. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  111. ^ MacKenzie, Wilson. "P.O.D. Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  112. ^ "As I Lay Dying Receives Grammy Nomination". Punk TV. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  113. ^ Caustic (2007-12-06). "As I Lay Dying album chart international!". Heavy Metal Music Dot Biz. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  114. ^ "Christian Metal receives Recognition". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  115. ^ Johnson, Wesley. "Revolver on Christian metal". Buzz Grinder. Retrieved 2007-12-19. The cover of the latest Revolver Magazine features members of As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean, Underoath and Demon Hunter. The photo goes along with an extensive write-up on Christian Metal, which they've dubbed "phenomenon of the year."
  116. ^ a b c Morrow, Matt (HM Magazine journalist) (2001-08-27). "Virgin Black". The Whipping Post. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  117. ^ "Thrash Metal Rock Star Returns to Music to Share New Faith". Godscare. 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  118. ^ Warden, Rick, E. (2005). "Christian Rock News" (PDF). Christian Rock Report (PDF). Open Publishing. p. 14. Retrieved 2007-09-27. Peter Baltes is currently writing his first Christian CD. Peter Baltes is former bassist for German metal band Accept. Baltes is now a hard core Christian and fighting the good fight. Send him some love and encouragement at myspace.com/peterbaltes.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  119. ^ "Drummer Nicko McBrain loves God". Godscare. 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  120. ^ "Are the band members religious?". Official Dream Theater FAQ. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  121. ^ "Blind Guardin Interviews". Blind-guardian.ch. Open Publishing. 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-27. I am a faithful but very critical Christian (Kürsch)
  122. ^ "Alice Cooper goes with God". Godscare. Open Publishing. 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  123. ^ Hallila, Tim (2005). "F5". HM Magazine. Retrieved 2007-09-27. While I don't consider myself to be a Christian artist, I am an artist who's Christian and have been my whole life. (Ellefson)
  124. ^ "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: 'I Got Saved In 2002' -". Blabbermouth.net. May 10, 2005. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  125. ^ "Megadeth". Godscare. Open Publishing. 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-27. I believed in God my whole life, but I was never really ready to serve Him until I said these six simple words: 'What have I got to lose?(Mustaine)
  126. ^ a b Journalist of Unrestrained! magazine (2002). "Helloween Better than ever". Chaotic Critiques. Retrieved 2007-09-24. Well most of the guys in the band are Christian, apart from Uli who cannot say that he has decided to accept the existence of a God. Our lyrics tend to have a spiritual feeling, as Uli doesn't mind that kind of lyrics because they express no bad or wrong thinking. (Weikath)
  127. ^ Bennett, J (April, 2007). "Type O Negative". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved 2007-09-24. "I'm a devout Roman Catholic, actually. There are no atheists in foxholes, they say, and I was a foxhole atheist for a long time. But after going through a midlife crisis and having many things change very quickly, it made me realize my mortality. And when you start to think about death, you start to think about what's after it. And then you start hoping there is a god. For me, it's a frightening thought to go nowhere. (Steele) {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  128. ^ Holtz, Adam R. "Lights in a Loud Place". Plugged in Online.
  129. ^ McKeon, Therese. "Linkin Park: One Step Closer". ShoutWeb.com.
  130. ^ Deadfall (2004-10-12). "Graveworm". Deadfallzine (in German). Retrieved 2007-09-24. Sagen wir es so: Ich glaub an die Religion, aber ich finde die Kirche scheisse! Die Institution Kirche ist meiner Meinung nach nicht das was sie sein sollte, es ist einfach zuviel Geld dahinter. (Stefan Fiori)
  131. ^ "Hyde: Giving Faith". Orkus (4): 108. 2006. ISSN 1863-5350. O:"What can we hear from your latest release?" Hyde:"The religious expressions and aspects. I am not a member of a special religion but when I was in Europe and visited some churches there, I felt this enormous power and I felt like my soul was being purged. And I wanted to create this atmosphere on my album." {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  132. ^ Lindsø, Jan F. (2007). "Kittil Kittilsen". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  133. ^ Powell 2002, "oil", p. 637 harvnb error: multiple targets (3×): CITEREFPowell2002 (help)
  134. ^ Feniak, Jenny. "Slayer likes bad-boy image". Jam.com. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  135. ^ Smit, Jackie (2006-08.07). "CoC chats with Ralph Santolla of Deicide". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 2007-01-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  136. ^ Ferrara, Vincenzo. "Hard'n'Heavy christiano, la storia". Hard 'n' Heavy (in Italian). Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  137. ^ "Christian Metal Realm". Christian Metal Realm. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  138. ^ Van Pelt, Doug. "What Cannibal Corpse says, Interview with George Corpsegrinder Fisher". HM Magazine. Retrieved 2007-10-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  139. ^ Koskinen, Kimmo K. "Callisto Interview". Rockmusica (in Finnish). Retrieved 2007-10-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  140. ^ "Evanescence Interview Ignites Christian Music Controversy". Yahoo Music. 04/16/2003. Retrieved 2007-10-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  141. ^ Yusko, alan and Prior, Ed. "The Music of Devils in the CHURCH!!!". Bible Believers. Retrieved 2007-10-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Citations

Template:Link FA

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christian_metal&oldid=179308175"