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Christian Heavy Metal Bands

What is Christian Metal Music

Christian heavy metal bands play some serious metal ad is commonly referred to as white, heavenly or Jesus metal. It is a genre that combines heavy metal with Christian themes.

It is a very niche genre because the music is made by artists who have professed their Christianity for Christians who listen to metal.

Although usually quite different from each other, the main thing that Christian metal bands have in common is their lyrics. Lyrics from this genre often provide a Christian perspective on the main topic of the song.

Classifying a band as a ‘Christian metal band’ is a widely debated topic in the Christian metal music community. Usually, a Christian metal band is defined as a band that has band members who are Christians and their music provides a Christian message.

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The History of Christian Metal Music

Christian heavy metal bands and the genre Christian metal started in the late 1960s and early 70’s with the Jesus Movement which was a mass conversion of hippies to Christianity.

Many of the converted musicians continued to play the style of music they had previously, including metal, albeit now with a Christian theme.

Early Christian metal bands were often accused of going against Christian values, as some heavy metal bands did.

In the 1970s and 80’s, some people who didn’t fully understand the or accept the Christian metal music genre became more vocal about their opinions and disapproval. Some went as far as to say that Christian metal artists and fans of the genre were ‘followers of Satan’.

However, although many Christian labels didn’t expect Christian metal music to sell well, the genre proved them wrong and became incredibly popular. During this period, most Christian record labels were eager to produce Christian metal music.

Also throughout the 80’s, some Christian leaders who were fans of the Christian metal genre decided to advocate for it.

They explained that metal was driven by the desire to shock its audiences and fight against religious hypocrisy that was especially evident in Christianity.

Rock and Roll Sanctuary – A Heavy Metal Haven

In the mid-80’s, a lot of metal fans that became Christian due to listening to Christian music were rejected by the church.

This led to a Californian pastor, called Bob Beeman, to create a new ministry in 1984 in response to the issue. The new ministry was called ‘Sanctuary – The Rock and Roll Refuge’, and became the Makkah for a number of christian heavy metal bands and Christian rock Musicians.

Sanctuary then went on to sponsor what is believed to be the first Christian metal festival, which inspired many others to create similar festivals across the world. Due to the growing acceptance of Christian heavy metal bands in churches in the 1990s, Sanctuary decided to close most of its parishes.

The remaining went on to become ‘Sanctuary International’, that continues to teach people about Christianity today. Sanctuary International also created its own internet radio station that goes by the name of ‘Intense Radio’.

Despite Christian metal’s popularity, metal music as a whole began losing popularity in the mid 90’s due to the rise of other styles and genres. In the 2000s, however, some Christian metal bands reached the mainstream music market due to what’s known as the ‘metal revival’.

Christian metal musicians and bands now perform in almost every subgenre of metal music. Some Christian metal musicians have found mainstream success and sell millions of albums to both Christian and non-Christian audiences.

Rock and Roll Sanctuary – A Heavy Metal Haven

In the mid-80’s, a lot of metal fans that became Christian due to listening to Christian music were rejected by the church.

This led to a Californian pastor, called Bob Beeman, to create a new ministry in 1984 in response to the issue. The new ministry was called ‘Sanctuary – The Rock and Roll Refuge’.

Sanctuary then went on to sponsor what is believed to be the first Christian metal festival, which inspired many others to create similar festivals across the world.

Due to the growing acceptance of Christian heavy metal bands in churches in the 1990s, Sanctuary decided to close most of its parishes. The remaining went on to become ‘Sanctuary International’, that continues to teach people about Christianity today.

Sanctuary International also created its own internet radio station that goes by the name of ‘Intense Radio’.

Despite Christian heavy metal bands popularity, metal music as a whole began losing popularity in the mid 90’s due to the rise of other styles and genres.

In the 2000s, however, some Christian metal bands reached the mainstream music market due to what’s known as the ‘metal revival’.

Popular Christian Metal Musicians and Bands

There are many popular Christian heavy metal bands, some of the best being: Demon Hunter, Stryper, Mortification, Skillet, Theocracy, August Burns Red, Living Sacrifice, As I Lay Dying, War of Ages and P.O.D.

Stryper was actually the first band to identify as a Christian metal band and gained attention and popularity by throwing Bibles into their audiences. They have a mostly Christian fanbase, however, have also gained many non-Christian fans as well.

Popular Christian Metal Songs

The most popular Christian heavy metal bands songs would definitely have to be: ‘Hollow King (Sound of the End)’ by Fit for a King, ‘Laying the Demon to Rest’ by Theocracy, ‘A Call To The Faithful’ by Inhale Exhale, and ‘All Consuming Fire’ by War of Ages.

How Christian Metal Music is Received

Christian heavy metal bands have not always been seen in a positive light by Christians. Due to the genre’s somewhat abrasive sound, many consider it to oppose the values of Christianity despite its heavily Christian-focused lyrics.

Many others, however, see Christian metal as just another genre of music. They believe that the lyrics and music in Christian metal are simply a different form of sharing messages about the grace of God, and are a reflection of the artist’s faith.

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