christian metal christian metal known white metal heavenly metal form heavy metal music usually defined message song lyrics dedication band members christianity christian metal typically performed professed christians principally christians listen heavy metal music produced distributed christian networks christian metal bands exist heavy metal music common link christian metal bands lyrics christian themes subjects genre band rooted regularly providing christian subject matter argued marginal christian metal provides core members alternative religious expression christian identity music serves purpose offering positive message lyrical content necessarily direct connection reference christian faith christian metal emerged late 1970s means wider heavy metal music scene pioneered canadian achieved wide success 1980s mid late 1980s extreme metal genres popularized bands believer early australian death metal band rose prominence country underground metal scene turn 21st century metal band platinum selling albums achieved mainstream commercial success groups demon hunter lay dying jean dubbed holy alliance brought mainstream attention movement decade 2000s achieving ranks billboard characteristics christian metal solitary style music ideological umbrella term comprises heavy metal music musicians christian metal bands typically base lyrics christian traditions lyrical approach christian metal bands somewhat varied emphasize positive aspects faith matters teachings christ bands message hidden metaphors minority aggressive attitude speak christianity preaching fire old testament style god wrath extreme references apocalyptic themes particularly ongoing spiritual warfare good evil judgment fall grace typical lyrical style varies depending culture country example bands lutheran members usually prefer personal lyrical approach seldom meant convert aggressive manner typical american bands christian bands deny conviction typically avoid preaching matter left leaving religion private issue listener certain bands choose deal day life experiences christian perspective order draw christian non christian listeners cases identifying christian band difficult secular bands occasionally deal christian topics different matter altogether defining christian band debated issue christian metal forums christian band expected professed christian members christian message history background heavy metal music christianity term heavy metal referred sound best exemplified albums rock paranoid examination lyrics bands lack explicitly negative themes love conversation husband wife electric funeral exactly parallels blood red moon hand doom describes drug abuse heard preaching audience earlier song children grave tell world love alive brave children today children grave later song time dying pleaded jesus meet jesus meet meet middle air wings fail lord meet pair overtly christian songs exhibited similar themes early heavy metal fans viewed populace counter culture fans rock roll general early heavy metal lyrics themes accused challenging christian values genre grew bands actually early bands accused adding negative term combining heavy metal music symbols devil early bands use sound medieval devil chord led heavy metal cast dumb occasions music hardly fit intelligent debate let theological reflection despite accusations examinations lyrics find songs actually advocate christianity specifically warn audiences devil bands took themes rage sexual abandon drug abuse violence despair homes millions young record buyers 1980s growing appeal metal called attention destructive potential music videos depict violence rebellion british metal fan analysed distorted guitar sounds intense beats muscular vocals heavy metal music songs deal death violence destruction metal fascination evil play acting driven desire shock italian metal vocalist stated maybe metal bands think act sell went add metal energetic vital deep true musical language know origins christian metal origins late 1960s early 1970s jesus movement movement christian ideology consisting converted christianity christian movement known jesus people developed musical movement called jesus music primarily began southern california los_angeles street musicians converted christianity musicians continued playing styles music played converting heavy metal music infused lyrics christian message earliest christian rock musicians released album titled rock arguably christian rock album produced norman song devil good music summarised ideas musicians christian hard rock group possibly california based band formed late 1960s known psychedelic rock blues influences band released album titled followed resurrection band formed milwaukee jesus people community released hard rock album swedish group jerusalem formed cited early christian hard rock group released album awaiting reply jerusalem released jerusalem volume albums notable impact christian music culture time heavy metal new style music christian music industry christian labels expect sell awaiting reply hit big christian market reached gospel album sales charts jerusalem instant hit listeners months record sold copies genre christian rock europe cited bands 1980s early 1980s notable christian heavy metal groups saint band formed native glam metal group popular band identify christian metal gained attention way throwing audience concerts beginning christians went concerts soon reached non christian audience 1980s christian metal bands closely followed trends mainstream metal bands mid-1980s heavy metal music divided autonomous described thematic diversity cross cuts musical styles 1980s white metal black metal emerged lyrical themes polar bringing good news bad news include bands sounds span spectrum metal white metal commonly called christian metal response popularity heavy metal genre transforms code heavy metal serve purposes evangelical christian denominations christian metal crafted missionary effort recruit members save souls black metal stands thematic opposition christianity looking upward heaven setting sights underworld symbols imagery staple heavy metal beginnings west better symbol rebellion groups claimed playing claims true believers followers lord underworld seen commercial ploy chicago doom metal group trouble known band publicly marketed white metal early albums skull feature biblical references origin white metal term remains unclear merely known non christian label metal blade records white metal marketing term contrast black metal soon christian metal bands controversial beliefs goals metal music scene typically holds particularly high esteem instance commercial success time received hostile reception played dutch metal festival regardless helped genre christian band reach platinum status album album hell devil sold million copies achieved grammy nomination music videos free calling power ballad honestly spent weeks free position weeks days july christian metal criticized non christian metal fans soon movement criticized allmusic wrote church leaders accusing heavy metal encouraging set prove metal hard rock promote christianity southern california band viewed suspicion ministers refused believe christianity metal compatible fellow managed sell millions albums christian secular audiences example wrote book titled religious rock roll wolf sheep clothing criticized scene particularly heavy metal music preach gospel christianity new bands began arise eventually drawing attention record labels specialized christian music contrast christian church organizations took supportive role example expressed public support group watching perform personal friends band members new bands began arise eventually drawing attention record labels specialized christian music emergence record labels sanctuary international christian metal soon developed independent record labels networks christian metal label soon appeared labels published countries heaven metal time christian record label interested christian metal advertised newly signed metal bands roster heaven metal publication exclusively covering movement soon heaven metal achieved popularity official professional publication heaven metal achieved dedicated flock readers bands sales usually rose covered magazine 1980s early 1990s underground christian metal releases typically distributed christian traded christian metal cassette copies music fans rock metal fans christians ministry christian metal bands rejected churches 1980s california pastor saw problem soon started ministry called sanctuary rock roll refuge fellowship brought musicians formed groups vengeance mortal soon ground breaking acts christian music culture sanctuary worship leader vocalist later bass player sanctuary sponsored christian metal festival held los_angeles proved influential soon christian metal festivals organized sanctuary activities began spreading parishes united_states peak 1990s sanctuary parishes significant impact christian metal movement groups later notable performed concerts sanctuary late 1990s parish workers felt regular churches attitudes feel need sanctuary going longer parishes sanctuary closed sanctuary currently gives international studies lessons christianity sanctuary runs internet radio station called intense radio reached approximately listeners late 1980s 1990s stated christian metal late 1980s early 1990s christian metal bands records sold christian non christian largest christian metal bands excluding mainstream success kentucky based band bride initially played speed metal particularly live die reached wider audience released snakes playground despite criticized abrupt changes style favor hot considered force centre christian heavy metal group released debut album talked bands white metal scene time noted classic metal sound similar managed stay head christian classic metal scene glam metal band group california released self titled debut word records imprint critical commercial acclaim years later band followed debut train critical success leading city world tour band guardian achieved mainstream attention album fire love videos included mtv rotation heavy metal band introduced vocalist achieved initial fame vocalist guitar band 1980s 1990s went solo rage creation album early 1990s rising musical styles especially began places dominant styles mainstream resulted heavy metal music losing popularity going underground decade christian metal musicians began play extreme metal soon death metal replaced metal popularity audiences underground metal scenes began favoring extreme sounds popular styles glam metal acts time lost popularity split writes book metal missionaries mid-1990s christian metal ceased play catch secular bands began rightful place extreme music scene artists played influential helping define relatively new growing genre risen musical quality street credibility christian metal hardcore bands signed record labels tooth nail secular labels metal blade victory records christian metal available non christian outlets time music moved dusty christian book stores racks super retailers like giant retailers like target hot topic german secular metal label released christian metal norway claimed owner committed christian pushing religious agenda pushed like mad nuclear blast labels pushing pure stuff 2000s decade 21st century groups reached mainstream popularity christian metal bands perform virtually metal christian metal movement spread worldwide emerged early 1980s hundreds active christian metal bands inspired metal revival 1980s bands including saint october brought heaven metal internet significant role revival christian metal websites online communities dedicated discussions christian metal music events bands time success 1980s certain christian metal artists found mainstream acceptance selling millions albums christian non christian fans including successful christian metal band album satellite went multi platinum album ranked billboard features popular christian bands including crossover bands lay dying august burns red day devil wears disciple demon hunter entered billboard charts record sales nominated album ocean album debut metal blade records charting canada united_states nearly units sold week second week released charted united_states canada debuts world include united_kingdom japan august burns red given best metal performance song identity found far away places album review issue february revolver magazine dubbed christian metal phenomenon year editor chief interviewed lead vocalists lay dying respectively page article issue tooth war ages remains legend mentioned christian bands metal metal notable american christian metal groups include believer vengeance frontman vocalist remaining member currently christianity allmusic states albums huge successes world christian music making bands genre cross secular music scene called arguably greatest christian metal band history surgery ranked second influential christian metal album time music video title track weapons warfare album received airplay mtv allmusic wrote believer obscure album christian heavy metal genre rarely generic poor lyrics bands like sacred warrior broke mainstream reason low expectations believer released massive slab metal popular mainstream magazines praised album british bands introduced christian metal europe seventh angel considered metal pioneers albums achieved mainstream distribution label cross rhythms states long time seventh angel considered best metal act seventh angel included aspects doom metal recordings 1990s new_mexico based ultimatum group called gained attention groove metal style album eternal decision hit record stores countries achieving considerable acclaim providing band notice death metal australian group widely recognized christian death metal band album garnered band attention heavy metal underground according allmusic roughly time band creating death metal particularly albums inhabit allmusic commenting term christian death metal like music comical later evolved early death metal inspired crushing driven heavily metallic listeners intense decidedly personal evangelical lyrical viewpoint minneapolis based described allmusic world extreme sounding christian metal bands norwegian band album burial called revolutionary release single responsible revival christ centered extreme metal band popular christian general metal fans touring known non christian bands metal widely considered metal called christian black metal band man band release initiated controversy extreme metal community opposing common lyrical themes evil title release means holy christians refer christian black metal order avoid negative term black metal called crush evil existed prior release music death doom style musically considered black metal early 1990s band known crush evil guitarist seminal black metal band planning stop crush evil continuing took place release british black metal label set standard christian black metal swedish progress magazine stated rivals best band christian secular offer scene traditional black metal scene musicians operated produced eponymous played drums album power metal progressive metal sacred warrior preceded christian power metal united_states german group seventh avenue formed notable christian power metal bands 1990s released band signed release label topped later 1990s swedish group contributions christian power metal history having signed germany japan later appeared notable european groups german bands swedish groups harmony progressive metal representatives album picked japanese label signed metal blade records wrote athens georgia based self titled debut album release gain sole member matt lot notoriety small christian power scene larger secular power embraced later turned band sophomore album mirror souls defines excellence current christian metal swedish group started playing progressive symphonic doom metal released album fall fall ranked 38th influential christian metal album time wrote album earth essentially delivered powerful moving death doom recording history christian metal machine called amazing accomplishment gothic tinged progressive metal unique scene released alternative metal style leading groups included metal bands disciple pillar pioneer paving way bands jean california based group mortal cited christian bands represented industrial metal style cross rhythms wrote mortal second album hit scene like truly musical milestone 1990s christian industrial metal band circle dust band received mtv exposure music video crime song intro song long time defunct underground christian industrial metal received success album extent suffering second album somewhat successful song blind hit single australian industrial metal band called screams chaos known bizarre style combined extreme metal influences industrial late 1990s early decade 21st century popular american shock rock group known elements industrial metal received following christianity mainstream metal notable mainstream acts feature featured christian members bands lyrics christian themes symbolism caused controversy claims christianity slayer members christian use spiritual themes uncommon predominantly catholic cultures christian metal rooted evangelical beginning means non christian metal scene years focus changed increased christianity west 1990s notes current scene little interest especially instead argued current christian metal music scene ultimately provides core members important resources shaping alternative form religious expression practice alternative christian identity states christian metal serves main purposes alternative form religious expression identity legitimate form religious expression effective means fighting standing christian faith positive alternative non christian metal interview best known figures scene implies secondary importance christian metal foremost bring spiritual encouragement christian listeners suspects christian metal music suggest dissatisfaction traditional forms worship today young christians feel comfortable going church singing hymns need alternative means express faith apart christian metal provide means away image christianity rigid boring states christian metal expresses feeling isolation rebellion like non christian metal completely different way christian metal rebellion christian opposition perceived late modern society culture traditional family values eroded things increasing abortion pornography rise gay rights feminist movements causes feeling isolation explained fundamental christian struggle world inverted meaning rebellion declaring western society culture christian faith true rebellion non christian metal fans encouraged stand faith think follow authorities including religious ones according christian metal developed scenes countries long standing metal united_states brazil mexico germany netherlands norway sweden finland despite seemingly marginal niche audience christian metal fans counted thousands non christian metal fans millions christian metal scene christian communities leaders creed music connects attendees like non christian metal christian metal scene developed infrastructure record labels promotion distribution channels specialized media discussion forums attitude turn burn faster master support war festivals brazil mexico tiny parishes christian metal fans finland particular metal mainstream world held popular picked lutheran state church christian listen non christian metal christian metal merely offers dark message non christian metal christian avoid bands ignore issue altogether differences concert gestures noticed los_angeles_times reported shows audience seen way fingers double devil horns salute metal groups controversy certain christian groups notably king james denominations consider types rock metal music opposition faith regardless lyrical content lifestyles band members fans artists metal genre music parallel genres blues classical jazz punk hip hop bands believe instrumentation music simply medium art person creating music lyrics presented provide message christian metal created christians compose metal music way reflects faith christ states book fans metal consider christian faith adherence church membership established authority christian metal bands seen use christian lyrics opposed true purpose metal values ignoring opinions rejection religion christian metal groups criticized bands industry lack innovation bands industry pastor stated compliment secular music lets people listen music enjoyed feeling like giving style love allows bands crossover mainstream success groups christian metal movement criticized bands industry genre general industry example stated wish scenes long time huge growing distance christian secular music industries situation scandinavia opinion kind good thing music foremost music band artist represents religion lack industry music religious borders christian bands today oppose isolated christian music industry mainstream successes christian metal radio christian metal christian music scene major corporate radio outlets opposed accepted associated christian music formats remained culturally significant genre primarily enduring test time word mouth help pioneering christian rock metal broadcasters despite lack commercial radio support christian metal broadcasters managed hit public radio campus radio internet radio recent years internet digital broadcasting technology accessible number christian metal broadcasters steadily increased today largest non commercial christian alternative radio stations christian metal late nights weekends larger stations generally maintain prescribed format stations able maintain hour christian metal formats internet radio notable christian metal radio shows include jesus solid rock hosted present founded pastor founder publisher armor god broadcast present hosted demon slayer radio hardcore present hosted nation record labels blood records records records records productions rugged records solid state records tooth nail records christian metal festival cornerstone festival elements rock present switzerland norway blast present germany ecuador extreme present slovakia new_zealand rock alive netherlands
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