Yeah. In this topic we talk about Christian metal and rock. Also a Recommendation thread as well.

Not a huge fan of the genres anymore, but still dabble in it. Most of it is meh for me. Few bands really sound much more than abysmal now. This is especially true for the new stuff. It all is trying to sound like indie rock for Christian indie kids often times. I don't mind that, but it just has barely any substance in most cases. The best era for the genres for me are the 90's. The weird, good, and controversial all in one decade? Yes please.

I think Christian Metal is ok. The only Christian metal bands I like though are Thousand Foot Krutch and Skillet.

I've never understood the "Christian Rock and Roll" or Christian metal or anything like that. I don't feel anything when I listen to those songs. I find the musicality of it ruins anything the lyrics might try and make up for. If I want uplifting music I have a lot of other stuff that works better for me.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm just not a fan of heavy metal rock. When I heard that there is such a thing as Christian screamo, I couldn't believe it.

Sometimes lyrics don't do a song justice. Sometimes, the sound of the music itself is uplifting. That being said, Gospel is probably the best genre to choose from if you want uplifting lyrics.

play4fun : Only Christian screamo I know of is a very small amount of bands that you could only find at an online distro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZx-GfDZqoo

This is screamo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN57SsrZeQI

This is not screamo.

And knowing is half the battle.

I don't really like uplifting music. I find it downlifting. I'd rather listen to something angry, but meh. Sometimes there's a Christian band I'll like. Like The Blue Letter.

I'm just gonna keep my metalhead self from correcting Skillet being metal. Thanks. *hides*

You'd be surprised at how good some of it is. I am nothing compared to play4fun, however, some old gospel is some of the strongest music out there. You don't even have to be religious to enjoy some old Soul Stirrers.

NotJon : I'm not one for uplifting music, though. It makes me angry, so why listen to what makes me angry? My uplifting music is the anger of metal. I like chants, though. I love the eerie feel of those.

KlawedFlaw : Well, at least try it before you knock it. It's the soul of the music that I feel anyone with an open mind can enjoy.

NotJon : I'll find some that fits my taste. If that's possible. If I don't enjoy it, it won't get much notice from me.

KlawedFlaw : I know, I can understand that. If you don't like it then don't listen to it. Just give things a chance. Sam Cooke (Gospel, Pop, R&B, Blues, Soul or whatever genre he touched) is good. That's all I'm saying.

Blues? BLUES?! I love blues. I'm checking this guy out.

Sam Cooke is now a favorite of mine. He is the man when it comes to soul. :V

KlawedFlaw : LOL. That was quick. Some people (including me) call him the biggest pioneering force in the evolution of Soul music.

NotJon : Well, I'm good at noticing what's good in most compositions. If I find no good in it, I simply will not try. Since this guy was truly good, I am glad I paused my black metal for that. I'll put him on my musician who I want CDs from list.

Hoochman : Lol (No offense)
I love TFK but they're not metal, the only Christian metal group I know is Living Sacrifice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1N2lrWzmo)

JohnThePanpire : Oh good Odinn. Good stuff there. I can understand why Hoochman didn't know those bands were not metal, as no one ever knows what metal is anymore. I just let him be, as I said rock as well, so the metalhead senses tingled, but the "dur dur dur it is not needed" senses tingled.

Living Sacrifice's early stuff was kick... Donkey! It was great stuff. When DJ got into the death metal, oh man? You know what I felt when I heard that? I felt the best feeling ever. That would be finding great metal! I don't care how many people hate the slurred growling, it's great. I wonder what DJ is up to now... He probably got bored of music, and might have had a bad time with REX. I know Klayton of Celldweller and Criss Angel fame did. He even gave up Christianity, and that label was one of the reasons.

It's sad how Christian labels can be as bad as the Christians Gandhi said he didn't like. "I like your Christ, but I don't your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Let's hope Christians learn what that wonderful man said, because the way Christianity is going now in the mainstream, I may as well shoot my eye out during a Westboro picketline. I'm a little sore over them picketing during Dio's funeral, though.

Dio was the most Christ-like man in metal, as well... He was so humble, and gentle. He sang about dark things, but he was the most peaceful man when it came down to it.

Sorry for the long rant. Just feel that mainstream Christianity needs to learn something from the downfalls, and be like Christ rather than try to be pop stars.

geeogree : I think you are very narrow minded and should give some music a chance.

Anyways, I *used to* love Christian Metal. It used to be rising up in the charts; Revolver magazine even named it "phenomenon of the year" in (what I think was) the end of the year 2007 issue. Then it kinda went down the drains from there. Underoath vocalist and drummer Aaron Gillespie got caught up in his own project (post-hardcore band "The Almost", which kinda sucks), several other Christian metal bands broke up, newer, crappier bands were made, and JCTV stopped ordering what was the only Christian-Metal based T.V. show, Rock-It T.V.

We only have a few un-crappy Christian Metal bands left (Demon Hunter, Norma Jean, As I Lay Dying), and less people listening. People are narrow minded; when they have a choice of a Christian Metal band like Norma Jean or a regular metal band, like, say, terrible Slipknot, they'll choose slipknot. It's impossibly terrible.

What's even worse is that Christian Metal bands are choosing not to call themselves Christian. What they say is a "difference in beliefs between members of our band" can be translated into "we want more money". Hello? What ever happened to ORIGINALITY? Did it all go down the drain like the rest of Christian metal did? Probably.

Christian Metal bands are purposely trying to fit in with the rest of the crowd. What we need is more original bands trying new things. What we don't need is more Fall Out Boys and Panic at the Discos.

Anyways, my point is that Christian Metal sucks anymore and until a new, better band is developed it's not worth the $10.99 per C.D. What I hope is that bands like Norma Jean will pull back up the Christian Metal genre by its britches and make it actually listenable again. Until then, screw CM, screw music, oh, and screw that high asking price for CDs also.

the_casualty : did I say I refused to ever listen to it? Did I say I hate the music? NO

I simply said I didn't understand it and that there are other more uplifting choices for me. That isn't narrow-minded. I have listened to bands that have been recommended to me and I don't enjoy them.

geeogree : You sounded negative. I don't understand how you "can't feel anything" when you listen to those songs. The theme and type of music is the same, how can you not feel anything?

Anyways, I don't want to argue...it's just obvious we have different views about things.

the_casualty : I'm sorry that I don't associate metal and Jesus. I don't feel anything positive when I listen to rock or metal.

You don't understand how I feel nothing.... and I don't understand how you feel anything positive from metal.... even if it is Jesus metal. Lyrics don't mean much to me when they are associated with rock or metal.