Christianity in heavy metal

This article discusses Christianity in heavy metal, an uncommon subject matter in heavy metal music world, known for its generally negative themes and attitudes, focusing on notable musical acts that feature or have featured Christian members or have portrayed Biblical themes in a positive light but who are not part of the contemporary Christian music market. Ever since the Beatles incident in 1960s (when John Lennon caused riots by stating that Christianity is "dying" and joking that the band is "more popular than Jesus now"), rock and metal musicians especially have found Christianity as an effective target for anti-establishment agenda and rebellion attitude because of its perceived status as an established authority, as metal musicians typically hold individualism in high esteem. There have been exceptions, as not all rebel against the Christian values that some are raised to respect in the Western world. Secular bands with occasional Christian themes are not considered to belong to the marginal Christian metal scene.
History
While not often acknowledged, some of the best-known groups in hard rock and heavy metal music have dealt with Christian themes in their songs.
Though they'd been accused of devil worship, Black Sabbath had actually written several songs that employed Biblical, eschatological ideas, such as in the denouement of "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral." ”After Forever” (from Master of Reality, 1971), even more explicitly serves as a polemic against apathy and anti-theism, proposing the concept of life after death from a non-sectarian, Christian point of view. "National Acrobat" and other songs continue and expand these themes (e.g., in "Lord of this World," Satan reveals himself to the selfish, greedy humans who've been unwittingly serving him. "Under the Sun" condemns extremist fundamentalism). One of the few rock journalists to correctly understand the band, Lester Bangs called them the first truly "Catholic rock group," and "moralists," “the first group to completely immerse themselves in the Fall and Redemption, the traditional Christian dualism which asserts that if you don’t walk in the light of the Lord, then Satan is certainly pulling your strings, and a bad end can be expected, is even imminent.”
Following on lyricist Geezer Butler's lead, Ozzy Osbourne, singer and ex-Black Sabbath member, shows God in a positive light through seveal lyrics (despite his controversial past and false reputation as a Satanist), such as "Revelation (Mother Earth)" and the recent "Digging Me Down." On a radio interview in 1983, he stated that he was a member of the Anglican Church of England, although in later interviews he has made conflicting statements on whether he believes in God or not. Ozzy's former guitarist, Zakk Wylde, however, has identified himself as an Irish Catholic.
Judas Priest followed Black Sabbath's lead, incorporating Bible-based themes in songs such as "Exciter" and "Painkiller." Iron Maiden, whose drummer Nicko McBrain is a Christian, has portrayed God in positive light on its recent song "For the Greater Good of God".
Blackie Lawless, lead singer and songwriter of W.A.S.P. returned to Christianity, and included Sabbath-like polemics in "Headless Children." In an interview with Metaltruth.com in 2007, he stated, “There were questions I was asking and I couldn’t get the answers that I wanted. I went for twenty years where I thought I was mad at God until I realized one day that I wasn’t mad at God… I was mad at man!”
James Hetfield of Metallica was raised in a Christian Science home and reflects this background on songs like "" (from Kill 'Em All, 1983) and "Creeping Death" (from Ride the Lightning, 1984) which make references to the Bible scriptures of Revelation and Exodus. However, in other songs like "The God that failed" he bitterly indicts Christian Science's teachings concerning medicine. "Leper Messiah", from Master of Puppets, Metallica's staple album, is directly anti-clerical.
Dream Theater guitarist, backing vocalist, and primary lyricist John Petrucci is a practicing Catholic and numerous songs by him and other members, such as "Surrounded," "Scarred," and ”Lines in the Sand,” are reflective of that. Petrucci and vocalist James Labrie have also written songs critical of some aspects of organized religion, such as "In the Name of God", which condemns cults such as Heaven's Gate. Mike Portnoy, the drummer for Dream Theater, does play drums for Christian artist Neal Morse (former lead singer and keyboardist for progressive rock band Spock's Beard), but is himself a non-observant Jew. Bass guitarist John Myung and LaBrie have also claimed to hold Christian beliefs. has incorporated Christian themes on songs such as "Precious Jerusalem", "Another Holy War" and "Sadly Sings Destiny."
Anthrax's lead guitarist Dan Spitz is a Messianic Jew (seen as Christian to Jewish and Christian groups) and Accept's former bassist Peter Baltes left to start a Christian solo project.
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 Heaven's Metal Magazine about his faith was noted world wide. Cooper has kept his trademark shock rock image but has also written some Christian references on the album Brutal Planet.
Megadeth's then former, now re-join bassist David Ellefson is a Christian, and frontman Dave Mustaine became a Christian in 2002. 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.
Jorn Lande, singer of his solo project and former Rising Force vocalist, has never claimed openly to be a Christian (but does believe in God), but includes many pro-Christian and pro-God messages in his lyrics.
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. Weikath also states that bands should take the responsibility for what kind of lyrics they write for their fans. In 2006,
Peter Steele, the vocalist of Type O Negative, announced in an interview that he was no longer a "foxhole atheist" and returned to being a devout Roman Catholic. Steele wrote Christian based lyrics on the 2007 album Dead Again, though he kept his twisted sense of humor and colourful language as a part of his lyrics and personality.
Tuomas Holopainen has also incorporated Christian themes in almost every Nightwish album but he has stated that he is "not religious"
and has his own views concerning Christianity though he remains a monotheist.
Killswitch Engage and Linkin Park have members who were raised in Christian homes, and occasionally use spiritual themes.
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.
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.
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. 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. Ron Eriksen, the lead singer and guitarist of the Los Angeles based thrash band Viking, converted to Christianity in 1988, shortly after the band's first album, Do or Die. He rewrote some songs that would eventually appear on the following Viking album, Man of Straw, to give them a more Christian friendly stance. Interestingly, Viking drummer Matt Jordan became a Christian in early 1989 as well. Viking disbanded in mid-1990. After Viking disbanded, Ron Eriksen went back to using his given name, Ron Daniel, and was at one time a minister.
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. Deicide, known for their Satanic and anti-Christian themes, included guitarist Ralph Santolla, another professing Roman Catholic.
Chronology
1970s
*Geezer Butler
*Ozzy Osbourne
*Nicko McBrain
1980s
*Alice Cooper
1990s
*Dan Spitz
2000s
* Hansi Kürsch
*
*Dave Mustaine

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