Heavy metal music with a Christian message and band members
"White metal (genre)" redirects here. Not to be confused with White power music.
Christian metal
Other names
White metal
heavenly metal
Jesus metal
Stylistic origins
Heavy metal
Jesus music
Christian rock
Christian music
glam metal
Cultural origins
Late 1970s, United States and Sweden
Fusion genres
Unblack metal
Regional scenes
United States
Brazil
Mexico
Germany
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Finland[1]
Other topics
Artists
Christian hardcore
Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal or heavenly metal,[2] is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian-themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by professed Christians, principally for Christians and is often produced and distributed through various Christian networks.[1]
Christian metal bands exist in most of the subgenres of heavy metal music, and the only common link among most Christian metal bands are the lyrics. The Christian themes are often melded with the subjects of the genre the band is rooted in, regularly providing a Christian take on the subject matter. It has been argued that the marginal yet transnational Christian metal subculture provides its core members with an alternative religious expression and Christian identity, and that the music serves the purpose of offering a positive message through lyrical content. This may not necessarily show a direct connection or reference to the Christian faith, although it often it does.[1]
Christian metal emerged in the late 1970s as a means of evangelization to the wider heavy metal music scene. The genre was pioneered by the American Resurrection Band and Barnabas, the Swedish Jerusalem, and Canadian Daniel Band.[3] In the mid to late 1980s, extreme metal genres were popularized by bands such as Vengeance Rising, Deliverance, Believer and Tourniquet.[4] Another Christian metal band that was successful during the 80s was American band Stryper, whose album, To Hell with the Devil, sold over two million copies.[5]
In the early 1990s, the Australian death metal band Mortification rose to prominence within its country's underground metal scene. In 1993, the first German Christian Death Metal band, Sacrificium, was founded. The band is still active as of 2024.[6][7] At the turn of the 21st century, the nu metal band P.O.D, with two platinum-selling albums, achieved a mainstream commercial success rivaling that of Stryper.[8] The metalcore groups Underoath (2002–2018), Demon Hunter, As I Lay Dying and Norma Jean (dubbed "The Holy Alliance" by Revolver Magazine) also brought some mainstream attention to the movement in the first decade of the 2000s, achieving ranks in the Billboard 200.[9] Between the 2000s and 2020s, the Christian metal band Skillet[10] had two albums receiving Grammy nominations,[11] two albums certified platinum and double platinum,[12] and various singles certified platinum and gold.[13]
^ abcMoberg, Marcus (November 3, 2008). Turn or Burn? The Peculiar Case of Christian Metal Music(PDF). Heavy Fundamentalisms: Music, Metal & Politics. Salzburg, Austria: Inter-Disciplinary.Net. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015.
^John J. Thompson, Raised by Wolves: the Story of Christian Rock & Roll (Ottawa, Ontario Canada:, Ontario: ECW Press, 2000), ISBN 1-55022-421-2, pp. 153-4.
^Thompson 2000, pp. 153–4.
^Moberg 2015, pp. 37–8.
^"Stryper illustrates Christian bands' struggle to crossover to mainstream". The Washington Times.
^Bombek, Kirk. "Mortification". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
^Alfonso, Barry (2002). The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music. Billboard. p. 200. ISBN 9780823077182.
^Moberg 2015, pp. 39.
^Beaujour, Tom (June 24, 2010). "Underoath, As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean and Demon Hunter". revolvermag.com. Revolver Magazine. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010.
^Caterina, Peter (July 26, 2019). "Skillet Lead Singer John Cooper On Merging Heavy Metal With Christian Music". FOX News Radio. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
^CCMMagazine.com: Skillet Closes Out 2007 With Grammy Nomination Archived December 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
^"Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
^"Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
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