Metal bands: Catholic/Christian

[mr.p]

Do you know any death/black/folk metal bands that are Catholic or Christian lyrically? I like these genres but they often seem to be blasphemous, anti-Christian, or pagan. What do you recommend?

 

[Roguish]

I recommend you face up to what you have already noticed: that the music genres you are speaking of tend to be anti-Christian, anti-religious, and blasphemous. Getting into this stuff isn’t healthy for your soul. This isn’t just a matter of lyrics, though that’s important too. The “music” itself isn’t right; it’s harms you psychologically even without the lyrics. In short, listening to metal is quite dangerous. Get away from it while you can.

 

[Mary888]

Some people say the type of music in itself invokes certain “low energies”. I am still not certain that we as Christians should believe in energies but on the other side it kind of fitted my experience. But I can’t judge Christians who love metal/rock, I never loved it just liked it from time to time, giving it up was kind of easy.
But then again I also never liked it in its instrumental form, the songs I liked had lyrics. And some where like… unfit and very very angry.

 

[Psychae]

That’s ridiculous

 

[Psychae]

I like Skillet check them out on YouTube

Skillet-Hero

 

[Lee1]

I agree with you.

OP. If you listen to a piece of music it invokes certain feelings and emotions at least, even without the lyrics. To discern what music is in keeping with your religious beliefs and the nurturing of your spiritual self it might be a good idea to pay attention to how it makes you feel, what mood,it invokes etc. Quite simple and you don’t need instruction from anyone about that I don’t think.

If heavy metal or zonk music makes you feel spiritual and evokes aspirational thoughts along those lines then it’s fine, if not I’d avoid it.

(Zonk music hasn’t been invented yet, until then you’ll just have to make do with standing inside a two ton ringing bell. )

 

[ZMystiCat]

I’m not too familiar with death or folk metal. Leah has some Celtic folk elements, and she has Catholic themes in lyrics.

For black metal, a few bands I enjoy are:

• Antestor: The Return of the Black Death had a lot of references to Scripture and hymns, but Forsaken and Omen are a bit more creative. Forsaken is also among my favorite black metal albums.
• Crimson Moonlight: This band’s lyrics are bit more Orthodox. Musically, they’re more traditional black metal than Antestor.
• Vials of Wrath: I haven’t really gotten to making out most of the lyrics from this band’s songs, but the guy running it wants to basically make Christian atmospheric black metal. “Cleansing Prayer” is my personal favorite Christian black metal song, and the band’s been influential in getting me back into the genre.
• Skald in Veum: They only have an EP out, but it’s good, and I’m looking forward to what they have to offer for the future. They have a spiritual director who gets some credit, but I’m not sure how much influence he has lyrically.

A non-Christian black metal band that you could check out is Carach Angren. They have a stated desire to keep politics and religion out of their lyrics and just want to tell horror stories. Sure, some of the characters bring politics and religion into the story, so you might get a demon yelling curses at God or someone lamenting another person turning from Him, but the band is absolutely fantastic and without bringing in some of the lyrical baggage of the genre. Where the Corpses Sink Forever and Dance and Laugh Among the Rotten are among my favorite albums ever.

The “music” itself isn’t right; it’s harms you psychologically even without the lyrics.

 

[Wampa]

OP, I commend you for using your discernment to seek out the good and avoid the bad.

I don’t know these metal subgenres well, as I’m more into power/prog, but the Christian black/death bands that I know are Crimson Moonlight, Crimson Thorn, and Frost Like Ashes.

I produced a concert in my town for them once: great guys, all of them, and dedicated Christians.