Why is Christian Rock attacked so much yet anything Death/Black Metal is allowed a pass?

Question

I love Death/Black metal bands and I know damn well they get alot of flak from parent groups but I don't understand how rock fans who are supposed to be the most open minded people on earth step all over Christian rock as if it's the worst thing ever. Many Christian bands like Devil Wears Prada and Flyleaf are amazing bands that I can't discount simply because they claim to be Christians? What's the problem? Jesus is a fake but the Devil is real and should be celebrated? You can't have one without the other

Answer 1

i have no issues with "a rock band that happens to be Christian"



I have huge issues with "a group of bible-thumping evangelical Christians who happen to be a rock band"



I'm pretty groovy with the former, and have no patience for the latter. One hopes that everyone can spot the difference between the two.

Answer 2

Take the other side out of the equation for a second. Hey, I'm Christian but I don't like most "Christian" music in general. I love Flyleaf though, because they don't say "Here, this is God, listen, pray, listen, preach." I say no! The world is not happy! The world needs music it can relate to and people are sick of the "utopia" image that Christian groups send out. You can't have the good without the bad, and bands like Flyleaf tell you that in your music. And if you can listen to music for sound and listen to black metal or, on the other end of the spectrum, Christian music WITHOUT listening to the meaning, congrats. You are not a bigoted, sorry excuse for a human being. But some, maybe most, people cannot listen to a song without listening to the meaning. You cannot simply say "I hate black metal" or "I hate Christian rock" without giving it a chance. Some blind followers of metal hear the word "Christian" and freak out. Some blind followers of God are not truly followers of God, since when they hear the word "metal" they freak out. The world is full of ignorant people, is all I'm trying to say. Good and bad, and if you turn a blind eye to one or the other than you're turning away from any kind of good music.

Answer 3

I think alot of it has to do with the how the bands set themselves apart. Most christian rock is soft and generally all about loving god, jesus and all that good stuff. The vocals are very clear in those songs and the messages seem very overwhelming to people who aren't into it.



Take black metal on the other hand. Alot of the people listening to it aren't into the satanic messages and all that crap. Take me for example. I like Mayhem, the notorious devil worshipping, church burning group that used to play with pig heads on pikes as part of the stage show. I'm not a huge fan or anything but I can appreciate the music because of the atmosphere it creates. I can't even understand the vocalist so I'm not getting sucked into their stupid anti-god crap when I'm listening to their music.



That's not to say there aren't any good christian bands. One of my favorite bands is a christian thrash metal band called Tourniquet. I also enjoy the occasional Switchfoot song and Flyleaf isn't all that bad.



So I guess what I'm trying to say, in short is:



Christian music gets no respect from people who listen to rock music because the religious messages can feel a little bit like an attempt at conversion (it doesn't help that most mainstream christian bands aren't very talented).



Death and black metal gets its share of heat from religious/parental groups because of the gory/anti-god messages. However, the reason it's not (often) scoffed at by your average rock/metal listener is that alot of people can't understand the vocals and just enjoy the instruments (and occasionally the vocals, when they actually add to the music). The message isn't often at the forefront of the music.

Answer 4

I like Blindside and A Day To Remember pretty much. But eum, I think it's because negative people don't like a positive message. They don't like the happy energy that comes with it. They rather hear negative shits like singing about drinking, the devil and killing. It first their mindstate better. I'm not a big fan of preaching in music either but a good message is better then nothing at all. I think it's true that a lot of Christian bands leave atheist bands alone. They don't attack them like anti-religeous bands do. It's a simple case of two opposite sides that clash.

Answer 5

Personally, I don't think either genre has much to offer in terms of musical substance, therefore I ridicule both of them. But, as for the reason other people don't care for Christian rock, it might be because of the type of people the fans are. Honestly, everyone I know who likes those bands sounds brainwashed, like, "I love the positive, uplifting messages from God that are present in the music!" Maybe everyone else is just a little creeped out by the outlook of the fans.

Answer 6

Very good point made there! My opinion is that many ppl these days perceive Christians as being narrow minded and pushy period. It's almost as if modern Christians have been branded as mindless, dogmatic, egotistical, self-righteous goody two-shoes by society in general! Regardless of class, gender, political affiliation, etc., etc., when the word "Christian" is used to describe someone, society frowns on them. Of course that's just my opinion! But, cleverly there also exists very successful bands such as U2, Bono Vox especially, that can include Christian ideals in their music which are not even noticed unless looked for. By not being "labeled" as Christian rock artists, U2 was able to sale a ton more albums, thereby becoming more successful. U2 is pretty much a household name in nearly every country in the world, thus their music has a much greater impact than an exclusively Christian rock act like Stryper. But I'm not meaning to disrespect any bands here, they all (Christian rockers) get my respect! Just making an observation. BTW, here's a nice link if you wanna know more @ Bono Vox... http://www.atu2.com/band/bono/

Answer 7

I think some Christian Rock groups can sound preachy and that's why they aren't as popular with the Metal scene, but again, you'd be surprised at how open the Rock/Metal scene really is. I like Flyleaf, but they're not my favorite band.

Answer 8

Uh, its an oxymoron. Metal & Rock were loathed by christians because they played the "devil's note." Metal is about freedom of expression, passion, life, everything, freedom itself. Whereas christians read out of a little book telling them how to live their life. Metal is about no rules and feeling ontop of the world, christian metal is like a veggie burger or the book on how to read(OXYMORON).



*Note: I don't hate christians and I just don't like those types of bands because they're not the sound I like, NOT because they're christian.*

Answer 9

It just doesn't sound good in my opinion. Devil Wears Prada and Flyleaf are two very good ones in the genre though, gotta admit. Still not a fan of them at all.



EDIT: Jeremy- Just by hearing you say that, I know that you're ignorant as well.



And Firesign is right

Answer 10

Well, I listen to alot of extreme metal, with Black metal being my most listened to. so I know what you are saying. I think the reason the christian bands don't get recognized is because metal was made to be rebelious where as christian lyrics dont really shout rebel. However, I think both christian and Black metal bands have equally cheezy lyrics and to me, if their music is good, i'll listen to it.



There are many great innovative christian metal bands that are ignored by some people soley because they have that title



Extol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZagb0e15ZI

Mortification

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmuxmtiK06o

Antestor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKMB5LA9akQ

Living Sacrifice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGxgaks5wGQ

Tourniquet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ikFOk4dWuI

Believer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXav_s2xqsE





are all Christian Death/Black or thrash bands that create music as good as anyone else (or better in some cases) in the genre.

Answer 11

Because Christian bands like Devil Wears Prada and Flyleaf lack any substance and are only really there to milk the massive cash cow that is religion for all it's worth.

Answer 12

Your question is doubtful because it form of feels to conflate 2 kinds of grievance. there is grievance of particular styles of song as regards their aesthetic or imaginitive characteristics, then there is grievance of song for its average social fee, i.e. no count if pronounced form of song is healthy or volatile to hearken to. i've got not heard absolutely everyone criticise Christian song for being a tension for social corruption, a value it somewhat is many times leveled against dying/Black metallic. i've got heard various human beings criticise Christian song for being cheesy and boring. There are others who point corresponding claims against metallic in its a number of varieties. All in all, although your question does not look to tell apart between them, there are 2 very categories of grievance one would study into your question.

Answer 13

Flyleaf and Devil Wears Prada are far from amazing



i dont like christian rock because i dont need some guy singing to me about how i should love Jesus and God



edit: Christian rock is lame

Answer 14

Like you said..works both ways. Death metal gets a load of shitt from christians too. Thats the way it goes my friend.

Answer 15

I don't mind or hate Christian Rock/Metal, I just don't listen to it. But if you like it then that's cool.

Answer 16

Its more about the sucking than the religious background of the band

Answer 17

Oh come on, let's keep the persecution complex in check.



Stop and think about it...is anything in our culture here that's satanic in nature really 'celebrated'? Where? When? I've seen plenty go after it.

Answer 18

Well comrade, I am a christian, and I hate christian rock, why? because they really don't have much talent. And so i criticize it because of that. Other people might criticize it because of that fact that its just christian music.

Answer 19

it always baffles me that churches allow death metal bands to hold concerts inside their church..at least Ive seen about 4 shows in a church....As I Lay Dyings pretty good, IMO

Answer 20

It probably has more to do with Christian "Rock" kind of sucking.