Christianity Evolves/Converts To Thrash Metal

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21425108

The heavy metal-loving church

Many think of church as incense, organ music and dog collars. But there are a wave of new churches that look rather different, writes Sam Judah.

Before he was a minister in the Church of England, Mark Broomhead took thrash metal very seriously.

His band, Seventh Angel, toured the world, sharing a record label with heavy metal acts Metallica and Slayer.

Now he is vicar of the Order of the Black Sheep, a church in Chesterfield. It's part of the Church of England, but Broomhead doesn't appear to have mellowed.

"We want it to be as uncomfortable as possible for people who'd go to an ordinary church," he says, speaking about his new ministry.

He is not alone in his endeavour. A number of underground Christian groups are at work across the country, reaching out to people and subcultures that feel alienated by the traditional Church.

As media attention remains focused on the Church of England's stance on issues like women bishops and gay marriage, this very different type of Christian scene has gone largely unnoticed.

(continued, death metal easter - great band)

[JimC]

Get thee to the catacombs...

[rachelbean]

I knew a heavy metal pastor/church started in the 80s in Los Angeles and a goth/metal one in san Diego (and attended both at different times). Not exactly something new

[Jason]

That's SoCal for you.

[rachelbean]

It's evangelical Christianity for you, really. It's always revolved around music, especially since the Jesus people.

[Jason]

True, but it takes a special something to go from polyphony to thrash metal methinks.

[cronus]

True, but it takes a special something to go from polyphony to thrash metal methinks.

You can always tell when a music genre has had its day. Once the xians start digging it big time, then it is game over.

I used to like metal twenty five years ago but I like acid jazz these days...times change.

[Jason]

Interesting point.

[rachelbean]

Well, most evangelical (the ones that call themselves non-denominational, not Pentecostal!) have something akin to top 40 music for their services and the Christian music world has just about every kind of music, so not surprising that churches catering to subcultures would arise.

The church I grew up in was founded by an ex-Vegas musician who used to manage the righteous brothers

Also, there's plenty of great imagery in the bible for death metal!

And scrumple, there has been Christian metal as long as there has been metal. Despite the mainstream and cheesy stuff most people are exposed to as Christian music, there has been music scenes of every kind with very talented musicians over the years.

[cronus]

Well, most evangelical (the ones that call themselves non-denominational, not Pentecostal!) have something akin to top 40 music for their services and the Christian music world has just about every kind of music, so not surprising that churches catering to subcultures would arise.

The church I grew up in was founded by an ex-Vegas musician who used to manage the righteous brothers

Also, there's plenty of great imagery in the bible for death metal!

And scrumple, there has been Christian metal as long as there has been metal. Despite the mainstream and cheesy stuff most people are exposed to as Christian music, there has been music scenes of every kind with very talented musicians over the years.

I used to listen to Christian Death. Not sure it was a Christian band at heart though.

[rachelbean]

no, Christian Death was definitely not Christian, but Eva O. who was with them for a while did go Christian (though her music didn't change)...

[pErvinalia]

I think I hate "cool" christians more than I hate the old stodgy conservative ones.

[Thinking Aloud]

I could have made millions...

Still, I take a perverse pride in knowing some music I wrote for a church setting might still be being played somewhere on the west coast of Scotland. And even more in the fact that I used the melody for one of my most ardently anti-religious songs.

[mistermack]

You can always tell when a music genre has had its day. Once the xians start digging it big time, then it is game over.

I used to like metal twenty five years ago but I like acid jazz these days...times change.

Oh right. Times have moved on 25 years. It's not affected by the fact that you are 25 years older, by any chance?

I didn't like much metal, years ago. Deep purple was the exception, and just odd tracks here and there of other bands.
Still like Deep Purple now.

[cronus]

You can always tell when a music genre has had its day. Once the xians start digging it big time, then it is game over.

I used to like metal twenty five years ago but I like acid jazz these days...times change.

Oh right. Times have moved on 25 years. It's not affected by the fact that you are 25 years older, by any chance?

I didn't like much metal, years ago. Deep purple was the exception, and just odd tracks here and there of other bands.
Still like Deep Purple now.

I am the same age. It is the world that is twenty five years older.