as i lay dying's "the darkest nights" video
There was a time when Christian metal or punk was an oxymoron, a religious ideology seemingly incongruent with the concept of loud, aggressive, anti-establishment music. But as underground music became more mainstream in the 80’s, and as Christian kids decided that they too wanted music with fast, distorted guitars and sing along choruses, Christian hardcore emerged with a scene all to itself. In the 1990’s, as the scene spread and Christian rock labels emerged, Christians began to claim their own scenes in every genre from metalcore to ska and mathcore.
The fact that Christians claimed their own scene is not that surprising, but the peculiar thing is that now Christian hardcore and metalcore bands are gaining large secular followings, signing to secular labels, and touring with secular bands. Zao, signed to Ferret Records, is now recognized throughout metalcore as one of the most talented and innovative founders of the genre. Numerous Christian acts have landed gigs on popular secular tours with Underoath headlining at last year’s Warped Tour, and thrash metal veterans As I Dying, traveling along with Ozzfest.
2005 Cornerstone FestivalThe Christian influence in the secular punk and metal market is clearly present. But how did it get this way, and how do Christian and secular bands alike feel about this merging? Modern Christian metalcore has its roots in the underground Christian punk scene that emerged in the mid 1980s. Self identifying as Christian and punk began to become acceptable as non-traditional methods of spreading the Good Word grew in the wake of the church’s declining influences among youth. Especially influential in the rise of punk, and Christian youth subcultures in general, was Jesus People USA (JPUSA), a Christian intentional group out of Chicago, Illinois. The group, founded by the Jesus Movement, a Christian sect of the hippie movement, hosts youth ministry events including concerts such as the Cornerstone Festival, the largest annual Christian alternative music concert in the country.
Early Christian punk shows were a highly spiritual experience, with bands and fans beginning and ending each show, hands entwined, praying to Jesus. Singers belted psalm-like lyrics praising Jesus Christ delivered in the characteristic caustic punk rock scowl, sweat soaked fans fervently slam danced, and kids in the crowd sported Mohawks and Chuck Taylors.
christian "anarchy" patchIn fact, the wild fashion and nonconformity were largely what drew Christian punkers to the scene. In an increasingly secular world, many saw openly proclaiming Christianity as a rebellious act; but the object of the punkers' rebellion was not just mainstream society, as they also sought to challenge the traditional church’s means of worshipping. The Bible, the sacred text of Christianity, has a line in the book of Romans that states, "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed…” In challenging tradition the punks reaffirmed the anti-establishment values of the early punk scene, but reinvented what it meant to be non-conformist. An example of this is found in their take on punk fashion. A popular patch of the early secular scene was the anarchy “A” patch. The Christian reincarnation features the A turned into a Greek alpha, surrounded by an omega, a popular symbol in the Christian world of Christ as the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.
In 1992, punk transformed from a popular underground music into full blown pop with the release of Green Day’s Dookie. A new breed of pop-punk was born, and in the next decade bands sporting mohawks and traditional punk garb featured polished power chords and entire albums with lyrics about their girlfriends. Bands like Sum 41 and Good Charlotte found a fan base with the same 13 year old girls that listened to Britney Spears and Puff Daddy, Hot Topics littered the suburban mall landscape, and Travis Barker of Blink 182 fame and his wife had their own reality show on MTV. A thriving underground full of offensive, aggressive and sometimes political music still existed, but bands that gained mass appeal featured a formula of poppier sounds and less explicit lyrics.
As punk ventured into the world of stadium concerts and the Vans Warped Tour, Christian punk bands sought to grab a piece of the corporate pie. Bands like MxPx and Relient K, who started their career with Tooth and Nails Records, the punk subsidiary of Christian megalabel Solid State Records, have moved onto major labels(Relient K signed with Capitol in 2004), toured with the likes of the Offspring and A New Found Glory, and have been featured on MTV’s popular call in show TRL.
relient kIf the early Christian punk scene represented a reaffirmation but reinterpetation of the punk ethos, then the current pop punk scene is no different. Bands that have found mainstream success have replaced Jesus based lyrics for more generic songs about growing up, such as Relient K’s “College Kids” and “My Girl’s Ex-Boyfriend.” When religion does show up in their lyrics, it appears in a vague manor with no direct reference to Jesus. MxPx has gone so far as to make the distinction that they are a band of Christians, not a Christian band.
Whenever a genre is around long enough different sounds will emerge and fans and critics will pin bands into new genres and subgenre titles. Punk has splintered into everything from emo and pop punk to mathcore and post-hardcore, and Christians have claimed their own scene on all fronts. One such Christian band that has gained mainstream success in the metalcore world is Haste the Day, touring with the likes of Every Time I Die. While Haste the Day openly embraces their Christian roots, the Christian influence on the bands’ albums comes in an introspective rather than preachy form. Jesus does not make an appearance on their latest album and even when religion did explicitly appear on their first album it came in the form of generic references to finding strength in belief, such as “Song of Faith.”
mike church from still remainsThe bands themselves do not see this crossing over as a selling out or a pandering to the secular market. In fact, some bands see having a secular following as an opportunity for self growth and spreading the Christian message. In a 2005 interview, Haste the Day lead singer Devin Chaulk stated “We're actually getting out there, and that's something I would encourage any Christian who is reading this magazine or whatever to do: get out there…The thing is, the whole point of the band for us is to be able to share how God has changed our lives. (Skratch magazine)”
While some Christian bands see their growth in the secular world as an opportunity for spreading the Good News, others don’t see it as ministry at all. Still Remains, a Christian metalcore band signed to the secular Roadrunner Records, tries to separate their Christian identity from their bands’ identity. “From a ministry standpoint, we aren't a ministry…We do the same things at secular shows as what we do at Christian festival(s). We get up there, have a good time and rock out.” While they do not seek to spread Christianity, they do challenge Christian bands to “open their hearts to new scenes and new crowds.”
If anything is clear in the metalcore world, and popular music in general, it’s that today’s Christian bands/artists are here to stay, whether the secular or Christian camps like it or not.
