While the stigma is fading, there are still those milling around that think that heavy metal is tantamount to the “Devil’s music” or some other silly characterization.
However, time has shown us that sweets riffs, heavy breakdowns, and throat-shattering vocals aren’t incompatible with spreading the the good word of the gospel.
In this examination of some of the best albums coming from Christian heavy metal bands, we’re not going to be looking bands like Stryper or P.O.D.— spoiler alert. This list is going to be taking a look at some of the Christian heavy metal bands that have crafted some amazing albums over the past 20 years.
And each one of these entries are an absolute must in terms of having a physical copy for either the faith-based metal enthusiast or even those metal enthusiasts that just appreciate the music.
Demon Hunter “The Triptych” (2005)
This album from the Seattle, Washington band that managed to snag some radio play and resonate well with metal purists is a fantastic example of what a good top-to-bottom metal album plays like.
Demon Hunter really came into the limelight right around the era of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, and have the musical chops to back up their inserted Christian themes into their music. Songs like “Not I”, “Undying”, and “Fire to my Soul” are some strong standouts in this album — but overall, this is a must-have in physical form.
The Devil Wears Prada “8:18” (2013)
This metalcore outfit from Dayton, Ohio knocked it out of the park with their fifth full-length release “8:18”, which is an allusion to the book of Romans, chapter 8 verse 18 that reads:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
And while the album references the trials and tribulations associated with life, there is nothing that induces suffering when slapping riffs on this album.
With tracks like “Gloom”, “First Sight”, and “Sailor’s Prayer”, it’s no wonder that this album topped the Christian charts at the time of its release and also snagged the number 6 spot on the Billboard 200 rock charts.
The Agony Scene “The Agony Scene” (2003)
This Tulsa, Oklahoma band is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to sheer brutal metal — while being a Christian band, their eerie musical composition and shrieking vocalist have the propensity to inspire nightmares.
And while the group has an amazing discography worthy of owning copies of, their first full-length takes the cake.
Needless to say, every song on the album hits hard, but the standouts from the pack would have to be the Rolling Stones cover of “Paint it Black” and the jam likely to make you punch a hole in the drywall “We Bury Our Dead at Dawn”.
The Showdown “Back Breaker” (2008)
The Showdown is a band that has a bit of a mixed catalog of music, but they really came into their sound with their 2008 effort “Back Breaker”.
This is an album that reeks of Pantera influence with some of the vocal styles at times, but not in a bad way nor a completely plagiaristic fashion — as vocalist David Bunton manages to craft a sound familiar but still unique.
But the powerhouse that this album brings forth rocks from front-to-back, with songs like “Hephaestus — The Hammer Of The Gods” creating an unreal adrenaline rush and “Odysseus — A Song Of Hope” having a chorus seemingly too catchy to be accompanied by such brutal riffage.
Becoming the Archetype “Terminate Damnation” (2005)
For a debut album, this effort from this Atlanta, Georgia band is like nothing else. From the onset of the album to the end, the listener is taken on a musical journey reminiscent of the rhapsodies from a Pink Floyd album — changes in tone, tempo, and instrumentation: and it works beautifully.
Considering the Christian theme of the album, it’s of little surprise to see that Ryan Clark from Demon Hunter lent some of his vocals for the +11 minute song “Elegy: Deception/Lament/Triumph”.
And while “Elegy” is a musical masterpiece, songs like “March of the Dead”, “Into Oblivion”, and “The Epigone” are brutal and haunting in a manner that one cannot stop listening.
This is an album that one should definitely own physically.
Before Their Eyes “Dawn of My Death” (2008)
In the mid-to-late 2000s, one genre of metal that was picking up was the Myspace-core/post-hardcore scene, and Before Their Eyes was part of that magic.
The name of the Findlay, Ohio band derives their name from the book of Romans, chapter 3 verse 18 which reads:
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
This is an album that manages to seamlessly connect sweeping choruses with some heavy riffs and vocals; and songs like “The Beast Within”, “The Dawn of My Death”, and “The Me I Used to Be” accomplish this feat alongside the rest of the album.
Haste the Day “Pressure the Hinges” (2007)
This album by Haste the Day was a gamble, as they just came off of the success of being featured on the 2006 release of MTV2’s Headbangers Ball: The Revenge CD with their single “When Everything Falls” and changed the vocalist for this 2007 effort.
However, outside of the strength of the musical composition of this album, the newly attained vocalist managed to bring the album to the next level — introducing a more brutal vocal style that the previous singer just couldn’t bring to the table in past albums.
There are just too many great things to say about this album, and whatever magic was happening in the studio when this was recorded was (sadly) never recaptured in later releases from the band. But songs like “The Minor Prophets”, “Needles”, and “Pressure the Hinges” really stick out among the pack of great songs on this album.
Corpus Christi “Darker Shades of White” (2009)
This Cincinnati, Ohio band whose name comes from the literal Latin translation of “body of Christ” is one that has managed to fall under the radar in terms of both the metal and Christian music scene — despite having been signed in the late-2000s by punk/emo/metal powerhouse Victory Records.
And the Victory Records alumni-influence is heavy on this debut album by Corpus Christi, as it seethes with sounds reminiscent of early-Atreyu. Songs like “Parade of Scars”, “Until the Day”, and “Baptized in Fire” are true standouts amid the tracks — but this is a must have for folks who are dying to get their hands on some true Victory Records-era metal.
Beneath the Sky “In Loving Memory” (2010)
There must be something in the air in Cincinnati, Ohio when it comes to Christian metal, as just like Corpus Christi, Beneath the Sky also comes from the same neck of the woods.
Now Beneath the Sky blew up (as much as one could in the Christian metal scene) back in 2007 with their amazing song “7861” — which was sadly accompanied by a lackluster album. However, their 2010 album “In Loving Memory” is a far cry from their 2007 effort “What Demons do to Saints”.
Songs like “Tears, Bones, and Desire” make for mosh pit magic, “To Die For” is another banger with a fantastic chorus, but “A Tale from the Northside” is a chuggy beast of it’s own that is hard to resist once it starts.
Come The Dawn “Light of the World” (2014)
This now-defunct band that had later changed their name to American Sin in 2016 before disbanding managed to bring forth an amazing debut album and also happened to come from none other than Cincinnati, Ohio.
Seriously, there must be something in the water in Cincinnati.
But to cap off this list of 10 great Christian metal albums, “Light of the World” from Come the Dawn cannot be left out — and with good reason.
Songs like “It’s Not Me, It’s You” showcase the struggles of reconciling with knowing when it’s time to end a toxic relationship, and the epic song “Worlds Collide” provide an apocalyptic narrative akin to something out of the book of Revelations while having a sweeping chorus and headbanging riff to jam along to.
Of course, there are numerous heavy metal bands with Christian themes — these are just a few. Perhaps a solid runner-up list will be made in the future.
