New Post Soon

I am so sorry for the time lapse between posts. I will have a new review soon.

THE FIRST REVIEW!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOOOO

Hey all, I am very excited. First I have heard from My friend at WECU here in Greenville North Carolina, and I want you all to know that The reason why he didn't get back to me was because WECU was having some changes done to their web site causing all of their e-mails to vanish into cyber space, so upon speaking with my main man Moses we are still on for some sort of program. The details still need to be ironed out but God is good!

OK as for the review. There will be 13 categories total. Six for music content and 7 for the lyrics. I have some comments from my Brother-in-law Scott Wills who graduated from Philadelphia Bible University with a degree in Youth Ministries, and he is now working on his Master of Divinity. He is my best friend and I trust his opinion on all spiritual matters. He is a spiritual Ninja! (Inside joke between him and I. Love you Scott!) 

 Here the catagories.

1. Vocals
2. Guitars
3. Drums
4. Overall production quality
5. Does the song make you just want to "Headbang". (Mom's that is a good thing)
6. Overall.

Let me explain #6. Overall isn't 1-5 averaged out. It has nothing to do with the quality musianship or the producer. Overal answers the question "Is it a hit?" 
Remember, I HAVE NO MUSICAL ABILITY WHAT SO EVER! But I know that Carlos Santana is a better guitar player than Marco from P.O.D.
It's a blog people I don't work for Rolling Stone.

OK the lyrics catagores and the one most mom's and Pastors care about. Just so you guys know I found the lyrics for my 4 pastor friends at www.jesusfreakhideout.com. I encourage everyone to read them for yourself.

1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? (High number is good)
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? (High number is good)
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? (High number is good)
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? (Low number is good)
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? (Low number is good)
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? (High number is good)
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? (High number is good

 

OK Here we go.

 

Brian Head Welch - Adonai

 

I love this song! I love the CD! I love the testimony! This is Heads first release after his miraculous conversion to Christ and his leaving Korn. The song is my favorite from the album and a must have for any christian who is into any kind of Heavy Metal.

 

Music

1, 3.5

2. 5

3. 3.5

4. 3.75

5. 3

6. 4.25

 

(Scott)
I don’t mean to sound hyper-critical, but I was a little confused by the scattered and competing themes of this song. It starts out aggressively engaged in the world -

I will attack
I came to fight...
I will raise a generation up to be my soldiers
(presumably to be Christ’s hands and feet, unless I’m misinterpreting)

Then, he suddenly shifts gears to -

Leave me alone
I’m not from here
My home’s in Heaven
Leave me alone

I imagine he’s going for a Romans 12:1-type of theme here - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” But it seems a little bit separatist, especially considering the ‘generation of soldiers’ he is suggesting.

I’m also a little uneasy about the line “Life is just a test from Adonai”. Again, it seems a little bit left-field and I’m not sure I would agree with it theologically without some context to clarify what he means. But maybe I’m just going a little theology-nerd on his art.

Overall - I don’t hate the song, but I don’t love it. I have a soft spot for the name ‘Adonai’ (not sure why), so I like his use of it. But overall, as I said, I found it a little vague, confused and conflicted.


1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Song is not overtly Christian, but I think you can pick it up - particularly if you are familiar with the name ‘Adonai’
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? I think it has elements that can - (Lift all your worries up to Adonai, You will all stop hurting come to Adonai)
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Unclear - I think I get the heart of things, but it is a little confusing.
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? No - even though it seemed to have conflicting points, they were both aggressive!
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? They could, but I could also see themes that would appeal, too.
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? Not particularly, but I don’t know that it was intended to be overtly worshipful.
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? I would, but would probably try to use it as a springboard to discuss the themes.

 

Lyrics

1.4

2. 3.75

3. 4

4. 3.5

5. 3

6. 2.5

7. 3

 

A Plea for Purging - Heart of a Child

 

Right off the bat I want everyone to know that I am not a fan of  this kind of hard core / death metal vocals, but the music in this song  is great. I wish that they were singing instead of this screaming growling thing they do. I know it's a popular way to sing now but it's just not my thing.

 

Music

1. 2.5

2. 3.5

3. 3.75

4. 3.75

5. 5

6. 3

 

(Scott)

 

This song had an interesting theme - Matthew 18:3 -...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

I don’t have much to say about this one - again, don’t not like it, but it didn’t really toot my horn either I like the idea of being ok not fitting the world’s understanding of success.


1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Based upon the theme and the ‘hallelujah’s at the end, yes I would.
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? Probably not - seems to be intended for believers.
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Yes, I think he communicated it clearly.
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? It’s sort of a ‘he who has ears let him hear’ kind of a song, but not lukewarm.
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? I don’t think so.
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? No, but I think it was intended more as a song to speak into the Christian experience than to be ‘worshipful’.
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? Sure! Why not!

1. 1.75

2. 1.75

3. 1.75

4. 0.50

5. 1

6. 1.25

7. 2

 

 My Epic - Lower Still

 

This song was not what I expected after listening to all the other songs on the FACEDOWN RECORDS sampler that I downloaded. All the other bands were the screaming growling vocal types. My Epic is way more singing than I expected.

 

I have to say that this song speaks for it's self. Everything about it rocks. The singer  Aaron Stone sounds like he is begging people to see what Jesus did for us on the cross. the guitars and drums are sharp. I can't say enough about it. Here is a link to youtube wherer someone mixed the song to scenes of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. It is very moving. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YzADEqp_ao

 

Music

1. 4

2. 4

3. 3.5

4. 3

5. 3

6. 4

 

(Scott)

 

Lower Still - My Epic

Now this song I was digging!! It is sort of an artful narrative of Christ from birth to death, contrasting Christ’s divinity and humility. My only objection is admittedly petty - he mentions ‘swine’ being around at Christ’s birth, but pigs were considered unclean to Jews so they probably wouldn’t have been around. Other than that I found this to be a very beautiful poetic telling of Chris’s story, his humility, his enduring of torture and death, and his ultimate victory.

1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Yes!
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? Yes!
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Yes!
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? No!
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? No!
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? Extremely!
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? Abso-tootaly-ootly!!

1. 4.5

2. 4

3. 4.75

4. 5

5. 4.75

6. 4.75

7. 4.75

 

Please remember I am not a "Music expert" I am just a fan. I am trying to help parents and new Christians find good Hard Christian Music.

 

Please comment people I want to know what you think.

Dominic

 

 

 

Update

OK, for those who read this on a regular basis (if there is anyone who reads this on a regular basis) I have some news. The owner of the Radio station has not contacted me in almost 3 weeks, and hasn't responded to any e-mails that I have sent him, so.... It doesn't look like the radio show is going to happen right now. There is also an issue with the number of songs that I am going to be reviewing on a weekly basis. I have gotten some feedback from some of the pastors and some of the pastors haven't had time to send me back any yet. In light of this I am only going to review 2 to 3 songs a week instead of 6 to 8. Hopefully this reduction will make it easier to get back to me in time to update the blog every Tuesday. All of these factors led to there being no reviews tonight. I do want to talk about something tonight though. I want to talk about something that has bothered me about SOME  Christian metal bands, and I think that tonight is a good time to talk about it.

In my Sunday school class at Grace Church in Greenville, NC (Here's the link if you want to know more about the church I attend) www.gracechurchnc.com, we have been talking about basically the great commission, and our part of the great commission in today's world. For those not familiar with the great commission here is it. Jesus has already been crucified, and has been resurrected, and has been walking around for 40 days appearing to the disciple's and other people. On the day he asscended back into heaven this is what he said to his disciples, I'm taking the account from Matthew.

Matthew 28:16-20

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

OK... I am passionate about music. I have little to no musical abilities, but still love it. I am also passionate about being saved, and talking to people about Jesus, especially to people who like the same kind of music. I have a problem, A BIG PROBLEM, with bands that say that they are a group of Christians but they are not a Christian band. 

How does this help fulfill  the Great commission? 

IT DOESN'T 

I want to get young Christians attention here, especially  if you are in a band, starting a band or thinking of starting a band, we as Christians  are called to be "Ambassadors" for Christ.

Look here in 2 Corinthians, I chose the NASB version because it connects so well with the mood of what the Apostle Paul is trying to say, in my opinion .

2 Corinthians 5:20

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

WOW, God making an appeal THROUGH us. Excuse the 80's movie reference but that's heavy. After reading that, how then, if we are a group of Christians in just plain old secular band how can God make an appeal THROUGH us? 

I don't think he can or will.

This is my conviction. This is how the Holy Spirit is convicting my heart.

Reviews

Hey people, as long as everything goes smoothly the first 7 songs will be reviewed next week. I am going to tie up some loose ends and I will know by next Tuesday if WECU is going to play the music that is going to be reviewed. Pray that they will still be able to do the show.

TTFN
Dominic 

Music Reviews Format

Hey everyone, I want to explain how all the music that I am going to be reviewing will be rated. I am going to have a 5 star rating system 0 stars being bad and 5 stars being awesome! The categories are going to be most of the status quot, vocals guitars, drums, production, but the most important is the lyrics. Now the lyrics are going to be analyzed by some Pastors that I know. So far I think that I am going to stick with these 7 questions all with the same 5 star rating.

1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a christian band?

2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ?

3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is?

4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm?

5. Would these lyrics confuse a new christian?

6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"?

7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal?

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post the bands actual lyrics on my blog but when I start reviewing music, a local radio station here in Greenville, NC will be playing the songs you will see here the same day and time I update the blog.

Next Tuesday night around 8:30 I will be posting again.

D

Hello

Hi world wide web travelers. I am very excited about this blog for many reasons, but mostly because I know that God is leading me to do this.

In the next few weeks I will have about 10 to 15 songs per week from christian or self proclaimed christian heavy metal artists that I am going to review. From music quality to lyrical content in relation to biblical principals... OK maybe not that deep but yes I will be matching up the lyrics of each song using the Bible as a spiritual yard stick.

Now you may be asking what credentials do you have to do this well... none, but I have surrounded my self with music since 1989 and in college had my own show on the college radio station so on the music front I know good music. On the theological front I will be utilising the help from a handful of pastors that I have grown to know to love and trust their opinion on spiritual content.

If you are a new christian and see this blog here are 3 safe artists until the reviews start.
P.O.D (Payable on Death. They are the biggest Christian metal band ever. If you are a metal fan you already know P.O.D
Demon Hunter. In my opinion the best hardcore metal band making music right now. www.demonhunter.net
and Brian "Head" Welsh. Yes the former guitarist from Korn who is now saved and making great music for the Lord. www.brianheadwelsh.net

Thanks for reading. More to come soon.