http://leconte.com/barnabas/
(click on CMR link under the "Writings" section)
I found several comments quite thought provoking:
Since Christian musicians have always copied the trends and styles initiated by their secular counterparts, "Christian metal" was unavoidable. It's the same way today with Christian rap, or whatever else Christian players are doing these days. The Body of Christ has never been very good when it comes to original thinking, but she is a master at taking what the world is doing and making it her own. If you want to know what Christian music will be doing tomorrow, all you need to do is see what the secular guys are doing today. Of course, it is true that when pagan artists convert to Christianity they may continue to maintain their particular style, but based on what I've observed over the years, the copycat phenomenon is the primary force behind Christian rock music. It's always been that way. If you don't believe it, grab your airsickness bag and tune into TBN some Saturday night. You'll see what I'm talking about. If big-hair heavy metal ever cycles around again in the world, you can bet that some shiny, new, big-haired Christians will be following close behind.
Looking back on those days now, it's clear to me how weird and wonderful it was to be mildly hated by a faction of the Church. It's very satisfying to the ego to be attacked like that -- especially for doing something as self-gratifying as playing rock music. It tends to lend an affirming, false sense of credibility to your religious life, making it easier to appear sincere and self-sacrificing during those times when you're being an egotistical, selfish jerk. I see this in Christian players today, and I recognize it immediately because I was guilty of it. I loved thinking of myself as a courageous young musician taking the Gospel to the streets in the face of persecution from the Body, blah blah blah. I loved that. But it�s just pure ego. It's a total head-trip. Being labeled a homosexual, or demonic, or worldly, or whatever by well-meaning bozos who don't know what the heck they're talking about is not persecution. This is not persecution. It's just sticks and stones stuff; and it's no big deal. Persecution means being arrested and jailed, or tortured and killed, because of what you believe. I have no idea how it feels to be persecuted in such a way, and the great majority of American Christianity doesn't either.
While the interview is almost 7 years old, his interpretation appears fairly timeless.It depends on the band, I figure. At the very least, Christian metal is nothing more than bait used by the Church to draw young people into Herself. There are a lot of crappy Christian bands out there who have done pretty well for themselves by adopting a sound and style that is appreciated by young music fans. The music stinks and the lyrics are shouted gibberish, but the style is familiar and attractive, since it was borrowed from the world in the first place. A Christian might share a CD with a pagan friend as a prelude to witnessing, or better yet, invite that friend to a concert where some hot-shot youth minister closes the show with a fiery altar call. The band is the bait, and nothing more.
Then there are the bands that are actually trying to communicate something with their music. I clearly remember when I was a young Christian, listening to records and tapes over and over again, often late into the night with my headphones. Of course I loved the music, and it was good music. But it was the lyrics that made the difference.
Bait is ok, if that's the best you can do. I'd rather be a communicator.