A secular engineer's review of Christian thrash/screamo

[brent]

Didn't I say that the message must match the music?

"The music itself is interesting... Good musicians, but sounds like the opposite of Christian music to be honest. The lyrics seem to have a negative effect when paired with metal. I do like the vocalist's screams, though."

Even the world knows it's own music should not sound like Christian music and the Christians apart from the world.

[CatNamedManny]

Didn't I say that the message must match the music?

"The music itself is interesting... Good musicians, but sounds like the opposite of Christian music to be honest. The lyrics seem to have a negative effect when paired with metal. I do like the vocalist's screams, though."

Even the world knows it's own music should not sound like Christian music and the Christians apart from the world.

This is satire, right? It's hard for me to believe you of all people are parroting the typical anti-Christian rock/metal crowd.

[brent]

No satire. This was a professional engineer's opinion after hearing a specific big name Christian screamo band. I am all for rock and metal, but screamo cookie monster stuff with certain dark chords and repetition....no, I am out on that.

[Jonathan]

I hope this producer doesn't bemoan the fact that Christian music doesn't sound as good as secular, or is behind the times.

[CatNamedManny]

What band, out of curiosity?

And I have to disagree. There is room in Christianity for an entire range of emotion, including anger and defiance. The lyrics are the key. I frankly don't see any difference between criticizing a Christian screamo band for not "sounding" Christian enough and criticizing Petra for sounding too much like Def Leppard and Journey (or Foreigner and Styx, if you prefer the classic version).

After all, at what point is the music not Christian enough? If we can agree on Skillet, can we agree on RED, which includes some screaming but mostly smooth vocals? If we can agree on RED, can we agree on Demon Hunter, which usually includes smooth choruses with scream-style verses? If we can agree on Demon Hunter, can we agree on ZAO?

These arguments are usually made against music that the person making the argument finds unpalatable; I can't think of a rational reason otherwise. Can there be Christian rap? Christian techno? Christian industrial? All these genres are highly annoying/offensive to people, but if we can have them, then why not Christian thrash, a la Deliverance and Tourniquet, or Christian screamo, a la ZAO, or Christian post-hardcore, a la Demon Hunter and Staple?

[brent]

I agree and am on record supporting a Christian's right to express ones self and talk about non church things in non church vernacular. But this is what the world is saying. My point is that this song's lyrics were positive lyrics, that would have been better suited for a CCM pop song more or less. The engineer, a worldly guy, suggested that the content did not match the music. Actually the music itself and production standards were highly regarded, and more of the conversation was really about those things than the content.

It is not right for the world to put us in a box, or limit us to certain genres. I don't care for the genre in question. Heck, I can't even understand the song in question, it is so distorted. But, this is what floats someone's boat and people will relate to it. Not mature people, but people nonetheless.

All we are sayin is, if you have good news about God's love, it is better received with music in context. This is the same thing as ascreamin preacher. I don't want to hear a screamin preacher deliver good news. The delivery and the body language doesn't jive with the content. That's it.

[CatNamedManny]

Well, I don't disagree with much of what you said there, other than the personal taste stuff, obviously. Thanks for the clarification.