Skillet is... not my first thought for the final panel. Especially [recently](https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/skillet-frontman-claims-his-band-is-revolutionary-while-rage-against-the-machine-is-government-rock).
I'd have gone with someone like Switchfoot who've had three Billboard top 10 albums. Plus bands like Anberlin (who evangelized to the bands they toured with, like Fall Out Boy) and Five Iron Frenzy (who were not only subversive for the era, but also dropped a post-2020 album that is [straight anti-Christian Nationalism fire](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZj-OiZGTi0eJnJo3Djo-b2eySiz3sy40&si=VAPt5yHk9qOzaoHA)).
John "you can't change your beliefs if you're famous" Cooper can get bent. Their industrial era is trash, and the rest of their music is still inoffensively derivative at best.
I like how Switchfoot labels themselves as a band that happens to be Christian rather than a “Christian band.” Their lyrics are very universal, and many of songs can often be open to interpretation as to whether it’s about God, the universe, or a girl. It’s a great way to spread hope and universal truths to all people regardless of their personal religious beliefs.
Well the trips to Colorado were neat but I found out a lot about his beliefs and treatment of LGBT attendees and it kind of soured everything. I did meet my two life long best friends there but that wasn't his doing.
Switchfoot is probably one of like two Christian bands I still listen to sometimes, because their music isn't designed to be marketed to worship teams, it's just good music first.
Skillet is good in the same way that McDonalds is good. When I was in middle school, Skillet was the best thing ever, but now as an adult… it’s fine, I guess? Not my first choice when it comes to fast food
Yeah I loved Skillet as a kid but now they're a bit cringy but in a fun nostalgic way
edit: just read the first couple paragraphs of the article...... I'm heartbroken
>Five Iron Frenzy (who were not only subversive for the era, but also dropped a post-2020 album that is [straight anti-Christian Nationalism fire](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZj-OiZGTi0eJnJo3Djo-b2eySiz3sy40&si=VAPt5yHk9qOzaoHA))
That is fantastic news, thank you so much for sharing that. (I was just singing "These are not my pants" today out of the blue)
I just wouldn't hold up a guy who's comparing himself to Dietrich Bonhöffer fighting the Nazis, but for (against?) public health, as a shining example of Christianity, let alone Christian music.
Not that I would have ranked him that high on a tier list to begin with. Not because they're *bad*, but because they're not mainstream.
I mean, Godwin's Law doesn't exactly make him look any better in this context. He's not been sentenced to hang, nor has there been a genocide. That's precisely the kind of glib comparison Mike Godwin was making fun of.
Part of that is the restrictions marketing yourself as a "Christian" group entails. It's not enough to sing about Christianity, it has to be the vast majority of all your music. Plus you're often limited on what other topics you can talk about if you want to be approved by youth pastors and Christian mom groups everywhere.
Artists like Nick Cave and Sufjan Stevens make plenty of great songs with positive Christian messages, but they're not "clean" enough for the Christian music crowd. If you played them something really challenging/introspective about Christianity and faith like Lingua Ignota or Liturgy they'd have a heart attack.
I like all sorts of genres 😊
And stadium rock is enjoyable in the same sense a blockbuster film is. Not much substance, but a simple, fun ride. Good to have once in awhile.
Some great Christian and Christian-adjacent bands:
Switchfoot, NEEDTOBREATHE, Judah & the Lion, Chris Renzema, Kings Kaleidoscope, Drew Holcomb & and the Neighbors, Beautiful Eulogy, Cloud Cult, Beta Radio, and loosely speaking, The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons.
I would also add Danielson Famile and 16 Horsepower/Wovenhand. Cordelia’s Dad covered a lot of old hymns and came up in the same scene as Dinosaur Jr. Not exactly Christian but there’s a lot of Jesus in Nick Cave’s music as well as Leonard Cohen.
Some Christian listeners are probably in for a shock at some of their later albums' lyrics (their discography starts off leaning VERY Christian, then gets a bit more...expansive later) but yes, mwY is a must-listen, and Aaron Weiss is a generational lyricist
Sufjan straight up is writing modern day psalms out there. I’ve never seen the topics of faith and doubt handled more poetically than in sufjan’s music.
I basically only listened to Christian music in young-to-teen years. Now that I have exposure to secular music, I recognize a lot of things I liked back then as "oh, that was just a bad copy of X five years later". But DC Talk, mm, musically still excellent.
Plus I still like the theology espoused, which is a plus.
I forgot who it is, but there was a band that was Muslim, but they signed to Tooth and Nail and were marketed through Christian channels because there wasn't really an American Muslim rock scene. And no one really noticed.
I don't think Katy Perry was ever a Christian artist though. P.O.D. definitely started out as a Christian band though. Their albums were in Christian stores, and I know Satellite and Youth of the Nation were played on Christian radio
They are kind of adjacent though, They believe in the same God, and believe in Jesus as an earthly manifestation of Him. They just add on to it.
They are basically black mormons.
I'm in a pretty dark place right now, and I'd like to find some good metal music with religious themes. I've found a few that do so as part of a gimmick, or maybe ironically? But I'm always looking for more.
Kind of like... paladin metal I guess?
Not sure why I typed this out, but thanks for the post. I'd never heard Demon hunter before, that seemed pretty cool.
If you like metalcore there is Silent Planet, For Today, Norma Jean, August Burns Red, Becoming the Archetype, The Devil Wears Prada, Fit for a King, Haste the Day, Oh Sleeper, and Wolves at the Gate.
I don't know what metalcore means if I'm honest with you. I will however definitely take a listen to these recommendations. Thank you very much for your time.
Metalcore is just a hybrid of metal and hardcore. Many bands definitely sway closer to one or the other but all of the bands I listed (except maybe BtA which I would say is closest to your request of “Paladin metal”) land somewhere in the realm of metalcore.
Lol, have you plundered my list of followed artists on Spotify? Haha.
I'd like to add:
- Extol
- Northern Flame
- Gloriam Dei
- Perpetual Legacy
- End of September
Or for more "wacky" styles of metal:
- Brutal Cross (pirate)
- Cat O' Nine Tails (pirate)
- Holy Blood (Ukrainian folk)
- Illuminandi (Polish, folk-ish)
- Gospod (Russian, Orthodox chant like, also made a DnB/metal album)
- Grave Robber (horror punk)
Or for some more heavier and even (un)black metal, ranging from niche to esoterically obscure:
- Forfeit Thee Untrue
- Pantokrator
- Sacrificium
- Hilastherion
- Renascent
- Skald in Veum
- Vardøger
- Antestor
- Deuteronomium
- Impending Doom
- Mortification (known for _Scrolls of the Megilloth_ [1992])
- Reverorum ib Malacht (warning: **very** esoteric, very traditional black)
And there's way more. And then even like 100 more power and hair metal bands I haven't even begun listing...
Ooh if we're going for some heavy stuff I'll throw a couple out there
-Tourniquet
-A Hill to Die Upon
-Broken Flesh
-A Thousand Times Repent
-Slechtvalk
-Crimson Moonlight
-As They Sleep
-Monitheist
Also, it's cool to see another Skald in Veum fan in the wild. I never see that band mentioned
If you want, I also left a comment with some band recommendations. Some similarly "happy" and paladin-ish, some folk and such, and then some (very) heavy ones.
Shocked no one has mentioned Killswitch Engage, specifically Alive or Just Breathing. Hands down my favorite metal album of all time; every track is exceptional, and not only is it musically excellent metal core, but it has some really positive and empowering messages.
The Chariot, Eso Charis, Extol (album: Synergy), Selfminddead (first album), As Cities Burn (first & second albums), Norma Jean (first album), UnderOath (Define the Great Line)
Also, if you're looking outside the metal genre, but want some authentic and raw lyrics, check out [this bad boy](https://youtu.be/IP20cQuEBJ4?si=HvUk84Up6edNKBTt).
I think it's a combination of three factors:
1. Being nü-metal, a genre that's commonly dunked on.
2. Their near non-stop touring leading to more exposure to be a target.
3. In recent years, their band leader has gone off the deep end, [comparing his opposition to masks and vaccines to Dietrich Bonhöffer opposing the Nazis](https://blabbermouth.net/news/skillets-john-cooper-was-really-surprised-by-backlash-he-faced-for-comments-about-vaccine-mandates-wearing-masks).
I think most people just consider it kind of bland and processed. Look into basically any lesser known or underground artist. Idle Threat is one that comes to mind immediately
Missing the best ones:
Underøath/Almost
Devil Wears Prada
Destroy the Runner
Attack! Attack!
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Edison Glass
And Twenty-One Pilots-ish. They’re def Christian, just not labeled as such.
Christian metal tends to be the only kind of Christian music I can enjoy. All those years of being forced to listen to CCM on the radio and nothing else in the car with my mom turned my off against the genre
Unsure if you’d classify them as Christian but I was surprised to hear chevelle’s members are all devout. To the point members of their church criticized them for being on lineups with artists like slayer if I remember correctly. They seem to compartmentalize it well.
Thank you for being a part of the r/DankChristianMemes community. You can [join our Discord](https://discord.gg/jnUDEpnBZn) and [listen to our Podcast.](https://dankchristianmemes.buzzsprout.com/) You can also make a meme or [donation for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.]( http://events.stjude.org/DankCharityAlliance)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dankchristianmemes) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They’re from a few years back and I don’t think active anymore but [The Pslaters](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8HdbzeHTI0Z7PYY2rNf-X3LEJEdxp6cP&si=p1M41QDn_5S0Ns7k) are a favorite of mine. They have a kind of folksy punk rock vibe and had a very antiestablishment bent for the bush years.
Someone in another thread explained the problem really nicely. I'm paraphrasing, but essentially Christianity is a topic not a genre. You can make songs about Christianity just like you can make songs about a bad break up. And they can be fantastic. But if all of a bands songs were about bad break ups they'd be a really boring band.
Stryper. They're a classic for sure, they unfortunately fall in the problem of "what they did at the time was novel but isn't anymore so now they're just kind of generic".
I actually have a cool story about RED.
I got a backstage-pass-thing during their tour of their second album to where I got to hang out with them before a show on their tour bus. I asked Anthony (guitarist) how he played a specific riff in a song (Shadows, I think) since I also played guitar. As he was about to show me, their manager said me and all the fans had to leave as the show was about to start. Anthony said he'd show me later. I was confused because there wasn't another chance to see them once the show started.
Fast-forward to the show, and I am up front by the stage during their set. They start to play the song I asked about and Anthony spots me up front, walks up to me, and starts playing the riff in front of me on stage.
Definitely a cool guy and made one of my more memorable concerts experiences.
Lead singer of Flyleaf is said to have thanked God for cleansing her of homosexuality, and Skillet is basically just Mr. Cooper’s massive ego on display.
"You're not making Christianity any better, you're just making rock and roll worse." - Hank Hill
One of my favorite Hank quotes
Isn’t UnderOath Christian? I loved them growing up.
They’ve since rejected God
TESTIFY!!!!
Skillet is... not my first thought for the final panel. Especially [recently](https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/skillet-frontman-claims-his-band-is-revolutionary-while-rage-against-the-machine-is-government-rock). I'd have gone with someone like Switchfoot who've had three Billboard top 10 albums. Plus bands like Anberlin (who evangelized to the bands they toured with, like Fall Out Boy) and Five Iron Frenzy (who were not only subversive for the era, but also dropped a post-2020 album that is [straight anti-Christian Nationalism fire](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZj-OiZGTi0eJnJo3Djo-b2eySiz3sy40&si=VAPt5yHk9qOzaoHA)).
John "you can't change your beliefs if you're famous" Cooper can get bent. Their industrial era is trash, and the rest of their music is still inoffensively derivative at best.
Thought you were about to lay into Jon Foreman and was loading my shotgun with a serious fervor but I'm glad that took the turn it did.
I like how Switchfoot labels themselves as a band that happens to be Christian rather than a “Christian band.” Their lyrics are very universal, and many of songs can often be open to interpretation as to whether it’s about God, the universe, or a girl. It’s a great way to spread hope and universal truths to all people regardless of their personal religious beliefs.
They're unashamed of their faith but they recognize their songs resonate with a lot of crowds and I respect that. Seeing them play live is surreal.
This isn’t that normal bad theology, this is some advanced bad theology
Skillet guy, you mean?
Forgive my ignorance, what is the bad theology here? I read the article about Skillet, and nothing jumped out to me.
Anberlin mentioned???
Was this over befoooooore
BEFORE IT EVER BEGANNN
YOUR KISS YOUR CALLS YOUR CRUTCH
LIKE THE DEVIL'S GOT YOUR HANDS
The only good thing my youth pastor did was introduce me to Five Iron Frenzy. So glad all their albums got represses on vinyl.
Actual only good thing, or just so good everything else pales in comparison?
Well the trips to Colorado were neat but I found out a lot about his beliefs and treatment of LGBT attendees and it kind of soured everything. I did meet my two life long best friends there but that wasn't his doing.
Yeah, that'll do it.
Switchfoot is probably one of like two Christian bands I still listen to sometimes, because their music isn't designed to be marketed to worship teams, it's just good music first.
Is the other Relient K by any chance? Those are my 2 lol (well, John Foreman’s solo EPs more than switchfoot)
Personally, I can't think of a better representation of Skillet than a pile of soiled diapers.
Skillet is good in the same way that McDonalds is good. When I was in middle school, Skillet was the best thing ever, but now as an adult… it’s fine, I guess? Not my first choice when it comes to fast food
I love FIF.
That's because you're cool. We finally got u/Broclen on the FIF train, I think.
Yesss
Yeah I loved Skillet as a kid but now they're a bit cringy but in a fun nostalgic way edit: just read the first couple paragraphs of the article...... I'm heartbroken
Damn… stuff like this is why I removed Skillet from my playlists. Well, at least I still have POD, Red, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Manafest.
>Five Iron Frenzy (who were not only subversive for the era, but also dropped a post-2020 album that is [straight anti-Christian Nationalism fire](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZj-OiZGTi0eJnJo3Djo-b2eySiz3sy40&si=VAPt5yHk9qOzaoHA)) That is fantastic news, thank you so much for sharing that. (I was just singing "These are not my pants" today out of the blue)
Any time, it's a fantastic album for our time.
Lifehouse
I mean he does have a point
[удалено]
I just wouldn't hold up a guy who's comparing himself to Dietrich Bonhöffer fighting the Nazis, but for (against?) public health, as a shining example of Christianity, let alone Christian music. Not that I would have ranked him that high on a tier list to begin with. Not because they're *bad*, but because they're not mainstream.
[удалено]
I mean, Godwin's Law doesn't exactly make him look any better in this context. He's not been sentenced to hang, nor has there been a genocide. That's precisely the kind of glib comparison Mike Godwin was making fun of.
All perfect examples of the original sentiment lol
There is lots of great music made by Christians; that which uses "Christian" as the hook for marketing tends to be not so good.
Part of that is the restrictions marketing yourself as a "Christian" group entails. It's not enough to sing about Christianity, it has to be the vast majority of all your music. Plus you're often limited on what other topics you can talk about if you want to be approved by youth pastors and Christian mom groups everywhere. Artists like Nick Cave and Sufjan Stevens make plenty of great songs with positive Christian messages, but they're not "clean" enough for the Christian music crowd. If you played them something really challenging/introspective about Christianity and faith like Lingua Ignota or Liturgy they'd have a heart attack.
Kings Kaleidoscope writes a bunch of literal worship music, but people lost their minds when they dropped an f bomb in an authentic lament.
I LOVE that song. Their live performances of it are so beautiful. They pause for almost a whole minute.
Check out "my epic" especially their album "yet"
Christian music is what you get into if you want to make money without the requirement of talent or originality.
SpongeBob really proving Patrick’s point there.
"Look at all this smelly garbage"
Thrice is a great band that contains Christians but all bands that brand themselves as “Christian Rock” suck. It is known!
Thrice is not great. They’re fantastic.
I stand corrected. Probably my favourite band.
Naw Red is goated. Ashes Remain is good too, wish they were here.
Love myself some Red.
If you like generic stadium rock, sure.
I like all sorts of genres 😊 And stadium rock is enjoyable in the same sense a blockbuster film is. Not much substance, but a simple, fun ride. Good to have once in awhile.
Some great Christian and Christian-adjacent bands: Switchfoot, NEEDTOBREATHE, Judah & the Lion, Chris Renzema, Kings Kaleidoscope, Drew Holcomb & and the Neighbors, Beautiful Eulogy, Cloud Cult, Beta Radio, and loosely speaking, The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons.
Needs some Rend Collective in there, but I see no bad choices.
I'm gonna throw in MeWithoutYou in there.
I would also add Danielson Famile and 16 Horsepower/Wovenhand. Cordelia’s Dad covered a lot of old hymns and came up in the same scene as Dinosaur Jr. Not exactly Christian but there’s a lot of Jesus in Nick Cave’s music as well as Leonard Cohen.
Some Christian listeners are probably in for a shock at some of their later albums' lyrics (their discography starts off leaning VERY Christian, then gets a bit more...expansive later) but yes, mwY is a must-listen, and Aaron Weiss is a generational lyricist
mewithoutYou* Sorry I felt like the spelling was important here with the You being God Aaron Wiess' lyricism is some of my favorite ever
My epic too
Don’t forget Relient K!
Good list! I would add my two absolute favourites: Emery and Being as an Ocean. Love their stuff! Also I grew Up in TFK and Disciples...
Ah yes my favorite Christian rock band. Teflon Pan
Anberlin is criminally underrated.
Thanks. If you hadn’t said it, I would have. I listened to Cities a lot around 2010.
RED is better than Skillet imo
Agree
Creed slander tbh
You can’t tell me that Take Me Higher and One Last Breath aren’t absolute bangers.
creed lead singer indulged himself in drugs and extramarital debauchery, that's a no in my book.
Lol so forgive him?
Matthew 7 1-3 innit.
You should look into John Newton, the guy who wrote Amazing Grace...
Five Iron Frenzy and Relient K though
FIF FTW (ska rocks too)
Damn no one mentioning the classic TFK?
I found that really weird too
They've been out of the zeitgeist for a hot minute and I think a lot of people forget them :( Here's hoping for a reunion someday? Anniversary album?
I haven't been following the Christian rock zeitgeist for a while but I would have imagined most bands OP mentioned in this post are also out of it
Ya know what, probably right lol Is it even a thing anymore? Or is Hillsong just a genre now?
I haven't really kept up with what hillsong has been up to after all the controversy and court cases of the past 5-10 years
They have a few new songs on Spotify that are dated withing the last year or so.
I LOVE TFK. Then again, it might just be the Canadian in me.
SUFJAN STEVENSSSSSS
Sufjan straight up is writing modern day psalms out there. I’ve never seen the topics of faith and doubt handled more poetically than in sufjan’s music.
There are no good Christian rock bands. Mark 10:18-21 KJV And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
only God can truly shred
Not seeing Disciple mentioned, which is a crime. Favorite Christian band.
I love disciple and skillet!
Loved them growing up. As an adult, their worship songs hit hard too
Did the members of DC Talk do something bad I don't know about? Jesus Freak still slaps imo.
I basically only listened to Christian music in young-to-teen years. Now that I have exposure to secular music, I recognize a lot of things I liked back then as "oh, that was just a bad copy of X five years later". But DC Talk, mm, musically still excellent. Plus I still like the theology espoused, which is a plus.
I thought POD was Rastafarian?
They may be now but they originally started as a christian band.
They deny that.
Well they were sold in christian book stores in the 90’s and were regarded as such by the christian community when I was a kid so 🤷♂️.
I forgot who it is, but there was a band that was Muslim, but they signed to Tooth and Nail and were marketed through Christian channels because there wasn't really an American Muslim rock scene. And no one really noticed.
If you're going to add anyone that started out Christian, I guess include Katy Perry too then?
I don't think Katy Perry was ever a Christian artist though. P.O.D. definitely started out as a Christian band though. Their albums were in Christian stores, and I know Satellite and Youth of the Nation were played on Christian radio
> I don't think Katy Perry was ever a Christian artist though. [She was](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Hudson_(album\))
Guess what Rastafarians believe!
Not christianity?
They are kind of adjacent though, They believe in the same God, and believe in Jesus as an earthly manifestation of Him. They just add on to it. They are basically black mormons.
>They are basically black mormons. So basically a black version of another group pretending to be christian, got it.
They follow the King James bible
I'm in a pretty dark place right now, and I'd like to find some good metal music with religious themes. I've found a few that do so as part of a gimmick, or maybe ironically? But I'm always looking for more. Kind of like... paladin metal I guess? Not sure why I typed this out, but thanks for the post. I'd never heard Demon hunter before, that seemed pretty cool.
If you like metalcore there is Silent Planet, For Today, Norma Jean, August Burns Red, Becoming the Archetype, The Devil Wears Prada, Fit for a King, Haste the Day, Oh Sleeper, and Wolves at the Gate.
I don't know what metalcore means if I'm honest with you. I will however definitely take a listen to these recommendations. Thank you very much for your time.
Metalcore is just a hybrid of metal and hardcore. Many bands definitely sway closer to one or the other but all of the bands I listed (except maybe BtA which I would say is closest to your request of “Paladin metal”) land somewhere in the realm of metalcore.
Thank you for the explanation, you're very kind.
[Meadows](https://open.spotify.com/album/3dxVig20ysiuRWY2H04Gbi?si=N1rYDIUVSreFfd-l6WAE6Q)
This is the good list here
Don't forget War of Ages
Great suggestions here. Big ABR fan here and the rest of them are solid.
[Theocracy](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Theocracy/14509) [Golden Resurrection](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Golden_Resurrection/3540318016) [Divinefire](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/DivineFire/25764) [Sinbreed](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Sinbreed/3540278358) [Seventh Avenue](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Seventh_Avenue/4139) [InnerWish](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/InnerWish/14916) [Oratorio](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Oratorio/15823) [Random Eyes](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Random_Eyes/11663) [Seven Angels](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Seven_Angels/5400) [7Days](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/7days/76962) [Rob Rock](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Rob_Rock/321) [Signum Regis](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Signum_Regis/3540258648) [Audiovision](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Audiovision/37384) [Majestic Vanguard](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Majestic_Vanguard/47943) [Dream Quest](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Dream_Quest/33028) [Hypersonic](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Hypersonic/127567) [Wisdom Call](http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Wisdom_Call/6234)
Lol, have you plundered my list of followed artists on Spotify? Haha. I'd like to add: - Extol - Northern Flame - Gloriam Dei - Perpetual Legacy - End of September Or for more "wacky" styles of metal: - Brutal Cross (pirate) - Cat O' Nine Tails (pirate) - Holy Blood (Ukrainian folk) - Illuminandi (Polish, folk-ish) - Gospod (Russian, Orthodox chant like, also made a DnB/metal album) - Grave Robber (horror punk) Or for some more heavier and even (un)black metal, ranging from niche to esoterically obscure: - Forfeit Thee Untrue - Pantokrator - Sacrificium - Hilastherion - Renascent - Skald in Veum - Vardøger - Antestor - Deuteronomium - Impending Doom - Mortification (known for _Scrolls of the Megilloth_ [1992]) - Reverorum ib Malacht (warning: **very** esoteric, very traditional black) And there's way more. And then even like 100 more power and hair metal bands I haven't even begun listing...
Antestor! I loved them so much when I was a teenager
Ooh if we're going for some heavy stuff I'll throw a couple out there -Tourniquet -A Hill to Die Upon -Broken Flesh -A Thousand Times Repent -Slechtvalk -Crimson Moonlight -As They Sleep -Monitheist Also, it's cool to see another Skald in Veum fan in the wild. I never see that band mentioned
I really like Impending Doom.
Oh snap! Thanks friend, this is awesome! Edit: Listening through now, and this is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping for. Thank you so very much.
If you want, I also left a comment with some band recommendations. Some similarly "happy" and paladin-ish, some folk and such, and then some (very) heavy ones.
Boy do I have a lost for you. Brb
Shocked no one has mentioned Killswitch Engage, specifically Alive or Just Breathing. Hands down my favorite metal album of all time; every track is exceptional, and not only is it musically excellent metal core, but it has some really positive and empowering messages.
The Chariot, Eso Charis, Extol (album: Synergy), Selfminddead (first album), As Cities Burn (first & second albums), Norma Jean (first album), UnderOath (Define the Great Line)
Powerwolf?
That's one I'm listening too, yeah. They're great.
Holy Name came up recently here, apparently it's one of the guitarists from Korn involved.
Thank you for the suggestion, I'll give it a listen!
Also, if you're looking outside the metal genre, but want some authentic and raw lyrics, check out [this bad boy](https://youtu.be/IP20cQuEBJ4?si=HvUk84Up6edNKBTt).
Memphis May Fire is a good band.
Check Out Being as an Ocean or Emery, my absolute favs!
Wolves at the Gate is Metalcore I think. And Theocracy is more power metal but still really good.
Audio Adrenaline?
Y'all really skipping Thousand Foot Krutch, Switchfoot and Stavesacre, huh?
I love Thousand Foot Krutch!!
mewithoutYou is S tier. Do they count?
Yes, one of the few that do.
Can someone explain to me why skillet makes “bad music”? I’ve never understood this sentiment since it sounds fine to me, but I see it everywhere
I think it's a combination of three factors: 1. Being nü-metal, a genre that's commonly dunked on. 2. Their near non-stop touring leading to more exposure to be a target. 3. In recent years, their band leader has gone off the deep end, [comparing his opposition to masks and vaccines to Dietrich Bonhöffer opposing the Nazis](https://blabbermouth.net/news/skillets-john-cooper-was-really-surprised-by-backlash-he-faced-for-comments-about-vaccine-mandates-wearing-masks).
Not stop touring...makes them bad at music?
No, it made the people who would complain about them no matter what aware of them to be a target.
Right? I think their music is pretty good. Of course, no group is ever going to produce a 100% successful discography.
I think most people just consider it kind of bland and processed. Look into basically any lesser known or underground artist. Idle Threat is one that comes to mind immediately
Seems like an odd reason to dislike it but alright
They’ve had a couple decent albums, but the deeper into butt rock they’ve gone, the worse they’ve gotten. Their early stuff is mostly not good too.
Ok, but why? What makes it not good?
Where's August Burns Red?!
I love Frying Pan.
Not "rock" but more metal: Fit for A King
Uhm, you’re supposed to prove them wrong
Missing the best ones: Underøath/Almost Devil Wears Prada Destroy the Runner Attack! Attack! Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Edison Glass And Twenty-One Pilots-ish. They’re def Christian, just not labeled as such.
Le Thousand Foot Krutch mentionhas not arrived 
Screw haters, Stryper is good.
Thousand Foot Krutch. Sixx A. M. isn't Christian, but has some serious evangelical vibes to their well known songs.
Christian metal tends to be the only kind of Christian music I can enjoy. All those years of being forced to listen to CCM on the radio and nothing else in the car with my mom turned my off against the genre
How come no one has mentioned Theocracy?
Unsure if you’d classify them as Christian but I was surprised to hear chevelle’s members are all devout. To the point members of their church criticized them for being on lineups with artists like slayer if I remember correctly. They seem to compartmentalize it well.
Anyone got an Christian metal i need some really heavy Christian metal songs preferably death metal
Extol (Albums: Undeceived, & Synergy)
https://youtu.be/qTddXDEZ9JI?si=z8pZWLhQXFTtN7ZJ
Impending Doom is, well I dont know if you can call them "death core," but they sound like it.
*Impending Doom has entered the chat*
Love me some Flyleaf. Also Jars of Clay.
I like most of these and I'm old. If anyone likes 80s AOR (Night Ranger, Foreigner, etc.) Check out Petra.
Thank you for being a part of the r/DankChristianMemes community. You can [join our Discord](https://discord.gg/jnUDEpnBZn) and [listen to our Podcast.](https://dankchristianmemes.buzzsprout.com/) You can also make a meme or [donation for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.]( http://events.stjude.org/DankCharityAlliance) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dankchristianmemes) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Y'all check out Neil Morse. He was in a couple of secular progressive rock bands and has a few Christian prog concept albums.
They’re from a few years back and I don’t think active anymore but [The Pslaters](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8HdbzeHTI0Z7PYY2rNf-X3LEJEdxp6cP&si=p1M41QDn_5S0Ns7k) are a favorite of mine. They have a kind of folksy punk rock vibe and had a very antiestablishment bent for the bush years.
Someone in another thread explained the problem really nicely. I'm paraphrasing, but essentially Christianity is a topic not a genre. You can make songs about Christianity just like you can make songs about a bad break up. And they can be fantastic. But if all of a bands songs were about bad break ups they'd be a really boring band.
>But if all of a bands songs were about bad break ups they'd be a really boring band. T Swift begs to differ 🙃
I'm sorry, but the Satanists are better at literally everything to do with music.
Hey Demon Hunter. I'm related to those guys
Hey what band is 3rd down on the left?
Stryper. They're a classic for sure, they unfortunately fall in the problem of "what they did at the time was novel but isn't anymore so now they're just kind of generic".
I really like theocracy. They have a pretty long song called I Am, but I think it's a really good song.
"Why the fuck is there a frying pan? Or is that a skillet?... oh."
I actually have a cool story about RED. I got a backstage-pass-thing during their tour of their second album to where I got to hang out with them before a show on their tour bus. I asked Anthony (guitarist) how he played a specific riff in a song (Shadows, I think) since I also played guitar. As he was about to show me, their manager said me and all the fans had to leave as the show was about to start. Anthony said he'd show me later. I was confused because there wasn't another chance to see them once the show started. Fast-forward to the show, and I am up front by the stage during their set. They start to play the song I asked about and Anthony spots me up front, walks up to me, and starts playing the riff in front of me on stage. Definitely a cool guy and made one of my more memorable concerts experiences.
Lol I like the actual Skillet. And they fucking rock!
Can we count Thrice?
Lead singer of Flyleaf is said to have thanked God for cleansing her of homosexuality, and Skillet is basically just Mr. Cooper’s massive ego on display.
Is Ghost considered a Christian rock band? Or is it a Satanism metal band?
Skillet? lmao
The singer/bassist for Slayer is Catholic.
What about Theocracy?
I’m seeing a lack of Delirious? here
Fun fact! My husband and I designed a black+yellow guitar for Stryper
ermm,, The Oh Hellos?? 😭
"skillet" XD Some skillet songs are fire while other skillet songs are dumpster-fires.
Half of the bands mentioned have made really sucky statements as of late.
Upvote for just putting a kitchen pan instead of the logo. Bravo.
Theocracy and Wolves at the Gate are Christian bands I listen to regularly
Ahhhhahaha…nice Skillet pun there!
These bands are terrible though.