Looking for some good melodic christian metal

[Shimrra]

Hi guys, I'm obviously new here, so a short introduction: I live in switzerland with american parents, both of which are christians. I grew up a christian and still am. Anyway, I've been listening to metal for about a year and a half now, and have been playing drums for over 5.
I was wondering if you guys could point out some good christian metal bands so I can listen to some stuff with more...moral value to it.
Right now, I like bands like Ensiferum, Wintersun, Amon Amarth, Sonata Arctica & the whole pack of famous powermetal bands (Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, Nightwish, Rhapsody, HammerFall, Kamelot, etc.) and have only found some few select christian metal bands that I like, for example Theocracy (seriously, awesome), Immortal Souls (don't really like the way the singer growls though), Divinefire, Narnia and some non-metal bands like Pillar and TFK.
Have you guys got any suggestions?

P.S. The bands were listed in the order of how much I like them, so you get the idea of what I would like to find: Melodic stuff.

 

[TengwarSymphony]

Well, Theocracy is my favorite .

Followed closely by Neal Morse. He was in Spock's Beard before starting a solo Christian career. He has four Christian prog albums: Testimony, ? (yeah, that's the name), One, and Sola Scriptura. They are all incredible. If you like Dream Theater-ish prog, you'll like this (they have DT's Mike Portnoy on drums, by the way, and Jordan Rudess is on ?, Paul Gilbert is on Sola Scriptura). And it's on a level that EVERYONE can get into, rock/metal fans or not. It's awesome, spiritual, truthful Christian music.

Barren Cross is good. I have one of their CDs. They sound a lot like Iron Maiden.

Sacred Warrior is also good. The sound sort of like Queensryche.

You can go to http://metalforjesus.org/ref.html for a chart that compares some Christian bands to mainstream bands. Be warned that a lot of the links are outdated/dead. But there are dozens of bands on there to check out.

My band, Tengwar, is not a Christian band, but we have some Christian songs. "Once to Die," "Decide," and "Lesser of Two Evils" have Christian themes, especially "Once to Die." You can hear us at www.garageband.com/artist/tengwar or www.myspace.com/tengwarband.

Also check out my friends, Days of Eden, at http://www.garageband.com/artist/daysofeden and on MySpace (don't know the exact url and can't check it at work). They are a Christian metal band that sounds a lot like Kings X.

I'm looking for Christian rock and metal too. So I'll be checking this thread myself...

Good luck and God bless you friend,

Mike Conner
myspace.com/tengwarband
myspace.com/jmconner

 

[ty-chan]

Rob Rock! Check out his newest CD which I just ordered and should be getting here pretty soon. Everything that he is associated with is awesome, especially when he was with Chris Impelletteri. He is an awesome singer, and has recruited some members of Narnia to play with him. Veni Domine is another good one. They are more heavy than melodic, but still, great metal. Jacobs Dream and Deliverance are another couple of recommendations. Disciple is my favorite band, and their earlier material is awesome metal, but they sound more nu-metal/metalcore now (but done well). They are definitely better than Pillar and TFK. Of course, I am housesitting right now, and do not have all of my CDs with me. I will check back later this week and add some more to the list.

 

[Shimrra]

Mike? Mike PORTNOY on drums? YES!!! Finally something good that's fun to play to!!! I'll check all the bands you guys pointed out for sure, thanks loads.

Oh, and I have the "Back Again" CD by Disciple and don't really like it. Lester Estelle, the drummer of Pillar is far better than the one of Disciple. I often look for good drummers when I listen to music (and that doesn't just mean fast), that's the weakest point of the original Theocracy CD in my opinion. The rest is awesome though, so I love them anyway.

 

[Killerah]

Let me give you some links to a couple of the bands that ty-chan mentioned

Rob Rock: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=43810251 definitely sweet music, get his CD Holy Hell at radrockers.com (thats where I get most of my metal CDs)

Jacob's Dream: http://myspace.com/jacobsdream

Also give reinxeed a listen they sound sort of like Sonata Arctica: http://myspace.com/reinxeednorth

Another Christian power metal band sent me a friend request on myspace and I checked them out, I didn't listen to them very long, but I think I liked what I heard, the band is called Ivory Moon: http://myspace.com/ivorymoonofficial

If you're looking for musical talent I can see why you might not like Disciple's early stuff (their best) because it's not really very creative musically, but their lyrics are solid. Pick up their cd By God if you want to hear some unapologetic Christian lyrics.

 

[Snert]

Besides those already mentioned, you may want to check out:

Audiovision
http://www.rivelrecords.com/audiovision
http://www.myspace.com/audiov

Bloodgood
http://www.bloodgoodband.com
http://www.myspace.com/bloodgoodband

Deliverance
http://www.myspace.com/heavymetaldeliverance
http://www.myspace.com/thebigdlives

Essence of Sorrow
http://www.essenceofsorrow.com
http://www.myspace.com/essenceofsorrow

HB
http://www.hbmusic.net
http://www.myspace.com/hbennemusic

Harmony
http://www.harmonymetal.net
http://www.myspace.com/harmonyfanpage

Hilastherion
http://www.hilastherion.com
http://www.myspace.com/hilastherionmetal

Holy Blood
http://www.holyblood.metal-forever.c...lyblooden.html
http://www.myspace.com/holybloodfanpage

Incrave (formerly known as Evergrace)
http://www.incrave.se
http://www.myspace.com/incrave

Letter 7
http://www.letter7rocks.com
http://www.myspace.com/letter7rocks

Majestic Vanguard
http://www.majesticvanguard.net
http://www.myspace.com/majesticvanguard

Northern Flame
http://northernflame.jellon.net/
http://www.myspace.com/northernflame

Oratorio
http://www.oratoriometal.com
http://www.myspace.com/risingoratorio

Random Eyes
http://www.randomeyes.net/
http://www.myspace.com/randomeyes

Seventh Avenue
http://www.seventh-avenue.de

StrangeLand
http://www.strangeland.us
http://www.myspace.com/strangeland

Teramaze
http://www.myspace.com/teramaze
http://www.purevolume.com/teramaze

Wingdom
http://www.wingdom.org

Adiastasia
http://www.adiastasia.com

Lightmare
http://www.lightmare.de
http://www.myspace.com/lightmarerocks

My 3 favorite christian Metal bands are:
Theocracy
Saviour Machine (www.saviourmachine.com - some don't consider them metal)
Bloodgood

I also like secular bands like Sonata Arctica, old Helloween, Rhaposody, Pyramaze, Masterplan, Amorphis...
One secular album I'd recommend is Ayreon - The Human Equation. That's a great and quite diverse one!

 

[Shimrra]

Wow, this is all going to take a while to check out. I already like ReinXeed from what I've heard, so yeah.

Say, you guys think there's any chance of me getting my hands on a copy of the Theocracy CD with the drum tracks removed?

 

[SeaStorm]

I would like to second the suggestions of Random Eyes and Rob Rock.

Random Eyes has dual male/female vocals (well, had: she left recently), which is something I love. I have their album Eyes Ablaze and it is solid.

Rob Rock's Holy Hell album will blow you away if you like the stuff you listed. Get it. I bought it without ever having heard Rob Rock (though I'd heard plenty of online recommendations), based purely on the album art (AWESOME). The best "blind" purchase of music I've ever made.

Other than that, all the Christian power metal bands I've listened to have been listed. In the Pillar/Disciple genre, I like Kutless the best.

You should also consider subscribing to Heaven's Metal to stay up on the genre. It's inexpensive:

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/theocracy/265431-theocracy-makes-heavens-metal-cover.html

 

[SeaStorm]

Saviour Machine (www.saviourmachine.com - some don't consider them metal)

With apologies to Theocracy (my favorite Christian band), Saviour Machine is the one band that makes me sit back in utter amazement and say to myself "I think this music came directly from God".

The Legend trilogy is amazing. I took this wording from Wikipedia, but it's a great description: "Legend consists of the most exhaustive study of end-time Biblical prophecy ever set to music. As such, it has been dubbed 'the unofficial soundtrack to the end of the world' in promotional materials."

I'm not sure how to characterize them. The music is atmospheric with lots of piano. Some people find it really boring. In each album, the page of biblical cites that were used in the lyrics is astoundingly lengthly. I say if you sit in the dark and listen to Legend I and aren't moved, well then, you're not me. Because that's something I love to do.

Controversial band, as well. Details on the Wikipedia page (since that show happened in my town, I have a friend who was there).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saviour_Machine

 

[diakonos]

Hi Shimrra, you have other good band :
Sacrecy : http://www.myspace.com/sacrecy (the album come the 20 october)
Mehida (with Mikko Harkin) : http://www.myspace.com/mehida
Metatrone : http://www.myspace.com/metatrone
Prospect (ReinXeed band) : http://www.myspace.com/prospectmetal (i think this band are one of the better)
Norman : http://www.myspace.com/normanormans

you have two other sites : http://www.maanalainenlevykauppa.com and http://www.angelicwarlord.com
With great bands and chronicles.

Thanks Snert for Lightmare

I take on myspace many bands you can look it (fews are not christian, mail me if you have a doubt)

 

[ty-chan]

I just got Rob Rock's newest album Garden of Chaos. This is the epitome of melodic metal. It is perfection, great tones, speed, complexity and lyrical content. Anyone else have it yet?

 

[Killerah]

No, but I really want it. I can't wait till it's released in the US and it'll be a little less expensive.

 

[dwellceller]

I am getting the new Rob Rock album soon...love the song 'Garden of Chaos' at is myspace page, and have loved all his solo albums so far, and i know i won't be disappointed by Garden of Chaos.

 

[Eyesore]

With apologies to Theocracy (my favorite Christian band), Saviour Machine is the one band that makes me sit back in utter amazement and say to myself "I think this music came directly from God".

I'd agree...if God was a butthole.

Fifth Angel is worth every penny, if you can find it.

 

[Jopie]

Hi there,

Always nice, a thread like this.
I found some new bands already, but also got a lot of bands that are not mentioned:

If you like Progressive Metal (and you should as a drummer, I'm one too), you should defenitely listen to:
Tourniquet www.tourniquet.net
Neal Morse http://www.nealmorse.com/

Melodic Power Metal:
Eterna http://www.purevolume.com/eternaband
Oratorio http://www.oratoriometal.com/
Dream Quest (it's very good and like Theocracy) http://www.adventuremetal.com/

Melodic Heavy Metal:
Majestic Vanguard (much better than Narnia) www.majesticvanguard.net
Stryper (Yeaaaah!!) http://www.stryper.com/
Evergrace http://www.evergrace.se/ which changed its name to Incrave http://www.incrave.se/
7 Days http://www.sigfridsson.net/7days/default.html
Impellitteri (Rob Rock) http://www.rapture.net/impellitteri/

Some heavier bands (death / black metal):
Immortal Souls (my favorite) http://www.immortalsouls.com/
Slechtvalk http://www.slechtvalk.com/
Illuminandi http://www.illuminandi.kdm.pl/menu.html
Admonish
Frosthardr

Some awesome Nu-Metal bands:
Yes, TFK is awesome, but also:
12 Stones
Chevelle
Day of Fire
Jonah33
Kutless (my favorite)
Linkin Park
Red (simply AWESOME)

Emo-core:
Extol

Well, I could name a lot more, but I think you'll be busy for some time now.
I would advise to check them all, I like to do it myself too.
Just remember the good ones and forget the others.

Greetzz

 

[King Eddie of Eddington]

Gloriam Dei the name literally means God’s Glory in Latin

 

[King Eddie of Eddington]

Gloriam Dei the name literally means God’s Glory in Latin

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