Theocracy fans.....

[Ywap]

If you´re visiting this board you´re probably into the very best of power metal and let´s face it: Previously it hasn´t been easy to find AAA power metal with christian lyrics. So, recently i stumbled upon an incredible CD and i thought i should post here if anyone (like me) haven´t heard about them before:

AdiastasiA: Life War

Samples can be found here: http://www.myspace.com/adiastasia

Full CD can be heard using Spotify.

New CD early 2010: War of the Worlds

Personally i love "Life War" and if you´re a fan of Theocracy you should do yourself a favour and check them out. I´m sorry this post isn´t about Theocracy themselfes but i hope it´s ok anyway

 

[Aletheus]

I've heard of this album, but the vocals don't impress me, and the production doesn't seem that well either.

Sorry, I see the potential but it just doesn't strike me

 

[Ywap]

I've heard of this album, but the vocals don't impress me, and the production doesn't seem that well either.

Regarding the vocals: I´m beyond impressed. Among the best i´ve ever heard

Production: Not the greatest out there, but easily good enough. Retroactive will re-release a remastered version and it "will be a TON better than the version that is out now."

If you have Spotify you should really spoil yourself with this masterpiece!

Personal opinions and different tastes

 

[Ryan M.]

Hm... It is very good. It is MORE than potential... though they do, I admit, have room to grow. They are more skilled than alot of bands out there. It sounds like Edguy and Seventh Avenue combined.

And I pulled this off of Angelic Warlord (an awesome site for Christian CD reviews)

"So how does Adiastasia measure up? Quite well, as a matter of fact. Easily inviting a comparison to Stratovarius, Helloween and Gamma Ray but certain to also appeal to fans of Seventh Avenue, Divinefire and Dynasty, Adiastasia combines elements of speed and aggression with occasional symphonic and progressive touches to create quite the powerful 2006 full length debut Life War"


So Yeah, I'm a fan of Seventh Avenue... And I like this! two thumbs up!

 

[Tom_Bombadil]

I really like it. I wonder why i haven´t heard of them before. While i have some Angra CD´s next to my Seventh Avenue stuff, i have to like them*g*. The production could be better of course, but hey, it´s a self produced Debut album. I´m really sure the next album will have a better sound(just think about Theocracy´s big step from first to second album...)...and i think the singer will also sound a little stronger. It´s not that he´s bad,but he´s definetely also not the best i´ve ever heard ;-). I think he can improve with the real high stuff. But anyway : I´ll search for the album...

 

[Ywap]

I can´t for the world understand your critics about the vocals. Personally it doesn´t get any better than this!

Goose bumps here as soon as he starts to work his magic

 

[Snert]

Have it.
Though it is well done somehow it doesn't grab me as much as I hoped when buying this several months ago.
The production....I hope it improves a lot on the new one. The vocals are good, but IMO not phenomenal.

 

[Ryan M.]

the voice is a bit drowned and not strong enough... but it sounds like the production is the issue. They have skill.

 

[Aletheus]

I'll give it a better listen when I get the chance, also, I never said the vocals are bad, just that they don't impress me

 

[Shimrra]

Somehow I don't really like this too much. It just seems like some generic symphonic/power metal minus some production quality. I guess my musical taste has changed a lot more than I thought in the last couple years. I just can't seem to make myself listen to a song that repeats the exact same guitar riff during half the song.

On the other hand, ironically, I've acquired a taste for some Christian hip-hop, which probably is the height of repetitiveness.

Oh well, I'm glad you guys found something you like, now lets see if you can find me a Christian band that sounds like Blind Guardian (preferably the "Night at the Opera" era). That's probably the secular band I miss most from my personal "dark times". I decided to completely separate myself from secular music on my Mp3 player because of the influence it had on me, but I still sometimes cheat on Youtube and look back (and miss some specific music, like Nightwish, Blind Guardian, Amon Amarth, Ensiferum and Wintersun. Any suggestions to Christian counterparts?).

 

[Aletheus]

I still listen to Ensiferum and Blind Guardian, I don't think there's a bad influence.

Even tho I disagree with listening to atheist or anti-Christian lyrics I can compare it with speaking to an atheist and ignoring their opinion. You still have to listen and acknowledge their status.

As for power and symphonic Christian metal I can recommend HB, Sacrecy and Illuminandi.

I really think you're making an issue out of something that's not in it's principles bad
If you're aware of the potential "bad influence" I think it can't reach you.

 

[Arnock]

I personally don't see the issues so many Christians have with listening to secular music. In my opinion, as long as their lyrics aren't explicitly anti-christian, or have erm.... sinful subjects, I'll listen to it.


To paraphrase matt from several months ago, as unfortunate as it is, there really isn't a lot of 'good' christian music out there. Most of it is either a copy of whatever style is topping the billboards, or unimaginative, repatative fluff.


At any rate, listening to non-christian music doesn't really bother me any more than watching a non-christian movie, or reading a non-christian book.

 

[dudu]

I try to listen to Christian music when possible but I will listen to secular music as long as its not offensive to my beliefs. The lack of good Christian media in general has always saddened me. Kerry Livgren said it best;

Even though Christian art and music is often plagued by mediocrity, the Christian world view supports and demands the highest level of craftsmanship.

 

[RedFox742]

I decided to completely separate myself from secular music on my Mp3 player because of the influence it had on me, but I still sometimes cheat on Youtube and look back (and miss some specific music, like Nightwish, Blind Guardian, Amon Amarth, Ensiferum and Wintersun. Any suggestions to Christian counterparts?).

Seriously, dude? That sort of close-mindedness is so negative for the world, from any viewpoint. Everything you listen to now has to be Jesus-y? (And heck, even if you do hold yourself to that absurd standard, why not play Sadly Sings Destiny and The Edge, BG songs with Hansi's Christian slant?) What you're talking about is the same attitude that has EXTREME MORALISTS (P.S.: all secretly gay, they always are ) condemning anything with a guitar solo as CHILD-CORRUPTING SATAN INCARNATE.

 

[Snert]

I have to disagree!
I'm sure his point of view has nothing to do with close-mindedness, it might has to do with his personal walk with God. If something has a bad influence on the relationship with God it is a wise thing to get rid of it - and it deserves respect IMO!

It would be close-minded if he would demand from all believers to stop to listen to secular music - but I don't see him doing that at all!

Shimrra,
some good suggestions were already made.

Did you listen to HB already? http://www.myspace.com/hbmetal
Check out the song "God has all glory" from their "Frozen inside" album.

You might also want to check out:
Holy Blood - http://www.myspace.com/holybloodband
Ecthirion - http://www.myspace.com/ecthirion

 

[dudu]

I have to disagree!
I'm sure his point of view has nothing to do with close-mindedness, it might has to do with his personal walk with God. If something has a bad influence on the relationship with God it is a wise thing to get rid of it - and it deserves respect IMO!

It would be close-minded if he would demand from all believers to stop to listen to secular music - but I don't see him doing that at all!

Shimrra,
some good suggestions were already made.

Did you listen to HB already? http://www.myspace.com/hbmetal
Check out the song "God has all glory" from their "Frozen inside" album.

You might also want to check out:
Holy Blood - http://www.myspace.com/holybloodband
Ecthirion - http://www.myspace.com/ecthirion

I agree. If listening to secular music affects him negatively then why should he listen to it? Which is more important , listening to secular music or your walk with God?

(Obviously this isn't saying to cut your body parts off, but I'm sure you guys are smart enough to understand that )

Matthew 5:29-30 (New King James Version)

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

 

[Ryan M.]

I completely agree with dudu. When something is causing you to stumble it is good to cut off what you are doing. Some poeple struggle from secular music (like the lyrics) and some with other stuff.

 

[Arnock]

Speaking from my experience there are (unfortunately) hardly any secular Melodic Death Metal Bands of comparable standard to e.g. Norther or Children of Bodom that are not having anti-christian or violent lyrics. And that was the special aspect where our the discussion started. Arnock, I would really appreciate if you prove me wrong because I cannot find enough good Christian Bands in that special genre

Sorry, I don't really like listening to stuff where I can't understand what they're saying, and most death metal falls under that category. So I couldn't help you out much there.

Only thing I could recommend that's roughly similar I enjoy is Demon Hunter, however they're metalcore and not death metal.

Other than that, here's a couple of lists that might help you out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_metal#Death_metal

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

 

[Aletheus]

I also see it differentiated and agree with Snert, Dudu and Ryan. In my optionion there's no point in judging any Christian for listening to secular music as long as it is not anti-Christian, endorsing brutality or any other values or actions that are not consistant with a Christian point of view.
@ RedFox742: No one was speaking about "condemning anything with a guitar solo as CHILD-CORRUPTING SATAN INCARNATE." That's what you made it, so please stick to the facts. But I agree that any kind if close-mindedness or extremism is not advisable in any part of life or thinking, and probably most of all Christians do consent to that.
Speaking from my experience there are (unfortunately) hardly any secular Melodic Death Metal Bands of comparable standard to e.g. Norther or Children of Bodom that are not having anti-christian or violent lyrics. And that was the special aspect where our the discussion started. Arnock, I would really appreciate if you prove me wrong because I cannot find enough good Christian Bands in that special genre

Miseration's first album is melodic death metal, but of the thrashier type, not the neo-classical you just mentioned. (It's not really Christian, but Jani Stefanovic wrote all the lyrics.)

Renascent is a good melodic death/black metal band.

Aletheian is a great melodic death/prog metal band.

Immortal Souls is an amazing melodic death metal band (some songs more than others).

Seraphim is an Asian (don't know the place) melodic death/symphonic metal band.


...and come to think of it... there isn't really ANY band I can name that's similar to CoB or Norther, hahaha... well I admit defeat, but these are all bands I liked at a certain point in my life, and as good as they may be, I can still notice a certain distinction from secular bands (I wouldn't call it "lack of quality" in particular, but there is certainly less flare about them than there is when meeting a secular band, maybe it's simply because Christians pay more attention to prayers than to chords, but that's just my two cents.)

 

[Ryan M.]

yeah. I do know a few good christian metal bands though: Theocracy, Symphony X (if they are?), Seventh avenue (oh yeah), and Harmony.