Christian Metal

Part of this issue is more of a modern viewpoint. In the 80s and 90s hair bands, for example, were considered metal without question. Younger people now don't think of such bands as metal because they don't view them as heavy enough as modern bands have pushed heaviness to its limits.
So that is likely at least part of the discrepancy in definition.

I recently watched a video about what makes music "heavy" and particularly "heavy metal." The term was initially applied to some 70s music I would just call classic rock.

I generally consider metal as having intensely distorted guitars instead of the 60s/70s stuff that is more of like overdrive (turn a guitar amp up so loud it naturally distorts the sound of it). They have actually created pedals and effects processing that recreates overdrive without the excessive volume.

Perhaps this counts as Christian metal. In Finland there is this concept "Raskasta Joulua" (Heavy Christmas) where Finnish (and some international) metal vocalists tour the country performing Christmas music, usually in "metallized" versions of the original songs. Some of them are just "Christmasy" with perhaps small touches of specifically Christian meaning of Christmas, but many others are very solidly Christian in their lyrics. As for the musicians themselves, I'm aware of only one of the regulars having been vocal about his Christian faith. I'd assume that many of the others may be agnostic with perhaps some appreciation for cultural Christianity. Anyway, I'll link versions that have English translations of the lyrics. Even though the translations are a bit amateurish, you should get the gist of their meaning.

Let's start with two songs that are probably not well known outside of Finland (though perhaps they should be).



By contrast to these two, this one is widely known internationally (in its more traditional version, not the metal one)

Yeah. 60s and 70s are considered rock or classic rock among metalheads
as well. Though many count Black Sabbath as the first metal band.

What is funny to me is that I really loved what we called heavy metal back in the day, but now it's called "hair bands." I looked through all 10 pages of this thread and I recognized Stryper and no one else. As I got near my "shake a cane and yelled 'GET OFF MY LAWN,'" I have a couple of near heavy metal Christian bands that are not really heavy metal? I think?


And this one is actually a Christian band singing a Christmas song. I love this one!

What is funny to me is that I really loved what we called heavy metal back in the day, but now it's called "hair bands." I looked through all 10 pages of this thread and I recognized Stryper and no one else. As I got near my "shake a cane and yelled 'GET OFF MY LAWN,'" I have a couple of near heavy metal Christian bands that are not really heavy metal? I think?


And this one is actually a Christian band singing a Christmas song. I love this one!

Judas Priest, Manowar, Dio and bands like that.

Didn't realize that was White Heart, they'd be in the same category as Petra, genre wise.
Metal genres are an insane topic, especially in the heavier genres. So many of them. The less heavy the music the more simplified the genre label.