Christian Metal Bands: The Holy Growl
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My parents say my music is satanic. I listen to Christian hardcore/screamo bands like Underoath, Project 86, Spoken, Demon Hunter, Haste the Day, The Showdown, Living Sacrifice, Showbread, Emery and Dead Poetic. I figure, what difference does it make if someone is singing ‘Praise the Lord’ in a whispering voice or screaming it at the top of their lungs? I just prefer the screaming way. I think it’s okay for worship to be fun and cool, not just slow and boring. Do you think that’s wrong? — Samantha, Reseda, Calif.
We’ve been getting that question a lot lately. Maybe it’s because, more than any other musical style, the guttural screams of these bands’ lead singers sound anything but Christian. Or teens’ growing curiosity could be a reflection of this ear-splitting genre’s explosive popularity. After all, Underoath’s Define the Great Line debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s mainstream album chart in 2006 — an unprecedented feat for a Christian act. Whatever the reason, fans like Samantha — not to mention their concerned parents — deserve a thoughtful response. So let’s take a closer look at the most divisive Christian music on the market.