Christian ROCK
By Paul Bowers
Bodies fly through the air, smashing into each other majestically as the performers flail at their instruments at warp speed. The music is deafeningly loud, shaking the ground and whipping the heavily pierced and tattooed crowd into a frenzy.
And the band’s mission? It’s not to look cool or make money, but to praise God.
That’s right: a Christian mosh pit. It may seem like an oxymoron in a music scene chock full of drugs and sex, but in reality, that’s not what Rock is about. It’s about the music, and there is more than enough room in the industry for a few bands with a message.
Christian Rock is not a new concept; it’s been around since the late eighties/early nineties (we’re talking ancient history here). It all started with bands like dc Talk, Audio Adrenaline, and the Newsboys, pioneers in the frontier of Christian Rock. What they started can’t be called a genre; their musical style was similar to that of all the other bands of that era.
In reality, the only thing separating Christian from secular Rock is the message. A Christian band can play heavy metal if they want; there is nothing essentially evil about a style of music. That’s why bands like Switchfoot and P.O.D. have worked their way into the mainstream: they play styles of music that are popular, even though their lyrics are far from conventional.
So if you’re a fan of great music, here’s a guide to some of today’s Christian Rock bands.
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline is one of the bands that started the whole movement of combining Christian lyrics with good, old-fashioned Rock and Roll. With unforgettable anthems like “Big House,” “Leaving Ninety-nine,” and “Get Down,” their style appeals to a broad audience.
Mark Stuart’s gravelly voice is an unmistakable trademark of the band, but every member is a talented musician. With over ten years’ experience together, they have matured from their humble (somewhat cheesy) self-titled album to their latest album, “Worldwide,” a well-produced extravaganza encompassing their broad range of styles.
But many still contend that their best album ever was the 1999 “Underdog.” Fans of good Rock will find something to enjoy in the broad spectrum from a remake of Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door” to the infamous Houseplant Song.
The O.C. Supertones
Hailing from Orange County, California, the Supertones play a hyperactive blend of rap and ska. Even people who hate rap will enjoy the unique guitar rhythms and ever-present brass section.
They are known for their live shows, coming onstage in suits and ties and playing favorites such as “Unite,” “Resolution,” and “Little Man” for their rabid, diehard fans. Their songs range from slow songs of worship to ear-pounding teenage war cries.
Ska is a genre that’s still growing and evolving, and the Supertones bring their innovative twist to every song, proving that ska doesn’t always sound like Less Than Jake.
Relient K
Unlike the junker of a car from which they took their moniker (but misspelled it for legal reasons), Relient K is still fresh and new and on a roll. Their youthful pop-punk style has been compared to that of blink-182, but with a better message.
Masters of the tongue in cheek, these four kids from Ohio have produced funny, catchy songs such as “I’m Lion-O,” “Staples” and “In Love With the 80’s (Pink Tux to the Prom),” but they’re also not afraid to address serious topics like spirituality and the trials of life. Their songs incorporate both pop culture and cultural relevance.
Relient K appeals mainly to teenagers with witty, sarcastic lyrics and spastic guitars, but audiences young and old can appreciate the point they’re getting across.
Skillet
Skillet represents the harder side of Christian Rock with their gritty, industrial style that really blows listeners away.
Despite their generally hardcore style, they manage to keep their records diverse, throwing in the odd acoustic guitar or electronic sound here and there. Their last album, “Alien Youth,” used a lot of techno-esque beeps and blips amongst the shredding guitars, but their latest offering, “Collide,” returns to their grungy, no-frills sound.
While the band includes women on drums and keyboards, make no mistake; this is no “chick band.” This is hard rock with a purpose.
Everyday Sunday
Much lighter than Skillet, Everyday Sunday’s music is just plain fun to listen to.
Their relaxed, smooth music drips out of the speakers like honey in the sense that 1: it’s sweet and enjoyable, and 2: it sticks to you. Their quick, three- or four-minute songs like “Mess With Your Mind” and “Stand Up” will stay in your head for the rest of the day.
Despite their lighthearted sound, their lyrics deal with personal struggles and heartfelt emotion before God.
Newsboys
Much like Audio Adrenaline, the
Newsboys helped bring the concept of Christian Rock to reality. They started playing in churches in their
homeland of Australia in the eighties and have now become a Christian version
of The Who, with huge, sold-out concerts across America.
From their humble beginnings to today, they have released twelve major records, including “Love Liberty Disco,” a concept album that, as the name suggests, pushes the envelope by trying to play disco in the ‘90’s. This was actually a success, as was their next original album, “Thrive.” On the band’s most recent release, “Adoration: The Worship Album,” they show their soft side with mainly acoustic guitars and heartfelt lyrics.
Fans of good Rock will appreciate the Newsboys’ skill as musicians, especially on “Thrive,” but the band’s emphasis remains on the words, creating songs that can be played just as well in concert as in a sanctuary.
Christian Rock is a growing, thriving movement that includes all styles of music available today. If you want to hear death metal for Jesus, it’s out there. If you’re looking for a Christian indie band, you can find it.
But some still contend that Rock and Roll is inherently evil, and this is addressed in Audio Adrenaline’s “The Houseplant Song.”
The gist of the song is that a man reads a book that says Rock is evil (“It doesn’t really matter if/ it’s Christian or not, / if it’s syncopated rhythm/ then your soul is gonna rot.”), then it proceeds to tell the reader to test the theory by putting two different houseplants in front of speakers, one playing rock and one playing “Mozart or something lovely like that.” He does this for a while, then his neighbor comes over and asks why he’s hanging out with houseplants, so they put the plants back where they belong and talk about “life and love and happiness/ and the Holy Ghost.”
The point, buried down in there somewhere, is that there is nothing wrong with Rock and Roll; it was created by God and can be used for His glory. And that’s what Christian Rock is all about.
http://cmusicweb.com/rock/relientk/interview.shtml
http://www.family.org/teenguys/breakmag/features/a0024348.html