Bands known for Christian themes

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The Shrike
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Bands known for Christian themes

Post by The Shrike » Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:42 am

Howdy. I was wondering if you would help me identify which prog-rock and metal bands would fit in any of the following:

1. Definitely Christian themes in the songs.
2. Christian themes but not so obvious.
3. Band members who openly declared their faith.

I heard that Arena for example, has them but not so obvious, and I agree.

Thanks in advance.
There are 10 types of people in the world --
those that understand binary, and those
that don't.

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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by The Surfing Alien » Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:45 am

Theocracy, Impellitteri.

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GaetanL
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by GaetanL » Fri Feb 22, 2019 12:08 pm

Veni Domine
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NDFAN
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by NDFAN » Fri Feb 22, 2019 12:21 pm

Letter 7, Harmony, Seventhsign, Siam, Wisdom Call, Theocracy, Seventh Seal, Emerald.

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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by GaetanL » Fri Feb 22, 2019 2:31 pm

Saviour Machine

I never fully investigated this band though... I don't have a single album from them...
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by venidominefan » Fri Feb 22, 2019 8:12 pm

Audiovision
Cell 9
Darkwater
Deliverance
Essence of Sorrow
Extol
German Pasqual
Grimmark
Kamelot
Michael Sweet
Mirador
Narnia
Neal Morse
Stryper
Tourniquet
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by elendil » Sat Feb 23, 2019 8:26 am

GaetanL wrote:Saviour Machine

I never fully investigated this band though... I don't have a single album from them...
I have their first album; it's fantastic. None of their subsequent stuff that I've heard has been that good. And yes, it's Christian.

I'd say While Heavens Wept fits under #2.

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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by GaetanL » Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:37 am

elendil wrote:
GaetanL wrote:Saviour Machine

I never fully investigated this band though... I don't have a single album from them...
I have their first album; it's fantastic. None of their subsequent stuff that I've heard has been that good. And yes, it's Christian.
Thanks! I'm playing their first album right now on Youtube and I like it!
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The Shrike
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by The Shrike » Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:34 pm

Thanks, all, I am looking forward to checking these out.
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introclaus
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by introclaus » Sat Feb 23, 2019 6:28 pm

Saviour Machine - one of the most amazing and unique bands ever (Queensryche meets Sisters of Mercy)
Veni Domine - is another wonderful band (Queensryche/Fates W meets Candlemass)
Antithesis - power/thrash
Tourniquet - technical thrash
Believer - technical thrash
Sacred Warrior - power/prog (Queensryche)
Recon - power/prog (Queensryche)
Gemini/Balance of Power/King's Machine - (most of Lance King's bands had christian lyrics)
Narnia
Divinefire
Claus Jensen

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elendil
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by elendil » Sun Feb 24, 2019 6:47 pm

GaetanL wrote:
elendil wrote:
GaetanL wrote:Saviour Machine

I never fully investigated this band though... I don't have a single album from them...
I have their first album; it's fantastic. None of their subsequent stuff that I've heard has been that good. And yes, it's Christian.
Thanks! I'm playing their first album right now on Youtube and I like it!
Glad you're enjoying it! I was really into them back in the '90s. Still one of my favorite gothic hard rock albums with a flair for the dramatic. Their later albums become a little excessive in the pomp and grandeur IMO.

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sez
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by sez » Mon Feb 25, 2019 3:59 pm

I'd add Seventh Wonder to the list, especially Tiara. Also Transatlantic, because of Neal Morse's involvement, has Christian themes in their music (especially The Whirlwind). Shadow Gallery can also have Christian themes from time to time.

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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by outprogged42 » Tue Feb 26, 2019 12:07 am

To go with those not yet mentioned, I have a pretty good size list as I do a lot of research on this subject. Some bands are more well-known and a few are rather obscure or not necessarily known for spiritual themes.

Entire band:
Galactic Cowboys
The Great Gamble
Images of Eden
Silent Lapse
Torman Maxt
Wingdom (I think?)

Most of the band:
IONA (before Troy Donockley left) / Dave Bainbridge aka Celestial Fire
Menahem
Vanden Plas (selected albums)
Zero Hour (later period)
Power of Omens
Souljourners

Christian themes due to one major composer:
Threshold
LEAH
Greylevel

====

Redemption is hard to classify as they are most typically secular in output.

Pendragon is another unclassified case. Peter Gee is an outspoken Christian and Nick Barrett more nebulous, but it's pretty easy to tell even without reading interviews to that effect that he has some spiritual beliefs.

Vanishing Point is strongly suspected. At least on some prior albums, the spiritual themes were extremely strong and I had spoken to the band personally about them. Nowadays they have mostly disappeared.

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elendil
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by elendil » Tue Feb 26, 2019 4:06 pm

Yeah, Threshold definitely belongs, especially on their earlier albums.

Early King's X is another one.

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The Shrike
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by The Shrike » Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:37 pm

outprogged42 wrote:To go with those not yet mentioned, I have a pretty good size list as I do a lot of research on this subject. Some bands are more well-known and a few are rather obscure or not necessarily known for spiritual themes.
...
Wow, even more to check out. Thanks!!
There are 10 types of people in the world --
those that understand binary, and those
that don't.

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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by ironhead » Tue Mar 05, 2019 3:58 pm

Threshold. IMO they are far and away better than the others listed here. No disrespect

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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by Chris R » Thu Mar 07, 2019 1:24 pm

Barren Cross..
Vocalist is an dead ringer for Bruce Dickinson ..music is a power metal style with a great guitar tone
Tarja is a female woman
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by GaetanL » Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:37 pm

Gaétan
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by venidominefan » Sun Jan 31, 2021 11:10 pm

A couple more:

Amaseffer - Exodus-Slaves For Life - 2008
- With the mighty Mats Leven on vocals.
Slaves For Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJIJzuN7O6o

Holy Tide - Aquila - 2019
Exodus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtqYk82wzrA

Enzo and the Glory Ensemble
- 3 albums out that are worth a listen with an all-star cast including Gary Wehrkamp, Brian Ashland, Mark Zonder, Philip Bynoe, Marty Friedman, Ralf Scheepers and more.
If Not You - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bRMJVMuEQ
Last Weep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elzcvzBDHpU
Maybe You - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh2Eg8ReFo0
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Re: Bands known for Christian themes

Post by Mardoch » Sun Apr 11, 2021 2:27 pm

The Shrike wrote:
Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:42 am
Howdy. I was wondering if you would help me identify which prog-rock and metal bands would fit in any of the following:

1. Definitely Christian themes in the songs.
2. Christian themes but not so obvious.
3. Band members who openly declared their faith.

I heard that Arena for example, has them but not so obvious, and I agree.

Thanks in advance.
If you're looking to go outside of power/prog I'm still a fan of Demon Hunter (metalcore).

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