Best Christian Metal Bands

When some people think heavy metal, a vision of satanic imagery and goat sacrifice may come to mind. While we metal fans know that really only less than 1% of heavy metal bands are truly satanic, the genre seems to get a bad rap. There are many Christian heavy metal bands out there and their intensity and skill is on par with other metal bands despite their beliefs and perceived "non metal" subject matter. While it is a limited genre, there are some bands who stick out as the leaders of Christian heavy metal.

Number one on my list is Deicide...just kidding, are you paying attention? Extol, formed in 1994 in Oslo, Norway. They are premium thrash metal and many people do not even know that their lyrical matter is rooted in Christianity. Just because it sounds aggressive does not mean that it has to be satanic or even hateful. Extol is proof of this. Next on the list are metalcore favorites, Norman Jean. Having the ability to throw down musically with the best of em, Norma Jean wear their beliefs on their collective sleeves while bringing the heavy at the same time. Their album "Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child" is one of the best of it's kind. Hailing from Seattle, Demon Hunter is a force to be reckoned with musically. As brutal and devastating as any current metalcore act, Demon Hunter brings a positive, Christian based message along with their brutality.

The sadly, relatively unknown Few Left Standing are a perfect example of great heavy metal regardless of religious belief. Their music is as heavy as it comes in the genre and they are a highly entertaining and talented band. On first listen you may not even know that they are Christian metal but their lyrics highly reflect their Christian beliefs. Talent is talent and heavy is heavy.