(I didn’t grow up listening to what might be classified as “devil music.” I grew up on Public Enemy and LL Cool J. (Obviously.) But today, Joe Waller drops by with a great guest post about that infamous music parents the world over classified as “devil music.” Enjoy.)
Listening to Devil Music
“Hi. My name is Joe, and I listen to heavy metal music.” This simple statement has the power to affect the masses in very dramatic ways. If said around the older crowd at church, I’d expect looks of shock, horror, and maybe even a fainting or heart attack.
If said around a group of friends who view me as the sheltered church kid, then looks of confusion take over as they wonder what’s gone wrong in the world to turn me over to the dark side of music. If said around my parents, I see the “I don’t understand” shaking of heads as they go back to their Phil Keaggy and Sandi Patty. Yes, this simple confession of interest can yield very different responses. Most of which are opposed to such music.
The confusion stems in part from us not having an agreed upon definition of “devil music.” Here are 8 indications that you may in fact be listening to it:
1. The band screams their lyrics.
2. The bad growls their lyrics. (Even worse)
3. They can play their instruments at seemingly inhuman speeds.
4. There are skulls on their album cover.
5. There album cover is pure black.
6. satan actually makes a cameo on their album cover.
7. They mention the word “blood” in at least 50% of their songs and it’s not preceded by the word, “sanctified” or followed by the phrase, “of forgiveness.”
8. The name of the band sounds like something the bad guys in a Steven Segal movie would yell, e.g. “You’re going to die!” or “Death from above!”
Indications like the ones above kept many kids like me from going near heavy metal for years. But all hope of finding acceptable “bang-your-head-against-the-wall” music is not lost! For in today’s world, we have such a thing as CHRISTIAN SCREAMO MUSIC!!! Finally, the same intensely driving music, but without cursing and pentagrams!
Also, consider the vast number of hymns that could double as metal songs. “There is Power in the Blood,” “Are You Washed in the Blood,” and “There is a Fountain” are all hymns our parents grew up singing, and they all are about blood and death!
Imagine if Demon Hunter did an album with their trademark screamo-metal sound, but used hymn lyrics. How awesome would that be?! Or, take a look at some of the Christian metal lyrics around today. Some could be used for praise and worship! What if Chris Tomlin took metal lyrics and transformed them into praise and worship songs? While it may never happen, how I’d like to see that day! A day when people of all musical interests could sing (or scream) their praise together! While it would be very strange, what a day that would be.
Did your parents or youth minister ever accuse you of listening to “devil music.”
