The Top 10 Christian Hard-Rock/Metal Bands of the 1980s

Having recently published an article featuring many of the top contemporary Christian music artists of the 1980s, I wanted to follow up with an article showcasing the top ten Christian hard rock and heavy metal bands of that decade. I had been a huge fan of '80s metal and hard rock, with my tastes ranging from Night Ranger to Dokken, from Motley Crue to Metallica.

Some friends at Greenville College introduced me to various types of Contemporary Christian Music, including rock bands such as Petra, White Heart and DeGarmo & Key, was well as pop artists like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. They also introduced me another set of Christian artists who ministered through hard rock and heavy metal music. I began listening to Christian metal/hard rock music at a time when the genre was considered highly controversial. Questions abounded about the long hair, the leather and spandex outfits, the glam rock makeup and the whole issue of whether heavy metal music could really be used as a tool to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christian bands were criticized by Christians and non-Christians alike about mixing Christianity with what some people believed was "the devil's music."

God's Word urges us to discern the validity of a ministry by testing the spirits and examining the fruit that that ministry bears. And many Christian artists of all musical styles have borne great fruit, hearing testimonies from listeners whose lives have been transformed by the love of Christ, and from people have been delivered from substance abuse, depression and suicide, the occult and a host of other problems. I fully believe that any style of music can be used to communicate the gospel when the lyrics are rooted in Scripture and the artists' hearts are set on building God's Kingdom and playing their music for His glory rather than their own.

Here is a list of the top ten Christian heavy metal and hard rock bands of the 80's, along with a few honorable mentions.

1.) Stryper Their name, which stands for Salvation Through Redemption, Yielding Peace, Encouragement and Righteousness, is taken from Isaiah 53:5 (...by His stripes we are healed). This Orange County quartet formed in 1983, signed with Enigma Records, a secular label which had signed bands ranging from Poison to Slayer, and released their debut record, The Yellow & Black Attack, in 1984. Stryper often found themselves at the center of controversy during the 80's, drawing heavy criticism from Christians and non-Christians alike over their glam rock image, their yellow and black spandex outfits (Pat Boone, a supporter of the group, once jokingly referred to them as "Bumblebees for Christ"), or their willingness to blend heavy metal music with Christianity, two seemingly incompatible worlds.

The band released five studio albums between 1984 and 1990. Three of those records-The Yellow & Black Attack, Soldiers Under Command and In God We Trust--attained gold record status (sales of 500,000 units or more) while 1986's To Hell with the Devil became the first Christian rock/metal album to reach platinum status. They competed head-to-head daily with secular counterparts Bon Jovi and Poison on MTV's request program Dial MTV from 1987 through 1988. Stryper disbanded in 1992 and the band members pursued separate ministries until reuniting briefly at a fan-organized Stryper Expo in 1999. The four original members reunited and went on tour in 2003. With bassist Tracy Ferrie replacing Timothy Gaines, Stryper released Reborn, their first studio album in fifteen years, 2005. Michael Sweet continues to minister through music both as the lead singer of Stryper and as a solo artist. The group is currently recording a new album slated for release in early 2009. Official website: www.stryper.com

2.) Bloodgood This Seattle-based band formed in 1985 with a sound that was heavy and intense, in the vein of classic British metal bands like Iron Maiden, Dio and Judas Priest. While Bloodgood was named after bassist/founder Michael Bloodgood, the band members also suggested a double meaning for the name referring to "good blood," as in the blood of Christ. Christian music veteran Darrell Mansfield brought the group to the attention of Frontline Records, and it was Mansfield who produced their self-titled debut album, which Frontline released in the spring of 1986. Life on the road saw a lot of discouragement for the band as many of the shows on their tour were badly promoted, and quite often, they had to accept far less money than was originally agreed on.

But the members of Bloodgood began to draw together as they saw their ministry start to bear fruit with many young fans giving their hearts to Jesus Christ. Bloodgood released five studio albums plus two live albums and an "official bootleg" CD before disbanding in 1994. The group reunited in late 2006 with a lineup which includes several familiar faces plus the addition of Stryper guitarist Oz Fox, who is pulling double duty as a member of both Stryper and Bloodgood. Michael Bloodgood is currently the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Church in Redmond, Washington. He recently released a worship CD entitled The Cross Changes Everything, and the members of Bloodgood are working on a new album for release sometime in the near future. Official website: www.bloodgoodband.com

3.) Resurrection Band (Also known as Rez Band or REZ for short) Based out of Chicago's Jesus People USA community, Resurrection Band formed in 1972 and began a ministry that would last for nearly three decades. Led by the husband and wife duo of Glenn and Wendi Kaiser, the group delivered a blues-flavored hard rock sound which they referred to as "hard rock for hard hearts," or "music to raise the dead." In addition to singing about spiritual topics such as salvation and discipleship, Resurrection Band also tackled many political and social issues ranging from abortion to apartheid. In fact, REZ was the first American rock band to record a song protesting apartheid with "Afrikaans" in 1979 (from the album Rainbow's End). Peter Gabriel would bring the issue to the world's attention one year later with the song "Biko." The band closed almost thirty years of music ministry in 2000 with a farewell performance at the Cornerstone Festival near Bushnell, Illinois. Resurrection Band recently reunited for a performance at this year's Cornerstone Festival. Glenn Kaiser has established a solo career as a blues singer and musician. He also speaks to youth as well as adults about various spiritual issues. Official website: www.resurrectionband.com

4.) Whitecross This Waukegan, Illinois-based band formed in 1986 and released their self-titled debut album through Pure Metal Records the following year. Whitecross drew many comparisons to the secular band Ratt, largely due to frontman Scott Wenzel's vocal resemblance to Ratt's lead singer, Stephen Pearcy. Fans also loved Rex Carroll's fast, technical guitar work. Carroll left the group in 1992, and Wenzel retained the rights to the name "Whitecross." He continued to record and tour, venturing in musical directions drastically different from classic Whitecross. The band went on hiatus while Wenzel took a two-year break in 1998 for missions work in South America. Scott Wenzel and Rex Carroll reunited for a series of concerts beginning in 2002. Then in 2005, they re-recorded the band's debut album and re-released it with a couple of new tracks under the title Nineteen Eighty-Seven, the year of the original albums release. On April 5, 2008, Whitecross played Legends of Rock festival in Ennepetal, Germany. Wenzel and Carroll are planning to record some new songs for a Whitecross album, and Carroll may also record a new solo album in the near future. Official website: www.whitecrossmusic.com

5.) Barren Cross Based out of Los Angeles, Barren Cross was formed in 1983 by high school friends Ray Parris (guitars) and Steve Whitaker (drums). Along with bassist Jim LaVerde and lead vocalist Mike Lee, they recorded and independently released their debut EP Believe two year later. The name Barren Crosscomes from a lyric from "He Loves You," one of their earliest songs."

Is there a hole in your heart
you can't seem to fill?
You've tried everything,
But it's empty still.

Look to the Cross, that's where your answer is.
He's not hanging there, no, He lives--
The Barren Cross.

The following year, Barren Cross signed with Star Song Records and released their first full-length album Rock for the King. RFTK featured the six songs from Believe with three new tracks added. Barren Cross was influenced musically by several classic British metal bands including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, although most observers compared them mainly with Maiden due to Mike Lee's vocal resemblance to Iron Maiden's lead vocalist, Bruce Dickinson. In addition to singing about spiritual or faith-based themes, they also tackled a broad range of issues from drug and alcohol abuse, abortion, terrorism, suicide and racism. In 1988, the band released Atomic Arena through secular label Enigma Records, which was also Stryper's home label. They followed up a year later with State of Control. While with Enigma, Barren Cross also released a live album, Hotter Than Hell, and a re-issue of Rock for the King with some additional live tracks, both in 1990. Mike Lee left the band briefly during the early 90's to pursue a project as the vocalist and songwriter for the group BareBones, but rejoined Barren Cross in 1994 on the album Rattle Your Cage, released through Restless Records. After having been on a lengthy hiatus, the members of Barren Cross have played several concerts in recent years, and announced their reunion earlier this year. They are presently planning an album for release probably sometime next year. Official website: www.barrencross.net

6.) Bride Brothers Dale and Troy Thompson formed the band Matrix in 1983. Three years later, the Kentucky-based band caught the attention of Refuge Records while Matrix was opening for the Daniel Band. Refuge signed the band to their new metal label, Pure Metal. After a change of name from Matrix to Bride, the group began recording their first album, Show No Mercy, which was released in 1987. Bride released two more albums with Refuge/Pure Metal before the company was bought out by Star Song Records, which picked up the band to add to their own roster. Over the years the band has exhibited a number of musical styles, including heavy metal, hard rock, progressive metal, grunge and alternative rock. While the band have taken much criticism for abruptly changing their sound every once in awhile, they have remained popular in the United States as well as in Brazil. Official website: www.bridepub.com

7.) Jerusalem Guitarist/vocalist Ulf Christiansson founded Jerusalem in 1975 in his native Sweden. Along with Resurrection Band, Jerusalem is recognized as one of the first bands to combine Christian lyrics with hard rock music. The group's message was aimed mainly at youth, with their primary focus being on evangelism. Many of their early concerts have been described as part rock concert, part revival meeting with altar calls inviting attendees to give their hearts to Christ. The band's self-titled first album sold 20,000 copies within six months after its release in 1978, a feat previously unheard of in the Christian rock genre in Europe. Jerusalem continued to build a following across Europe and, eventually, in the United States where they signed with Pat Boone's label, Lion & Lamb Records. The group made several successful tours of the United States during the early to mid-1980's. In 1987, their album Dancing on the Head of the Serpent drew controversy largely because the cover artwork depicted a demon being kicked viciously by a foot clad in an army boot, an image which shocked many Swedish Christians. Many record stores refused to carry DOTHOTS, while some stocked the record but sold it under the table. After seven years of silence, Jerusalem released their most acclaimed album, Prophet, in 1992. Ulf Christiansson has released several solo albums over the years, and continues to tour off and on with Jerusalem. The band is working on material for a Jerusalem album which they hope to release in the near future. Official website: www.jerusalem.se

8.) Leviticus Leviticus was another Swedish band, formed in 1982 by guitarist Bjorn Stiggson. The band's early material reflected the glam rock sound that was typical of that time, blending in some other rock influences. Their final album, Knights of Heaven (1989), showed a change in direction toward a more commercial arena rock sound in the vein of late-80's Petra. Stiggson released a solo album, Together with Friends, in 1988. After Leviticus disbanded, Stiggson and vocalist Sonny Larson continued performing together as XT. Bassist Ez Gomer and vocalist Terry Haw, who had performed on 1987's Setting Fire to the Earth, formed the band Jet Circus in 1988. Stiggson reunited with several members of Leviticus in 2003 to perform at the final Bobfest festival.

9.) Daniel Band This Toronto-based band formed in 1979 and went on to become pioneers of Contemporary Christian Music with a sound that ranged from rock to heavy metal. Daniel Band was based out of Bendale Bible Chapel in Scarborough, Ontario. The church held a weekly coffeehouse program called The One Way Inn in its basement, featuring various rock bands. The band's first album, On Rock (1982), sounded like a harder edged mix of April Wine and Boston, with some high register Rush-like vocals thrown in. The next two albums, Straight Ahead (1983) and Run from the Darkness (1984), chronicled the band's shift in musical direction to a heavy metal sound.

Many fans believe Daniel Band arrived on the scene at a time before the CCM market was ready for pure heavy metal bands. It wasn't until the mid-80's when hard rock became a viable genre in the Christian market. Stryper emerged in 1984, taking their message to the mainstream market, and bands such as Bloodgood, Bride and Whitecross began to sell records.

Although Daniel Band played a "farewell concert" in Toronto in 1988, the group has never officially disbanded. The band members have been involved in many outside projects in various schools and churches in addition to recording solo albums and side projects. In 2001, they released a live album recorded at that year's Cornerstone Festival. Daniel Band opened at Audio Adrenaline's Toronto concert during AA's farewell tour. Earlier that year, they played a couple of shows in Sarnia. In 2007, the group played at a celebration of The One Way Inn's 35^th anniversary and Bendale Bible Chapel's 50^th anniversary. Former Daniel Band member Wayne Morgan now pastors a Baptist church in Prince George, British Columbia.

10) Sacred Warrior Sacred Warrior was a band from the Chicago area whose sound resembled such bands as Iron Maiden and Queensryche. Founding members Rey Parra (lead vocals), Bruce Swift (guitar) and Tony Velazquez (drums) had known each other for years before any of them had accepted Christ, playing together in bands on the Chicago club circuit. Swift was the first to become a Christian, and he began to share his faith with his bandmates, leading Parra and Velazquez to Christ. He also witnessed to a nightclub bouncer named Rick Macias. After his conversion, Macias joined Sacred Warrior as the group's keyboardist. Following the addition of bassist Steve Watkins, the band released a three-song demo tape in 1988, followed by their first full-length album, Rebellion, later that year. Rebellion is still considered to be Sacred Warrior's best album. The group disbanded in 1993 after the release of Classics, a "best of" album. They reunited during the summer 2001, performing at the Cornerstone Festival near Bushnell, Illinois. Their Cornerstone set was recorded for a live album, which was released later that year. Official website: www.sacredwarrior.net

Honorable Mentions

Holy Soldier

Shout

Neon Cross

Believer