THE FORGE OF HEAVY METAL: PROUDLY KEEPING HORNS HELD HIGH!: CHRISTIAN: THE OTHER BLACK METAL?

Coming from a Christian background, I can understand how the positive messages can be very appealing and fulfilling for some people out there. Over the years, the words of the bible have had a wide variety of vehicles to convey their message.

One of the strangest vehicles for "the word" by far (not excluding those creepy Veggie-Tales) has got to be pro-Christian extreme metal offshoot, Un-Black Metal, sometimes referred to as Unholy Metal, White Metal or Christian Black Metal. Like its Scandinavian cousin, Black Metal, the Un-Black stuff features aggressive, screeching vocals, fast, partially distorted guitars with tremolo picking and dark ominous overtones.

The only exception is that Un-Black literally preaches a positive message incorporating Christian beliefs and messages. Some in the Black Metal community see this as an oxymoron, taking into consideration the blatantly anti-religious stance the music has had since its inception. On the British black metal documentary Murder Music: A History of Black Metal (Available on the Forge Tube), all interviewed musicians stated when asked about the matter that black metal cannot be Christian. The term "Christian black metal" drew confused replies from the black metal musicians, for example Martin Walkyier of the English metal band Sabbat commented: "'Christian black metal?' What do they do? Do they build churches? Do they repair them? (laughs)"

Others including members of Mayhem whom practically founded the very concept of Black Metal itself, have said that Black Metal was never meant to convey certain ideologies, neither Christian or even Satanic, as long as it's dark and powerful.

So called "purists" however, don't quite see it that way, slews of YouTube commentaries and internet forums and chat rooms are riddled with arguments stating that Black Metal is something of an anti-religious torch bearer, and in more extreme circles, a message of Satanism like in the case of extreme Black Metal band, Gorgoroth.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you believe is the message of Black Metal if there really even is one to begin with. Frankly, with respect to the pioneers of the subgenre, Black Metal now, as opposed to back in the days just before the church burnings and Varg Vikernes incidents, is a technique, like choosing to paint in abstract over pointillism.

Not to mention, it's about time the "bible thumpers" of whom I used to be a part of, had something better to listen to then Jars of Clay, something with some real meat and grit to it.

Don't take anyone else’s word for it, if metal has taught me anything, it is this, make up your own mind, do not let someone or something make up your mind for you. With that said my metalhead (and some non metalhead) readers I give you a selection of Un-Black, Christian Black, Sorrow, White, Unholy Black Metal or whatever it is you want to call it. You decide whether or not, it can even remotely be held to same standards as its Scandinavian un-Christian predecessors.

BAND NAME: HOLY BLOOD

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UKRAINE

SONG: THE PATRIOT