Christian hardcore
Encyclopedia
Christian hardcore refers to metalcore
and hardcore punk
bands
that promote Christian
beliefs. How these bands promote Christianity, and to what extent, varies between bands. Christian hardcore bands often openly state their belief
s and employ Christian imagery in their lyrics, and may be considered a part of the Christian music industry
.
Fans of Christian hardcore music are not exclusively believers in the Christian religion. Thanks to some innovators in the hardcore movement such as Extol, Zao, Living Sacrifice, and the hardcore movement in general, the audience has become less exclusive (Hodges). Though the audience of Christian music has changed over the years, the same underlying message of hope and truth still remains a cornerstone in the lyrics of Christian Hardcore. Hardcore is a sub-genre which evolved from the punk genre in the 1980s. Hardcore is characterized by offbeat rhythms and vocals that follow a fast and driving tempo.
. Black Flag was not a Christian band however they produced a positive message in the early 1980s; Black flag was a key influence in the shaping of the hardcore scene. Straight edge music was the predecessor to hardcore music. The standard symbol of the straight edge groups are an “X” on the back of each hand. The phrase "straight edge" was first established in the song by Minor Threat. The usual tuning for hardcore/straight edge music is in drop D tuning
. It provides a darker tone and heavier sound to the songs. The lyrics usually focus on darker subjects that stray away from the average social topic. Christian hardcore music, however, usually focuses on salvation and a more Christ-like view point. The bands keep the same sound in the music and same basic tuning. With the evolution of Christian Hardcore music, few bands began to pave the way around the world.
For example, Extol
was formed in Bekkestua, Norway. They first become active as a band in 1993 however their first gig was on May 1994. Extol’s music has been put in the genre of black metal, death metal, progressive metal, as well as thrash metal and the band has produced albums under labels such as Endtime Productions, Solid State Records, and Century Media Records. The band was formed by drummer David Husvik and guitarist Christer Espevoll both age 16 at the time. The vocalist position was filled by Christer’s brother Peter, at the time age 14, and added bassist Eystein Holm before their first gig. By 1995 their style was moving toward a more progressive sound. In order to keep with their developing sound the band added Emil Nikolaisen as Extol’s new guitarist.
Zao is another pioneer in the modern hardcore movement. They were first formed in 1993 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. They commonly fall into the metalcore, early melodic hardcore and experimental rock. The Full Armor of God Broadcast host Bro. Scotland Kubinski (AKA: Kuba "The Demon Slayer") mentions labels on the program to his listeners, these labels include Solid State Records, Facedown, Bombworks, Metal Blade, Blood and Ink, Victory and Tooth & Nail Records. Zao has molded Christianity into their lyrics and song content. Zao has stated that they are “not selling Christ, just following Him,” which is evident in their shows and albums. The word zao is Greek which means to have life and their self-acclaimed genre, Christ-centered hardcore. Zao has none of the original members of the band, but still hold firm to the Christian beliefs. The original drummer of Zao is the one who brought the band from the brink of oblivion. Jesse added Daniel Weyandt, guitarist Russ Cogdell, and Brett Detar. The new Zao wanted their first album to not have a feel that the audience was being given a sermon. Leaving their preacher sound and embracing a more relatable sound of utter worship seems to have worked for the band. The band’s religious view and convictions are still in place, the band shows a more sincere sound as never before.
Living Sacrifice
is a Christian metal band formed in the late 1980s. They were formed in Little Rock, Arkansas and genres included Groove Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, and Thrash metal. Living Sacrifice was one of the first bands labeled as Death Metal. The band took a brief break in 2005, but reunited in 2008 and continues to tour and produce albums. Living Sacrifice has influenced many bands inside and out of the Christian-core genre. Tim McTague of Underoath
said, “Living Sacrifice was one of the first Christian heavy bands to be respected outside of the Christian scene. They definitely helped pave the way for our band’s crossover.”
, New Testament
, and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christian Messiah
, or showing the effects of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. However, many bands do not overtly announce that they are Christians. The reasons for this include attempting not to alienate non-Christian listeners, or to label the band as dealing with subject while the band may deal with many subjects, not just Christianity.
There are many Christian hardcore bands that choose not to announce in an open and straightforward manner that they are Christians. This may be because they feel they will lose popularity among non-Christian listeners. Some Christian hardcore bands are not obvious to identify because their lyrics might only express their views on everyday social and personal issues.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
and hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
that promote Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
beliefs. How these bands promote Christianity, and to what extent, varies between bands. Christian hardcore bands often openly state their belief
Belief
Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true.-Belief, knowledge and epistemology:The terms belief and knowledge are used differently in philosophy....
s and employ Christian imagery in their lyrics, and may be considered a part of the Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
.
Fans of Christian hardcore music are not exclusively believers in the Christian religion. Thanks to some innovators in the hardcore movement such as Extol, Zao, Living Sacrifice, and the hardcore movement in general, the audience has become less exclusive (Hodges). Though the audience of Christian music has changed over the years, the same underlying message of hope and truth still remains a cornerstone in the lyrics of Christian Hardcore. Hardcore is a sub-genre which evolved from the punk genre in the 1980s. Hardcore is characterized by offbeat rhythms and vocals that follow a fast and driving tempo.
History
Christian hardcore music started in the late 1980s and 1990s with its region being the United States. Hardcore Music Magazine states that from coast to coast in the US hardcore music flourished, monumental shows played in venues like 1st and 2nd Church in Boston, and random bars and clubs in Los Angeles. The first hardcore punk band that was a major influence upon the Christian hardcore scene was Black FlagBlack Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
. Black Flag was not a Christian band however they produced a positive message in the early 1980s; Black flag was a key influence in the shaping of the hardcore scene. Straight edge music was the predecessor to hardcore music. The standard symbol of the straight edge groups are an “X” on the back of each hand. The phrase "straight edge" was first established in the song by Minor Threat. The usual tuning for hardcore/straight edge music is in drop D tuning
Drop D tuning
Drop D tuning, also known as DADGBE, is an alternate, or scordatura, form of guitar tuning — specifically, a dropped tuning — in which the lowest string is tuned down from the usual E of standard tuning by one whole step to D.- Uses of drop D tuning :In drop D the three bass strings...
. It provides a darker tone and heavier sound to the songs. The lyrics usually focus on darker subjects that stray away from the average social topic. Christian hardcore music, however, usually focuses on salvation and a more Christ-like view point. The bands keep the same sound in the music and same basic tuning. With the evolution of Christian Hardcore music, few bands began to pave the way around the world.
For example, Extol
Extol
Extol is a Christian progressive extreme metal band from Bekkestua, Norway, that was formed in 1993. In 2007, they announced they were splitting up to work on separate projects. The band is known for playing a variety of different styles of metal which include progressive death metal, melodic death...
was formed in Bekkestua, Norway. They first become active as a band in 1993 however their first gig was on May 1994. Extol’s music has been put in the genre of black metal, death metal, progressive metal, as well as thrash metal and the band has produced albums under labels such as Endtime Productions, Solid State Records, and Century Media Records. The band was formed by drummer David Husvik and guitarist Christer Espevoll both age 16 at the time. The vocalist position was filled by Christer’s brother Peter, at the time age 14, and added bassist Eystein Holm before their first gig. By 1995 their style was moving toward a more progressive sound. In order to keep with their developing sound the band added Emil Nikolaisen as Extol’s new guitarist.
Zao is another pioneer in the modern hardcore movement. They were first formed in 1993 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. They commonly fall into the metalcore, early melodic hardcore and experimental rock. The Full Armor of God Broadcast host Bro. Scotland Kubinski (AKA: Kuba "The Demon Slayer") mentions labels on the program to his listeners, these labels include Solid State Records, Facedown, Bombworks, Metal Blade, Blood and Ink, Victory and Tooth & Nail Records. Zao has molded Christianity into their lyrics and song content. Zao has stated that they are “not selling Christ, just following Him,” which is evident in their shows and albums. The word zao is Greek which means to have life and their self-acclaimed genre, Christ-centered hardcore. Zao has none of the original members of the band, but still hold firm to the Christian beliefs. The original drummer of Zao is the one who brought the band from the brink of oblivion. Jesse added Daniel Weyandt, guitarist Russ Cogdell, and Brett Detar. The new Zao wanted their first album to not have a feel that the audience was being given a sermon. Leaving their preacher sound and embracing a more relatable sound of utter worship seems to have worked for the band. The band’s religious view and convictions are still in place, the band shows a more sincere sound as never before.
Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice is a Christian heavy metal band that formed in September 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. The band has released seven studio albums, out of which the first three were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren Johnson as a more thrash metal and death metal...
is a Christian metal band formed in the late 1980s. They were formed in Little Rock, Arkansas and genres included Groove Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, and Thrash metal. Living Sacrifice was one of the first bands labeled as Death Metal. The band took a brief break in 2005, but reunited in 2008 and continues to tour and produce albums. Living Sacrifice has influenced many bands inside and out of the Christian-core genre. Tim McTague of Underoath
Underoath
Underoath is an American Christian metalcore band from Tampa, Florida. Founded by Dallas Taylor and Luke Morton on November 30, 1997 in Ocala, Florida, subsequently its additional members were from Tampa, Florida...
said, “Living Sacrifice was one of the first Christian heavy bands to be respected outside of the Christian scene. They definitely helped pave the way for our band’s crossover.”
Music
The themes of Christian hardcore bands range from promoting Christian beliefs, detailing Christian influences such as the Old TestamentOld Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christian Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
, or showing the effects of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. However, many bands do not overtly announce that they are Christians. The reasons for this include attempting not to alienate non-Christian listeners, or to label the band as dealing with subject while the band may deal with many subjects, not just Christianity.
There are many Christian hardcore bands that choose not to announce in an open and straightforward manner that they are Christians. This may be because they feel they will lose popularity among non-Christian listeners. Some Christian hardcore bands are not obvious to identify because their lyrics might only express their views on everyday social and personal issues.
Record labels
- Facedown RecordsFacedown RecordsFacedown Records is a Christian record label based in Fallbrook, California, devoted mostly to hardcore punk and metalcore bands . Founded by No Innocent Victim drummer Jason Dunn, the label started off small with a number of 7" record releases by bands such as Overcome, Dodgin Bullets, and Born...
- Flicker RecordsFlicker RecordsFlicker Records is a Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It was founded by members of Christian rock group Audio Adrenaline. The label mainly focuses on rock/hard rock artists, though it also created a subsidiary, Big House Kids, for Christian children's music.The label was...
- Rescue RecordsRescue Records-Artists:*P.O.D.*Dogwood*N.I.V.*Tonéx*Dirt*Fros'T*Unity Klan*E-Roc* FASEDOWN*Sackcloth Fashion*Nailed Promise*Point Of Recognition*Ancient of Days* Skratchline*BLAH...
- Solid State RecordsSolid State RecordsSolid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,...
- Takehold Records
- Tooth & Nail RecordsTooth & Nail RecordsTooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
- Pluto RecordsPluto RecordsPluto Records is a record label started in 1999 by Eric Shirey and Brian Cobbel. Since 2002, it has been owned and operated by Brian Cobbel and based near Dallas, TX. It is primarily known for punk, metal, and hardcore releases, although not exclusively...
Related genres
- Christian punkChristian punkChristian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock with some degree of Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies among bands...
- Christian rockChristian rockChristian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
- Christian alternative rockChristian alternative rockChristian alternative rock is a form of alternative rock music that is lyrically grounded in a Christian worldview. Some critics have suggested that unlike CCM and older Christian rock, Christian alternative rock generally emphasizes musical style over lyrical content as a defining genre...
- Christian metalChristian metalChristian metal, also known as white metal, is a form of heavy metal music usually defined by its message in a song's lyrics as well as the band's dedication to Christianity...
See also
- List of Christian hardcore bands
- List of Christian punk bands, which includes Christian hardcore
- Christian rockChristian rockChristian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
External links
- Christian Hardcore Interviews and Information
- God Save the Teens: Local Kids Seek a New Kind of Church Through Hardcore and Hip-Hop by Lauren Sandler in the Village Voice 30 May - 5 June 2001
- Review As I Lay Dying and Norma Jean by Ben Bishop in HM Magazine
- Rock and Pop > Christian Punk and Hardcore in the Yahoo! Directory