The Best Christian Metal Bands Of All Time, Listed
The best Christian metal bands can be a divisive topic to a lot of people considering the nature of the genre. It’s no secret that metal has always had a lot of lyrics against Christ, which makes these bands very divisive. However, metal covers a lot more than anti-religion and these groups have proven that time and time again.
Furthermore, regardless of ideologies or beliefs, these bands are just plain good. They have produced some amazing songs and records that deserve attention. Some are more known than others but they all deserve praise. Without further ado, here are, in no particular order, the best Christian metal bands.
1. Stryper
There is no denying that most people think of Stryper when talking about the best Christian metal bands. It makes sense considering their impact and commercial success in the 80s. During the heyday of metal in that decade, they made a lot of noise for being an openly Christian band.
This has resulted in a lot of controversies and the band getting a lot of unnecessary hate. That is a shame because this is a band that manages to combine metal with melodies in an amazing way. Singer and guitarist Michael Sweet has cited Judas Priest, Boston, and Van Halen as influences and it shows greatly.
The guitar duo of Sweet and Oz Fox is highly underrated as well, crafting some amazing melodies and riffs. And Robert Sweet, Michael’s brother, has to be one of the most underrated metal drummers. “Soldiers Under Command” and “To Hell With the Devil” are always praised as the band’s best records, but their recent albums deserve a lot of attention too.
2. Tourniquet
There is this misconception that the best Christian metal bands only play accessible music. A very good example that proves this notion wrong is the speed metal band Tourniquet. The group’s combination of classic heavy metal with thrash makes it one of the most outstanding bands in the genre.
They started in 1990 with “Stop the Bleeding“, which perhaps was poor timing considering thrash’s commercial downfall began there. However, Tourniquet‘s output has been quite consistent and went from an extreme to a more elaborate one.
The band sadly broke up after the passing of drummer Ted Kirkpatrick in 2022. However, Kirkpatrick and Tourniquet’s legacy lives on.
3. Deliverance
It’s interesting to see how thrash metal had a rather prolific Christian subdivision. While most fans do mention Tourniquet, Deliverance might be the most underrated choice. That is because the band manages to combine classic 80s thrash metal with some truly powerful melodies.
The band’s second album, 1990’s “Weapons of Our Warfare“, might be their best record to date. It combines the intensity one could expect from an Exodus album while adding melodies reminiscent of 80s Testament. Furthermore, tracks like the power ballad “23” show another side of what thrash metal could be.
Deliverance‘s sound has changed over the years, even going as far as toying with industrial music. However, their lyrics and quality have never truly waned even to this day. An underrated band with a lot of underrated music. But definitely one of the best Christian metal bands in the business.
4. X-Sinner
When it comes to the best Christian metal bands, the tag can oftentimes be damaging. It isn’t fair but there are bands that get this tag and are not given a fair chance. The case of X-Sinner comes to mind since they were lumped with that group and never given a second look.
The band started in the late 80s in California by guitarist Greg Bishop. X-Sinner had a sound that is reminiscent of that era’s hard rock, with strong AC/DC and Def Leppard influences. Their debut album, 1989’s “Get It“, wouldn’t feel out of place in any hard rock radio station of the time. The combination of vocals a la Brian Johnson and powerful riffs alone is a huge selling point.
However, the band never truly hit the market and was never given a proper chance. It is a shame because there is a lot of great music in this grup and should have gotten more attention.
5. Demon Hunter
There are some prominent Christian metal bands in the metalcore and hardcore scene, with Demon Hunter perhaps being the best example. This band has a very heavy sound and strong riffs, although the combination of harsh and melodic vocals is a staple of their sound.
The best way to start with the band is the self-titled 2002 record. It is a perfect encapsulation of the group’s sound and also adds to the spectacle of their evolution. The music becomes a bit more refined as they grow and evolve, although always maintaining that sense of aggression and intensity.
6. Impending Doom
Impending Doom has the interesting element of being a black metal band. That may sound contradictory when considering is a Christian band, but that’s what makes them so good. It also shows how black metal is not just about Satanism but the actual raw and powerful sound.
In that regard, Impending Doom is one of the most powerful Christian metal bands out there. Its sound is raw, with strong riffs, and oftentimes some of the most aggressive growls in the business. This is a band that is also a lot less commercial than others on this list because of said sound. However, for those who are searching for extreme metal, this one is the way to go.
7. HB
Finland has produced a lot of amazing bands over the years. Nightwish, Stratovarius, Tarot, Sonata Arctica, Children of Bodom… the list goes on. This is a country mostly known for its power and symphonic metal groups. However, there is one that tends to be overlooked and that is the Christian symphonic metal band HB.
The band ran from 2002 to 2016, gaining a very decent following. Its combination of symphonic metal with lyrics in Finnish and Christian topics made them stand out from the crowd. Perhaps they never fully break through in the mainstream, especially when compared to a band like Nightwish. However, they did have a minor hit, titled “The Jesus Metal Explosion“.
Furthermore, the vocals of Antti Niskala are a treat to the ears. It is a band with a strong melodic component and one that deserves a lot more attention.
8. Whitecross
Whitecross had the misfortune of poor timing. The band’s brand of 80s heavy metal and hard rock arrived at the end of the decade. This meant that the winds of change were taking place and this brand of music was losing popularity. It is a shame because, by the time they were peaking in the 90s, the genre was in decline.
However, that is mostly from a commercial perspective. When it comes to the music, Whitecross has everything an 80s metal fan would want. This band has charismatic vocals, strong guitar playing, and an upbeat, uplifting feel to it. Its 1991 album, “In The Kingdom“, is widely regarded as the band’s creative peak.
The band is still going strong and released an album in 2024, “Fear No Evil“.
9. Bloodgood
The American metal scene had an underground movement that never got the credit it deserved. This was the 80s American power metal scene, with a much stronger emphasis on heaviness and riffs. Groups like Fifth Angel, Chastain, Jack Starr’s Burning Starr, and many more were part of that movement. And in that regard, Bloodgood might be one of the most underrated examples.
The band hailed from Washington and stood out for playing classic 80s metal with Christian lyrics. While bands like Stryper, X-Sinner, and Whitecross had a more hard rock touch, Bloodgood was full-blown metal. That is shown from the group’s 1986 self-titled record.
The 1987 album, “Detonation“, shows a massive jump in quality, though. A much stronger production and the songwriting had a massive improvement in quality. As a fun fact, Oz Fox of Stryper fame played with the band from 2007 to 2022.
Sadly, the passing of bassist Michael Bloodgood led to the band’s demise in 2022. However, the great music they made deserves a lot of recognition.
10. Barren Cross
There is no denying that the 80s saw some of the best Christian metal bands. Especially when considering the genre’s popularity and the rise of classic heavy metal. In that regard, some bands got the short end of the stick from a commercial perspective and that was Barren Cross.
The band was at the heart of the California scene but never broke big. However, despite not making it big, they produced some amazing records. If people need a single reason to listen to them, it should be Mike Lee‘s vocals.
The man is a phenomenal singer, right out of the Ronnie James Dio and Bruce Dickinson school of singing. The band’s third album, 1989’s “State of Control“, is its creative peak and a great mix of heavy metal with some small thrash undertones.