Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
There are more punk rockers and headbangers in the church than you think.
Now if we could just get some of them to put something awesome together (a band?).
Lets do it, the OC.net collaboration album, this is what we do on other band related forums, I have worked on the Sonic Youth Gossip (forum) Compilation as well, its a lot of fun. Somebody just has to spear head the mix-down and collect all the submissions. Members are designated parts (drums, guitar, bass etc etc) and email their tracks to each other and then put them together.
I'm sure there are lots of heavy bands with Orthodox members in them...
And besides, many people have pre-conceived notions about how all Christian metal or Christian rock is awful, so probably quite a few people don't want to be associated with it and would rather just be seen as Christians playing in a (secular) band. This is actually something I'm struggling with at the moment.
Of course as an artist, I agree with your sentiment of "pre-conceived notions" as I personally don't like playing in specifically "Christian" bands as I think it is limiting for art. As an artist I am already a Christian and so ALL of my art reflects Christianity, I don't feel the need to accentuate or make it any more obvious, I prefer to work subtly and let the art speak for itself, so I for one would have those objections
Anyway, don't many Orthodox have a strong aversion to rock music in general?
Many Orthodox Christians do, and then again others do not. Personally, I am absorbed in intelligent yet aggressive music, tool is my favorite, but I grew up on Crust and Chaos punk so blast beats are my thing
For me, the edge and aggression that listening (and playing/writing, I am a musician as well and I play reggae and blues but also metal and punk equally) to this music brings is related to the sense of repentance. I myself use this music as a vehicle to sort out aggression, frustration, fear, and anger through the music. I use the music to help make sense of my feelings and work them out tangibly, so that the vibrations of the sound waves can carry them away, worked out and resolved. It is therefore therapeutic to me. Some folks think this music is energized by Satan, but as a musician I completely disagree. Some "Gospel" music is energized by Satan when it is not played in sincerity just as some of this aggressive music can be energized by the Holy Spirit when played by Christians from their hearts.
or like Asterkiktos said more beautifully and succinctly
Can't say that I agree. Metal gives me peace, comforts me in times of depression and sorrow, gives me an outlet or way of channeling anger and aggression, and frankly I find some of it to be quite beautiful (though I wouldn't expect someone not into metal--or even most metalheads--to consider metal "beautiful").
For me, this music is energized by the human heart trying to make sense of a sometimes confusing emotional world. This music's sound and lyrics cover the entire range of the human condition and experience, and that is a valuable insight sometimes. Art should reflect the complexity and totality of being human, and the Bible is as angst-filled as any other art. I think that the sound of aggressive metal would be equally appropriate soundtracks to some Biblical scenes and in my life it serves the same purpose which is also why I read a variety of novels, to better understand myself through these vehicles of expression.
Stay blessed,
habte selassie
