Bands with a "Christian sounding" name?

STRUTTER777 · Heaven's Metal Cowboy Number of posts: 2111 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Do you think it hurts a Christian band's chances for success if they have a religious sounding, or Christian sounding name?

I don't see why it should, when there are so many successful secular bands out there with religious sounding names:

Genesis, Exodus, Kingdom Come, Lamb of God, Testament, Priest, Sabbath...

So why would a Christian band feel they need to find a name that "doesn't sound religious" or that has a hidden spiritual meaning?

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**ultmetal** · Number of posts: 3412 Registration date: 2006-12-26

The Christian tag in general hurts a band's chances at mainstream success. It's not impossible as Stryper and P.O.D. have shown. However, the Bible is pretty clear that we will be hated for his name sake, so I suppose it shouldn't be shocking when the world rejects a "Christian" band.

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**Tall Tyrion** · Number of posts: 10208 Age: 41 Registration date: 2007-01-28

Interesting question. I don't think it really hurts a band except with
a few ignorant people (the same yahoos who claim that "Christianity has
no place in metal"). Bands like Deliverance, Barren Cross, Believer,
etc... all had some measure of success in the secular scene because
they are good bands.

If you're good, I don't think the Christian tag or an overtly Christian sounding name hurts at all.

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Follower of Jesus · Number of posts: 3333 Age: 36 Registration date: 2007-04-07

TT - I freakin' love your signature. That is classic!

As to the question of the thread...I think the more in-your-face a name is, the worse it can hurt.

Stryper was not a bold name. No one really knew what it meant except that the guys always wore stripes. Deliverance too is a vague enough term that can mean anything. Bride is also kind of a generic term that could mean anything to an unbeliever. Same with Sacred Warrior.

Barren Cross is getting more to the point, as is Whitecross.

Modern Christian metal bands do seem to be staying an arm's length from any overtly Christian band names. Their names mean something to Christians who understand how a name can be interpreted within the Christian faith, but to the world they mean nothing.

**Tall Tyrion** · Number of posts: 10208 Age: 41 Registration date: 2007-01-28

Follower of Jesus wrote:

TT - I freakin' love your signature. That is classic!

_________________
“If you make less than $250,000 your taxes will not go up. Not one dime.” BH Obama

''Let me be clear: There is no military solution in Iraq and there never was. The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year -- now,'' Candidate Obama in 2007

STRUTTER777 · Heaven's Metal Cowboy Number of posts: 2111 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Quote:

I think the more in-your-face a name is, the worse it can hurt.

Okay, but then why didn't it hurt the secular bands listed above?

How much more in-your-face religious sounding can you get then Genesis, Exodus, Kingdom Come, and Lamb of God?

_________________
YOU MUST RESIST!!!

"Saddam Hussein was an international criminal who deserved to be removed and punished. George Bush the father should have and could have removed him, but it took George Bush the son to do the job."
-- Peter Wagner

"There are terrorists who are intent on destroying the United States of America, and we will not let them." -- Paul Stanley, KISS

**Black Rider** · Man in Morph Number of posts: 14613 Age: 41 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Because people know it's not serious and in Lamb Of God's case, it's a big mockery.

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Temple of Blood · Number of posts: 1106 Age: 34 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Black Rider wrote:

Because people know it's not serious and in Lamb Of God's case, it's a big mockery.

Bingo! Tell him what he's won ...

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TEMPLE OF BLOOD - Intense Power Thrash Metal with Biblical lyrics
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KingsRite · Number of posts: 1543 Age: 39 Registration date: 2008-07-23

"TEMPLE OF BLOOD" is a clever name.

It could go either way.

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metalheaded · Number of posts: 435 Age: 37 Registration date: 2007-12-01

I've always really like the name Armored Saint. Great band, too. That would be a killer Christian band name, though.

Staybrite · Number of posts: 966 Registration date: 2007-04-08

I always thought "Steel Prophet" would have been a cool name for a Christian band.

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KingsRite · Number of posts: 1543 Age: 39 Registration date: 2008-07-23

Yeah, I always thought they were and then I took a listen.

Nothing really anti, just definately not christian based.

I like the name BIG BAD WHITE ANGEL. Very Happy

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Uncle NecRo · Number of posts: 1467 Registration date: 2007-04-09

BAH!
...I like the band names that reflect the utter brutality that is the Gospel and the Xian life for what it is, raw and unflinching: Mortification, Living Sacrifice, Crimson Thorn, Ultimatum, et al. The music and the band names fit the mindset and lifestyle for me. And, I'm always amused by the other Christians at church who think I'm talking about secular bands..."Crimson Thorn? I only listen to Christian music..."

...as to whether or not having a blantant Christian name hurts their chances of "making it" or not...I know I'm gonna ruffle some feathers here, but, who cares if the mainstream gets us? Great METAL is great METAL, period. Seriously, when I hear some so-called "evil metal" band whining about Christian metal, I wonder what they're so worried about. Could it be that the name of Jesus Christ still makes everyone nervous after 2000 years? End of sleep-deprevation endused rant for now...

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Joe C · Number of posts: 171 Age: 45 Registration date: 2008-01-28

metalheaded wrote:

I've always really like the name Armored Saint. Great band, too. That would be a killer Christian band name, though.

I've always wondered if there was any truth to the Armored Saint vs. Saint
controversy. I had read several years ago, on several sites, that Saint
was "threatened" by the band Armored Saint, accusing Saint of using too much of a similar name.

I guess when Armored Saint saw the size of Josh Kramer...they gracefully backed down.
Laughing

Temple of Blood · Number of posts: 1106 Age: 34 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Great post Uncle Necro. Smile

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TEMPLE OF BLOOD - Intense Power Thrash Metal with Biblical lyrics
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METALOMAN · Number of posts: 50 Age: 43 Registration date: 2007-03-26

STRUTTER777 wrote:

Do you think it hurts a Christian band's chances for success if they have a religious sounding, or Christian sounding name?

I don't see why it should, when there are so many successful secular bands out there with religious sounding names:

Genesis, Exodus, Kingdom Come, Lamb of God, Testament, Priest, Sabbath...

So why would a Christian band feel they need to find a name that "doesn't sound religious" or that has a hidden spiritual meaning?

In their case the irony and the mock is what works precisely!

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Chaz Of JD · Number of posts: 150 Age: 34 Registration date: 2008-04-21

Ive often been asked if Jacobs Dream is a christian band just because of the name. Yet u would be amazed at how many of our fans didnt know that we were for long periods of time.

METALOMAN · Number of posts: 50 Age: 43 Registration date: 2007-03-26

Chaz Of JD wrote:

Ive often been asked if Jacobs Dream is a christian band just because of the name. Yet u would be amazed at how many of our fans didn't know that we were for long periods of time.

I like to write stories with a message and poetically deep stuff for the very intelligent mind. But then, if we are a "ministry" and not just another band. If we do have the purpose of teaching the word and bring the good news of salvation, don't you think it is just necessary that the message of the bible is clear and understandable enough?

Otherwise it would be like speaking tongues without interpretations. It would not edify the church or the souls of the lost... It then would do nothing to actually spread the gospel through the music.

May the fact that the people could not identify you as Christians mean that they did not find anything to relate you to God in any way, except for the fact that the people say that you are Christian?

Please, I am not judging you or any other band. I know you already... just my thoughts as minister first and musician 2nd.

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bikergirl · Orange Crush Number of posts: 1053 Age: 43 Registration date: 2009-01-06

No, it more likely meant that so many people doen't know Christian symbols/ language/ stories/ culture well enough to recognize a band as Christian on their own accord. Many people don't do a study of the lyrics at all, just decide if they like the sound. Good or bad, they don't really know what ideas they are buying!!

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Chaz Of JD · Number of posts: 150 Age: 34 Registration date: 2008-04-21

May the fact that the people could not identify you as Christians mean that they did not find anything to relate you to God in any way, except for the fact that the people say that you are Christian?

Please, I am not judging you or any other band. I know you already... just my thoughts as minister first and musician 2nd.[/quote]

Nope. Not at all. The fact is many metalheads simply do not take the time to listen and or read the lyrics of the bands that they listen to. Songs like "The Bleeding Tree" from the bands first album for example were pretty clear. Anyone who listened to or read the words would have known imediately. Wink