If this is a repeat topic I apologize. What albums/bands would you suggest to a 'newbie' in the world of 'Christian Metal' ? from classic to current... essential bands lists... essential albums lists.... whatever ya got... feedback please.

Bands:

Barnabas
Barren Cross
Becoming the Archetype
Believer
Bloodgood
Bride
Crimson Moonlight
Deliverance
Extol
Guardian
Holy Soldier
Horde
Leviticus
Living Sacrifice
Messiah Prophet
Mortification
Narnia
Sacred Warrior
Saint
Stryper
The Showdown
Tourniquet
Ultimatum
Vengeance Rising
Whitecross

I'm probably forgetting some key players but that's a good start.

If I was gonna make a list of, say, 5 albums every Christian metalhead should own, it would go something like this:

Stryper - To Hell With the Devil
Bloodgood - Detonation
Saint - Too Late for Living
Sacred Warrior - Rebellion
Barren Cross - Atomic Arena

ty.

Essential:

1. Tourniquet - Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance
2. Deliverance - Weapons of Our Warfare
3. Saviour Machine - II
4. Antestor - Martyrium
5. Saviour Machine - Legend Part II
6. Theocracy - Theocracy
7. Deliverance - Deliverance
8. Rob Rock - Holy Hell
9. Virgin Black - Elegant... and dying
10. Antestor - The Return of the Black Death
11. Saviour Machine - I
12. Lengsel - Solace
13. Deliverance - Learn
14. Virgin Black - Sombre Romantic
15. Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
16. Theocracy - Mirror of Souls
17. Tourniquet - Crawl to China
18. Rob Rock - Rage of Creation
19. Jacobs Dream - Theater of War
20. Extol - Burial
21. Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice
22. Jacobs Dream - Jacobs Dream
23. Believer - Extraction from Mortality
24. Wingdom - Reality
25. Tourniquet - Psychosurgery

Also definitely worth checking out:

Mortification - Post Momentary Affliction
Mortification - Scrolls of the Megilloth
Vardøger - Whitefrozen
Frosthardr - Maktesløs
Teramaze - Tears to Dust
Extol - Synergy
Immortal Souls - Under the Northern Sky
Believer - Sanity Obscure
Believer - Dimensions
Recon - Behind Enemy Lines
Deliverance - Assimilation
Deliverance - What a Joke
Blindside - Silence
Harmony - Dreaming Awake
Sanctifica - Spirit of Purity
Tourniquet - Where Moth and Rust Destroy
Tourniquet - Stop the Bleeding
Tourniquet - Vanishing Lessons
Tourniquet - Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm
Virgin Black - Requiem - Mezzo Forte
Rob Rock - Garden of Chaos
Stryper - Soldiers Under Command
Narnia - Enter the Gate
Narnia - Desert Land
Narnia - Awakening

Good lists

If I had to pick some top 'essential' albums...

Stryper - To Hell With The Devil
Stryper - Soldiers Under Command
Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice
Tourniquet - Stop the Bleeding
Tourniquet - Psycho Surgery
Deliverance - Weapons of Our Warfare
Believer - Extraction From Mortality
Barren Cross - Atomic Arena
Bloodgood - Bloodgood
Rob Rock - Holy Hell
Mortification - Mortification
Mortification - Scrolls of the Megilloth

Although most wouldn't consider it 'metal', I also REALLY suggest...

Resurrection Band - Awaiting Your Reply
Resurrection Band - Rainbow's End

Other Recommendations (in No Particular Order)...

Temple of Blood - Prepare for the Judgement of Mankind
Holy Soldier - Holy Soldier
Holy Soldier - Last Train
Becoming The Archetype - Terminate Damnation
Resurrection Band - Silence Screams
Bride - Show No Mercy
Bride - Live to Die
Bride - Rattlesnakes in the Playground
Extol - Undeceived
Frost Like Ashes - Tophet
Frost Like Ashes - Born to Pieces
Rob Rock - Rage of Creation
Rob Rock - Eyes of Eternity
Rob Rock - Garden of Chaos
Tourniquet - Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance
Seventh Angel - Head the Warning Demo
Seventh Angel - The Torment
Living Sacrifice - Living Sacrifice
Mastedon - It's a Jungle Out There
Saint - In the Battle
Barren Cross - State of Control

And many, many more... can't list any more, as I'm about to fall asleep

Depends on what style of metal you're into. The above lists are very well done, and are would be a great place to start.

I personally am more into the glam metal side of things, growing up with bands like Guns n Roses, Warrant, Poison, Tesla, LA Guns, Ratt, etc. So my list of Christian bands I'd recommend is:

Guardian
Whitecross
Holy Soldier
X-Sinner
Novella
Angelica
Electrik
Shout/Ken Tamplin
Ransom
Crystavox
Chryztyne
Eden
Fear Not
Nouveaux
Rage of Angels
Seraiah
Siloam
Tempest

You just need my CD collection. That's the essentials.

Impelliterri - Screaming Symphony (Just ripping metal from the start to the blistering finish and a good introduction to Rob's voice and power metal)
Tourniquet - Vanishing Lessons (middle T album with emphasis on melody, not so disarmingly intricate like POD)
Extol - Undeceived (Black/death metal starter for those interested in such things, not as muddy as Burial)
P.O.D. - Fundamental Elements (for some rap 'n roll, rap-metal, rap-core)
Living Sacrifice - Reborn (intro to metal-core album)
Project 86 - Drawing Black Lines (for more modern/pit-metal)
Saviour Machine - Legend III (a) [their (Eric Clayton's) best example (not best album) of combining goth with metal thanks to Grimmark]
Deliverance - Weapons (epitomizes Xian thrash; I would rec Betrayal, but that stuff's hard to get ahold of)
Narnia - Desertland (for the euro-metal and Liljegren starter - just check into all his side projects esp. Divinefire)

And, wow, Argyle Park - Misguided for industrial, just one of the greatest albums of all time in any form/worldview/genre of rock.

Just trying to cover all facets of metal's long reaching black, stormy cloud

I would recommend starting off from the "First Wave" of Christian metal artists onward.

*Note- what was considered "metal" back in the day would now probably be considered "hard rock." Nevertheless, it was "metal" in its time!

The First Wave would include (Late 70's - early 80's):

Resurrection Band (aka Rez or Rez Band) - Colours is a great album to start off with.
Leviticus - Setting Fire to the Earth is their masterwork.
Daniel Band - On Rock, Straight Ahead and Run From the Darkness are all phenomenal.
Jerusalem - In His Majesties Service.
Barnabas - Feel the Fire


The Second Wave of Christian Metal (Mid 80's - Late 80's):

Stryper: Soldiers Under Command is a MUST!
Barren Cross: Atomic Arena or State of Control are both essential!
Bloodgood: Detonation
Saint: Too Late for Living is a masterpiece!
Shout: It Won't Be Long = Pop Metal at its finest!
Messiah Prophet: Master of the Metal
Deliverance: S/T and Weapons of Our Warfare
Vengeance (Rising): Human Sacrifice
Rage of Angels: S/T
Sacred Warrior: Rebellion and Master's Command
Believer: Any album
Holy Soldier: S/T
Bride: Live to Die and Silence is Madness

The Third Wave (90's - present):


Tourniquet: Stop the Bleeding, Psycho Surgery, and Pathogenic Occular Dissonance are spectacular!
Guardian: Fire and Love and Miracle Mile
Siloam: Sweet Destiny
Mortification: Scrolls of the Megilloth
Fear Not: S/T
Ultimatum


This is not to say that this is the "end all/be all list," but this is what I can recommend according to the artists/albums I have owned and appreciated throughout the years.

Check out The Catacombs here at the CMR. There are several threads at the top of that page that will help you.

CMR Top 100 Christian Metal Albums Of All Time!


Here is our 2007 Top Christian Metal List:

1. Stryper--To Hell With The Devil

2. Vengeance Rising--Human Sacrifice

3. Deliverance--Weapons Of Our Warfare

4. Stryper--Soldiers Under Command

5. Mortification--Scrolls Of The Megiloth

6. Tourniquet--Stop The Bleeding

7. Believer--Extraction From Mortality

8. Deliverance--Deliverance

9. Extol--Undeceived

10. Barren Cross--Atomic Arena

11. Holy Soldier--Holy Soldier

12. Theocracy--Theocracy

13. Tourniquet--Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance

14. Extol--Burial

15. Deliverance--Learn

16. Vengeance Rising--Once Dead

17. Bride--Snakes In The Playground

18. Guardian--Fire And Love

19. Believer--Sanity Obscure

20. Toruniquet--Psycho Surgery

21. Rob Rock--Holy Hell

22. Believer--Dimensions

23. Antestor--The Return Of The Black Death

24. Barren Cross--State Of Control

25. Bloodgood--Detonation

26. Tourniquet--Vanishing Lessons

27. Narnia--Long Live The King

28. Recon--Behind Enemy Lines

29. Saint--Too Late For Living

30. Living Sacrifice--The Hammering Process

31. Rob Rock--Eyes Of Eternity

32. Sympathy--Arcane Path

33. Ultimatum--Mechanics Of Perilous Times

34. Living Sacrifice--Living Sacrifice

35. Antestor--The Forsaken

36. Ultimatum--Puppet Of Destruction

37. Mortification--Post Momentary Affliction

38. Impelitteri--Screaming Symphony

39. Neon Cross--Neon Cross

40. Bride--Live To Die

41. Rage Of Angels--Rage Of Angels

42. Sacred Warrior--Rebellion

43. Whitecross--Whitecross

44. Antestor--Martyrium

45. Deliverance--Stay Of Execution

46. Saint--Time's End

47. Whitecross--Hammer And Nail

48. Veni Domine--Fall Babylon, Fall

49. Tourniquet--Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm

50. Stryper--Yellow And Black Attack

51. Bloodgood--Bloodgood

52. Impelitteri--Eye Of The Hurricane

53. Lengsel--Solace

54. Sacred Warrior--Master's Command

55. Messiah Prophet--Master Of The Metal

56. Mortification--EnVision Evangeline

57. Extol--Synergy

58. Narnia--The Great Fall

59. Sacred Warrior--Obsessions

60. Bride--Silence Is Madness

61. Holy Soldier--Last Train

62. Saviour Machine--II

63. Saviour Machine--Legend II

64. X-Sinner--Get It

65. Petra--On Fire!

66. Saint--The Mark

67. Saviour Machine--Saviour Machine

68. Living Sacrifice--Inhabit

69. Mortification--Mortification

70. Sacrament--Testimony Of The Apocalypse

71. Schaliach--Sonrise

72. Stryper--Against The Law

73. Bloodgood--Out Of The Darkness

74. Immortal Souls--Under The Northern Sky

75. Harmony--Dreaming Awake

76. Rob Rock--Rage Of Creation

77. Living Sacrifice--Reborn

78. The Crucified--Pillars Of Humanity

79. The Crucified--The Crucified

80. Jacob's Dream--Jacob's Dream

81. Crimson Moonlight--Veil Of Rememberance

82. Seventh Angel--Lament For The Weary

83. Paramecium--Within The Ancient Forest

84. Underoath--Cries Of The Past

85. Zao--Liberate to ex Inferis

86. Virgin Black--Sombre Romantic

87. Sacred Warrior--Wicked Generation

88. Whitecross--1987

89. Crimson Moonlight--The Covenant Process

90. Crimson Thorn--Dissection

91. Divinefire--Glory Thy Name

92. Haven--Age Of Darkness

93. Narnia--Enter The Gate

94. Red Sea--Blood

95. Whitecross--Triumphant Return

96. Precious Death--Sotuhpaw

97. Tamplin And Friends--An Axe To Grind

98. Seventh Avenue--Between The Worlds

99. Liberty N Justice--Soundtrack Of A Soul

100. Saviour Machine--Legend I

Wow.... you ppl really know how to reply to a thread

Thank you very much for all the sweet replies... these lists will not go unused I assure you. Thanks again and I hope the lists help many others find what they are looking for as well.

I will give you some bands that are in my collection that range from rock/hard rock to heavy metal. Some rock band have metalic elements in their music. Sorry for the repeats.

Sonic Flood - good energic youthful praise music.
Whiteheart
Petra
Resurrection (Rez) Band
Daniel Band
Stryper
Michael Sweet
Sin Dizzy
Holy Soldier
Guardian
X-Sinner
Mastedon
Siloam
Legend (Legend 7)
Ken Tamplin
Shout
Magdallan/Magdalen
Angelica
Whitecross
Bloodgood
Impellitteri
Rob Rock
Driver
Fires Of Babylon
Barren Cross
Saint
Sacred Warrior
Deliverance

Other band that I don't own Cds that I recommend:
Narnia
Savior Machine
Tourniquet
Theocracy

Hope this helps.

Another newbie here...
I'm not seeing one of my favorite metal bands in these lists... Demon Hunter.
What's the going theory on them around here? I enjoy them, but I often don't see them listed when someone is talking about Christian metal...

also, to the OP, my favorite bands would have to be
Demon Hunter (they are pretty easy to find, and catchy, although that might not be the most desirable aspect of a metal band)
Living Sacrifice
Narnia
Becoming the Archetype
The Showdown (especially their first album)

How "heavy" do you want to go? I'm not a huge fan of a LOT of the "classic essentials".

Extol - Undecieved
Lengsel - Solace
Living Sacrifice - Inhabit
Betrayal - The Passing
Sympathy - Arcane Path, Anagogic Tyranny
Feast Eternal - With Fire, Prisons of Flesh
Benea Reach - Alleviat
Crimson Moonlight - Veil of Remembrance, The Covenant Progress
Seventh Angel - Lament for the Weary

OMGosh.


Please see posts above.

I'm a big fan of all these lists. My bro's and sis's know their metal.

My list would look the most like k's so... yeah... just see his list and you'll know where I stand.

Mine are based on they still get plays from me and I won't list an album less then 10 years old....hard to say essential if it has not stood a test of time.
Barren Cross- Atomic Arena
Guardian -First watch
Mortification - S/T
Vengeance Rising - All albums
Deliverance - S/t, What a Joke, Weapons of Our Warfare, Stay of Execution
Die Happy - S/T
Tourniquet- Stop the Bleeding, Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance, Psycho Surgery, Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm
Bloodgood- Detonation
Stryper - Soldiers Under Command
Sacrament - Testomony of Apocalypse
Seventh Angel - The Torment
Betrayal - Renassance By Death
Believer - Sanity Obscure
Whitecross -S/T/, Hammer and Nail
Trytan - Sylentiger
Eternal Ryte - World Requim
Rage of Angels - S/T
Bride - Kinetic Faith
Living Sacrifice - Full cataloge
X-Sinner - Get it
Extol - Burial
Feast Eternal - Prisons of Flesh
ZAO - Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest
Precious Death - I only have the best of album

I am sure there are more, I had a long break in the 90's from Christian metal so there is a large gap in my collection, but to me in my personal collection these are great albums and still are even after ten years

I appreciate all the replies. I realize there was a top 100 albums thread elsewhere but I think this thread includes stuff that maybe would not have otherwise made it on that list. The 'inbetween the cracks' kind of stuff eigh?