Heavy metal music

Heavy Metal was developed around 1969 and 1974 from Psychedelic and Blues Rock and Classical music. The aural aspects of metal generally revolve around highly-amplified guitar distortion, fast guitar solos and harsh vocals.

Heavy Metal music and Spirituality

While Anti-Christian sentiments are quite common amongst the extreme metal sub genres, especially black and death metal, there is a large amount of heavy metal with an overtly Christian message (i.e, As I Lay Dying, Believer, Stryper) and several musicians of the genre are openly Christian, though very few outside Christian metal could be called fundamentalists. Such musicians include: Tom Araya, Dave Mustaine, Dave Ellefson, Chris Jericho, Max Calvera, and Dan Spitz. Some popular ensembles to this effect are Underoath, P.O.D., He Is Legend, and Norma Jean. One of the most popular Christian Metal labels is Tooth and Nail Records.

The following lyrics are from "New Faith[1]" by Slayer, an exemplary Trash Metal band with a large underground fan-base:

"Welcome to the horror of the revelation Tell me what you think of your savior now I reject all the biblical views of the truth Dismiss it as the folklore of the times I won't be force fed prophecies From a book of untruths for the weakest mind Join the new faith for the celebration Cult of new faith fuels the devastation"

The Anti-Christian sentiment is very apparent. However, one should note that the singer of Slayer is Tom Araya, listed first on the list above as being Christian.

Sub Genres

Sub genres include Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, Power Metal, Progressive (or Avant-Garde) Metal, and Gothic Metal.