On the Genre of Metal or Punk
Due to its high energy and often aggressive sounding vocal style, metal/punk/screamo music gives off an immediate impression of angst. If we looks to the Psalms as an example, we can see that it is okay and even good to be honest with God regardless of how we feel. The Psalmist regularly cries out to God in anguish. The psalms express all kinds of lows: sorrow for one’s own sin, frustration with the sins of others, feeling of being distant from God, or feeling challenged by God.
Whether it is an expression of honest struggles, or even high energy thanksgiving, I feel that there is a definite place for metal Christian music.
While I don’t listen to this genre of music nearly as often as I did in my teens, I still find myself returning to it when I feel that these songs can express an honest emotion that I am having. Because I don’t keep up with the bands, my selection might be dated a little. Still, I thought I would share some of the songs that I go to for some higher-energy musical prayer.
Metal Songs Anyone Can Pray With
For this list, I tried to choose a variety of styles and sounds, so that if you don’t like one, you can check out another. I think there is something for everyone in some of this music that, with listening time, anyone could enjoy or pray with.
Even if the sound doesn’t suit you, I am sure the lyrics would!
Sensitive that not everyone enjoys heavier sounding music, I will start with the least “heavy” song (though definitely not the least heavy band.
If you’d like to listen along, I placed the 4 songs in this playlist: Metal Songs to Pray With.
1. Talmidim (The Servants) by For Today
For Today is one of the intense sounding bands I’ll feature in this list, but this is one of the most accessible songs to a non-metal listening audience. Talmidim is one of their least stereotypically metal songs despite maintaining the drum style and distortion on the guitars. In contrast to the rest of the “Portraits” album – which features the messages and stories of various prophets – this song is entirely sung in clean (as opposed to screamed), worship-style vocals with scripture and preaching in the background.
The overall message and purpose of this song for me is inspiration. With repetition, the lyricist asks God to “make us worthy” to call ourselves His people.
“Lord of glory, make us worthy to possess Your Name.
Lord of glory, make us worthy to possess Your Name.
And give us a new name. And call us Your people, God.
And give us a new name.”
2. Heavy Hearts by Close Your Eyes
If you listen to any parts of this list, the end of this song is the part to hear. Yet, there are really three parts to this song, so I’ll go in order.
Like the previous song, this one comes at the end of an entire album with a continuous theme. The album, “Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts” covers the singer’s struggle between despair and hope. The song Heavy Hearts is the culmination. My reason for praying with this song is to have a hope in trials or despair or to remind myself to trust God through everything.
2.1 The Struggle in the Dark – 0:00-2:49
Beginning to recognize his own weakness, the singer sees that he has been trying to live life on his own. You can tell that he has had good moments in his relationship with God, but like us all, has failed to live a perfect life. Now he looks around to realize that our sinfulness and our choices affect others.
Bogged down by the struggle of this awareness, he prays this sincere prayer:
“Please take this away from me
Cause I can’t bear the shame
Of knowing I have failed
Of knowing that I’ve caused all this.”
Still, he isn’t sure. He ends this section asking, “Is there any hope left for me?”
2.2 The Recovery to the Light – 2:49-3:45
The intensity stops all at once, like the singer has just had an awakening. A realization. An answer to his despair.
“It is Your hands that carry me.
It is Your voice that spoke of a love I never knew.
It is Your grace that fills me.
It is Your love that sustains.
If there is hope, there is You.”
2.3 Peace and Beauty – 3:45-5:20
Taking shelter in the Lord, our protagonist is at peace. He still has sorrow for his failings, but rests in the fact that God is good and forgiving.
A choir singing in a polyphony comes in to sing a final prayer:
“In You Lord I have taken shelter.
In you Lord I have placed my trust.
Though my heart is prone to wander, Your grace shines to lead me home.
Forgive me Lord, when myself consumes me and I deny your redeeming blood.
Cleanse my hands for You are holy.
Fill my heart with your love.
Amen”
I set the link to the video below to begin at 3:45 if you wanted to relisten to this beautiful choir. I have tried to listen to this over and over, each time trying to follow a different melody.
3. Tithemi by Sleeping Giant
Tithemi is the Greek word meaning “to put in place, or lay down” and that is what this song does.
Sleeping Giant, with heavy drums, guitars, and vocals, declare that all must be put in it’s proper place – bowing to the Name of Jesus.
“All fear, all pain, all hurt, all grief, all lies, must bow to Jesus’ name
All kings, all thrones, everything that breathes life, must bow to Jesus’ name
The Earth, the sea, the sun, the stars, the sky, must bow to Jesus’ name
The Earth, the sea, the sun, the stars, the sky, must bow to Jesus’ name”
This reminds me of a similar litany said in the Liturgy of the Hours on Sundays:
“You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.”
This song is for giving all things to God.
4. I, The Jury by The Color Morale
This is a song of intercession and a reminder to pray.
The verses of I, the Jury point out that we often turn to the ugliness of the world instead of God. But sin causes death rather than life, and one day we will have to answer for our actions. The answer is prayer and forgiveness.
I love this song because it is a reflection on what I’ve called the “Fulcrum of Faith“, to forgive others as we have been forgiven. It calls for change in the world, but also in ourselves, and it calls for this change through falling to our knees.
Here is the prayer of the chorus:
“Father, Father will they let You in (let You in)?
Please forgive me, I am one of them (one of them).”
Finally, the song ends with a call to forgiveness of others as well as ourselves, and a reminder that prayer is our strength.
“Today, I stand tallest from my knees.”
More Musical Prayer?
I am sure there is more good Christian metal, punk, or metalcore out there. Feel free to comment with others!
I have talked about Audio Divina, how lyrics matter and how music can help prayer. I am sure there are great songs in most genres that can support our prayer, just as the psalms portray every emotion.
Next up, I’ll explore another favorite genre of mine: Country music.
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