HEAVY metal, by its very nature, is a challenging form of music. There is such a wide range of styles that fall within its ambit, and by the same token the lyrical topics vary from the plain silly to the downright serious.
However, the very term of heavy metal also conjures up images of the diabolic to the anti-theist. And where a band believes in one of the major Abrahamic religions they tend to keep that to themselves.
Such is not the case with Northern Ireland band For Christ's Sake - they openly declare their faith amid the blaze of ferocious death metal.
Yet, they enjoy more success away from these shores than in Northern Ireland.
We caught up with bassist Mark as the band prepare for the May release of their latest album - Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror. And with a title like that it immediately conjures up St John's doom-laden book of Revelations, one which already has been a subject of fascination for scholars and more than a few metal acts.
"Yes, the album title was influences by the events revealed in the Book of Revelations in the Bible," confirmed Mark. "We draw inspiration from this book for our forthcoming album and it has prompted the album's title.
"The majority of the lyrics are derived from the Book of Revelations, but we are not trying to force anything down anyone's throat whether they are a believer of an atheist. We give our viewpoint and like everyone on this earth you have the 'free will' to accept or reject."
Which of course begs the question, if one chooses to reject the New Testament believers think you are destined to an eternity in hell...which some can interpret as For Christ's Sake being a contradiction, playing brutal metal while believing many fans of metal are doomed.
"We feel first and foremost that we do this as an expression of our faith and belief in Christ," said Mark. "We feel empowered by this and feel that it speaks into the brutality of the music."
"Much of the scene is atheist, which is depressing as there are so many great Christian metal bands, although we are the only extreme metal band in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland."
That in itself is an issue for the band.
Mark explained: "People need to hear these bands! We feel we are pioneers in some respects even if we are pushed back in the local scene - if that is the case, so be it.
"We do not suffer because we get offers outside of Northern Ireland. We are just back from playing a major festival in Switzerland called Elements of Rock and we are due to play Meltdown Festival in the UK in May.
"We would like to be included in the local scene, but we seem to be judged by our beliefs more so than the brutality of our music, which we feel stands up to our peers."
Speaking of our peers, we wondered how members of their churches react to the look and sound of For Christ's Sake.
"It's a good question! We don't usually get asked to play at our churches mainly because of it being a tad too heavy for church, although most people are supportive of why we do it and the reasoning behind the music," said Mark. "They understand we have to help youngsters and teenagers hear our message and our music is accessible to that cohort of people; that branch of people who may think who may thing Christian music is stuffy, preachy and boring."
That is something that For Christ's Sake's full on assault could never be accused of! Indeed, asides from the brutality of the music they look at real world events through their faith. We wanted to know did that mean that the band has an evangelistic role in tackling those events.
"We look around us and see a broken world, with suicide, murder, war and drugs dragging us all down," said Mark. "Whether it be corporate corruption or the other wrongs facing the world we tackle these subjects from the point of view of someone who does not know God and what happens if you go down that path.
"For example our song 'Leech' tackles government and corporate corruption and greed and how we suffer because of this."
Despite this the band are open about their influences - which range from the likes of Nile, Gojira, and death metal. We do hope them listing Jessie J among their influences is a tongue in cheek name check!
"Most of our influences are some heavy Christian and non-Christian metal bands - and Belfastmetalheadsreunited readers should really check out Horde, Impending Doom, Becoming the Archetype, Inner Siege and Inexhoirdium to name but a few," said Mark.
At the minute in Northern Ireland there seems to be a live debate between secular influences and wider world challenges from other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The 'fundamentalist' Christian traditions are being challenged within our legislature with debates on abortion and same sex marriages. What, if any role, does a Christian metal band have in these real world controversies.
"We have to take a strong stance against things which are an attack on our beliefs," said Mark. "We do not sugar coat thorny subjects such as abortion or the same sex marriage debates.
"We don't judge. Our view is love the sinner not the sin. We base our beliefs on the Bible and if it's in the Bible that is what we believe."
As they prepare for the next stage in their development in musical terms For Christ's Sake want people to take an open-minded attitude to their music.
"Please get a copy of our EP and or new album, which is available for pre-ordfer on Roxx Productions. Sit down with a good set of headphones and blast our music and listen to what we are talking about. Listen to the music and we hope that you will not be disappointed!"
However, the very term of heavy metal also conjures up images of the diabolic to the anti-theist. And where a band believes in one of the major Abrahamic religions they tend to keep that to themselves.
Such is not the case with Northern Ireland band For Christ's Sake - they openly declare their faith amid the blaze of ferocious death metal.
Yet, they enjoy more success away from these shores than in Northern Ireland.
We caught up with bassist Mark as the band prepare for the May release of their latest album - Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror. And with a title like that it immediately conjures up St John's doom-laden book of Revelations, one which already has been a subject of fascination for scholars and more than a few metal acts.
"Yes, the album title was influences by the events revealed in the Book of Revelations in the Bible," confirmed Mark. "We draw inspiration from this book for our forthcoming album and it has prompted the album's title.
"The majority of the lyrics are derived from the Book of Revelations, but we are not trying to force anything down anyone's throat whether they are a believer of an atheist. We give our viewpoint and like everyone on this earth you have the 'free will' to accept or reject."
Which of course begs the question, if one chooses to reject the New Testament believers think you are destined to an eternity in hell...which some can interpret as For Christ's Sake being a contradiction, playing brutal metal while believing many fans of metal are doomed.
"We feel first and foremost that we do this as an expression of our faith and belief in Christ," said Mark. "We feel empowered by this and feel that it speaks into the brutality of the music."
"Much of the scene is atheist, which is depressing as there are so many great Christian metal bands, although we are the only extreme metal band in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland."
That in itself is an issue for the band.
Mark explained: "People need to hear these bands! We feel we are pioneers in some respects even if we are pushed back in the local scene - if that is the case, so be it.
"We do not suffer because we get offers outside of Northern Ireland. We are just back from playing a major festival in Switzerland called Elements of Rock and we are due to play Meltdown Festival in the UK in May.
"We would like to be included in the local scene, but we seem to be judged by our beliefs more so than the brutality of our music, which we feel stands up to our peers."
Speaking of our peers, we wondered how members of their churches react to the look and sound of For Christ's Sake.
"It's a good question! We don't usually get asked to play at our churches mainly because of it being a tad too heavy for church, although most people are supportive of why we do it and the reasoning behind the music," said Mark. "They understand we have to help youngsters and teenagers hear our message and our music is accessible to that cohort of people; that branch of people who may think who may thing Christian music is stuffy, preachy and boring."
That is something that For Christ's Sake's full on assault could never be accused of! Indeed, asides from the brutality of the music they look at real world events through their faith. We wanted to know did that mean that the band has an evangelistic role in tackling those events.
"We look around us and see a broken world, with suicide, murder, war and drugs dragging us all down," said Mark. "Whether it be corporate corruption or the other wrongs facing the world we tackle these subjects from the point of view of someone who does not know God and what happens if you go down that path.
"For example our song 'Leech' tackles government and corporate corruption and greed and how we suffer because of this."
Despite this the band are open about their influences - which range from the likes of Nile, Gojira, and death metal. We do hope them listing Jessie J among their influences is a tongue in cheek name check!
"Most of our influences are some heavy Christian and non-Christian metal bands - and Belfastmetalheadsreunited readers should really check out Horde, Impending Doom, Becoming the Archetype, Inner Siege and Inexhoirdium to name but a few," said Mark.
At the minute in Northern Ireland there seems to be a live debate between secular influences and wider world challenges from other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The 'fundamentalist' Christian traditions are being challenged within our legislature with debates on abortion and same sex marriages. What, if any role, does a Christian metal band have in these real world controversies.
"We have to take a strong stance against things which are an attack on our beliefs," said Mark. "We do not sugar coat thorny subjects such as abortion or the same sex marriage debates.
"We don't judge. Our view is love the sinner not the sin. We base our beliefs on the Bible and if it's in the Bible that is what we believe."
As they prepare for the next stage in their development in musical terms For Christ's Sake want people to take an open-minded attitude to their music.
"Please get a copy of our EP and or new album, which is available for pre-ordfer on Roxx Productions. Sit down with a good set of headphones and blast our music and listen to what we are talking about. Listen to the music and we hope that you will not be disappointed!"
Authors: Jonny
Read More: http://belfastmetalheadsreunited.blogspot.com/2013/03/challenging-preconceptions.html