Is I Prevail a Christian Band?

I Prevail is an explosive American rock and metalcore band established in Southfield, Michigan in 2013. The band started with vocalist Brian Burkheiser, unclean vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe, guitarist Steve Menoian, rhythm guitarist Jordan Berger and drummer Lee Runestad. The band witnessed a few lineups changes with some old members leaving the band and new members joining.

Rhythm guitarist Dylan Bowman and drummer Gabe Helguera replaced the former guitarist and drummer of the band. I Prevail received the desired fame and fanbase in 2014 after the release of their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” single. The cover was certified platinum in the US in 2019, peaked at No. 90 on Billboard Hot 100, and at No.3 on the US mainstream Rock Songs Chart. Their chart-topping sophomore album “Trauma” also earned them two grammy nominations and more audience.

I Prevail sometimes employs religious or spiritual imagery in their songs. Some diehard fans have often talked about the religious stance of their best act and have raised the debate of the band being a religious band. This article will analyze the band’s songs, members’ beliefs, and public comments to answer the question: Is I Prevail a Christian band?

Is I Prevail a Religious Band?

Before discussing the status of I Prevail as a religious band, it is important to first address what religion and being a religious band entails. A religious band is a music band whose songs are embedded with the religious beliefs of a particular religious organization. Listeners can easily identify a religious band from the lyrics and other musical concepts.

I Prevail has not been very expressive of their religious beliefs as a band or individually. Band members have not made comments about their faith and religion and haven’t also labeled their band “religious.” However, we’ve come across some songs by the band that contains spiritual and religious terms and themes. Below are some examples:

Judgment Day 

“I walked into the darkness

I set myself on fire

I stared into the heartless

And I found out death is a liar

So burn it all to ashes, drown them all in acid

Say, “Fuck pleasing the masses”, don’t blink

I’m going beyond your understanding, beyond the unimagined

Be honest, are you ready or not?

Let’s find out right now

Oh, destroy yourself, welcome to the end

I don’t care about what they say

Everybody’s sorry on Judgment Day

Nothing’s gonna break me

I’ve got ice inside my vеins

There’s gotta be a better way

There’s greatness in my DNA

When it all goes up in flames

You’ll get yours on Judgment Day”

Bow Down 

“Get on your knees and bow down

Yeah, I come alive, I’ll survive, take on anything

So paint a target on my back let ’em come for me

I don’t fall, don’t quit, don’t ever sleep

‘Cause, I’m on another level that you’ll never reach

If you seek forgiveness

You’ll get nothing, you’ll get nothing from me

You will never know, it’s the price I pay

Look into my eyes, we are not the same

Yeah, this is where you fall apart

Yeah, this is where you break

‘Cause I’m in control and you’ll know my name

‘Cause I gave my life, gave it everything

Yeah, this is where you fall apart

Yeah, this is where you break

To everybody who doubted

Get on your knees and bow down”

Body Bag

“There are a million fucking reasons that you got it bad

But everybody’s leaving in a body bag, go

Save your problems for somebody else who gives a damn

‘Cause you won’t find me waiting on your promised land, no

Oh, you think you’ve got it bad?

I’m telling you to bite down and face it

You’re never gonna do much or change shit

When all you say is “Fuck that and fuck this”

Don’t let them save you from yourself 

There’ll be no second coming

There’ll be no lessons learned

All hail the king of nothing

Behold your empire of dirt, fuck”

Doomed 

“Here today and gone tomorrow like we’re

Doomed, like we’re doomed

The more you look the less you’re gonna see

Before you know it’s gone too soon

So take my hand, it’s all that I have

We can sit and watch the colors bloom

Everybody prays when their time is borrowed

But never for the time they’ve got

Yeah, and everybody sings like there’s no tomorrow

Until the music stops”

What Kind of Music Band Is I Prevail?

I Prevail has a cross-genre tendency, blending elements of rock and metalcore in their music. Songs by the band are an amalgam of post-hardcore, metalcore, pop punk, hard rock, nu-metal, and rap metal.

These music genres are characterized by; high creativity, dense, complex, and atmospheric instrumentals, heavy bass levels, fast tempos, occasional blast beats, double bass drumming, stop-start guitar playing, heavy riffs, use of breakdown, slow intense passages, use of thrash and scream vocals and death growls combined with clean vocals during choruses, drop guitar tunings, adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, distorted electric guitars mix of aggressive and melodic vocals, with some DIY ethics.

The features listed above are evident in different songs by I Prevail alongside elements of metal, alternative, hip-hop, electronic, trap metal, and pop. The band draws influences from other bands like; Bring Me the Horizon, We Came as Romans, and A Day to Remember.

I Prevail has released 4 studio albums with the most recent “True Power” released in 2022 under Fearless Record Label, which has been their only record label since its inception. I Prevail came to the spotlight with a cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” which was certified platinum in the US. Their debut EP “Heart vs Mind” was released in 2014 and they also received success with their singles “Breaking Down” and “Hurricane” as they both perform well on rock radio.

I Prevail received two Grammy nominations, their single “Bow Down” was nominated by the Grammys for Best Performance in 2019 and their 2019 album “Trauma” was nominated by Grammy as the Best Rock Album of the year. The band’s 2017 single “Alone” won Loudwire Music Awards as Hard Rock Song of the year.

Is I Prevail a Christian Band?

A Christian is a person who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians uphold the laws and principles of Christianity and their lifestyle reflects these principles. Similarly, a Christian band is a band whose songs are centered on Christian beliefs and have members who are Christians and have publicly declared their faith in the religion.

Songs by a Christian band should portray Christian beliefs and lifestyle and the band should be publicly labeled a “Christian” band. Their songs should be used to share positive Christian messages and beliefs. Anything devoid of the above cannot be considered a Christian band. 

Having assessed the lyrical contents and themes of I Prevail’s songs and other musical elements, we do not consider the band a Christian band. The band has not publicly labeled itself a Christian band and members have not openly affiliated with Christianity. As a result, we opine that I Prevail is not a Christian band.

I Prevail Christian Songs 

Several factors make up a Christian song, one of which is; the expression of personal or communal beliefs in Christianity, spreading Christian beliefs and the gospel and sharing of positive Christian messages of faith, hope, love, salvation, redemption, patience, and perseverance. Though few songs by I Prevail employ Christian imagery, they are not used to promote Christianity nor do they possess the features listed above, so the band has no Christian songs.

Is I Prevail a Satanic Band?

A Satanic band is a music band whose songs promote satanic beliefs and practices. The lyrical composition, concepts, performances, and other musical elements portray Satanism. Dark and Satanic themes are embedded in songs by Satanic bands and the visual aspects of their music are mostly creepy, and horrifying.

Though I Prevail might employ dark lyrics and themes in their songs, coupled with elements of metalcore and death metal, we do not consider the band a Satanic band. A Satanic band promotes Satanism and glorifies the devil. Since we have not noticed the features listed above, we can’t label I Prevail a Satanic band.

One of the darkest songs by the band is a song where the songwriter expresses pain and depression. Below are the lyrics:

Breaking Down 

“I think I think too much

I’m a little bit paranoid, I think I’m breaking

Maybe it’s in my blood

Got a pain that I can’t avoid, I think I’m breaking down

Hate, every single second, minute, hour every day

Person in the mirror, they won’t let me feel a thing

Keep me focused on my problems, I’m addicted to the pain

(Everybody’s out to get you)

I guess I never noticed, how it came creeping in

My enemy emotion, but I can’t sink or swim

I say I’m feeling hopeless

They give me medicine….

I think I think too much

I’m a little bit paranoid, I think I’m breaking

Maybe it’s in my blood

Got a pain that I can’t avoid, I think I’m breaking

Down (I think I’m breaking)”

Conclusion 

Songs by I Prevail are usually open to multiple interpretations by listeners. Listeners receive the songs and analyze them in ways that suit their momentary needs. The band has not identified with any religious group and their songs are not tilted toward Christianity. Band members have not publicly associated with Christianity or labeled the band “a Christian” band. As such, we do not consider I Prevail a Christian band.

Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!