Trans-Siberian Orchestra, TSO for short, is an American rock band formed by lyricist Paul O’Neill in 1996. Jon Olivia, Al Pitrelli, and Robert Kinkel joined the band as full members in the same year.
The band did not receive the desired fame until 1999 when they started touring after the completion of their sophomore album “The Christmas Attic. TSO is popular for its philanthropic activities and elaborate concerts. They have been able to sell millions of show tickets and albums worldwide.
After the death of the founder, Paul O’Neill in 2015, the band is now left with Jon Olivia, Al Pitrelli, and Robert Kinkel as permanent members and a long list of touring artists.
TSO employs several religious themes in their songs which have made fans question the band’s religious stance. Questions like; is TSO a Christian band? has always been a topic of debate on various crowdsourcing platforms. An examination of the band’s musical elements and comments on the issue in this article will provide an answer to the question.
Is TSO a Religious Band?
A religious band is one whose songs portray the beliefs and practices of a particular religious group. These religious influences are apparent in their songs.
TSO has always been linked to both Christian and Satanic religions. Most songs by the band portray religious symbolism related to Christianity while some concepts in their live performances are said to be Satanic. Some members of the band have mentioned that they belong to a religious group but the band is not religious.
They bring these religious influences into their songs but do not want to be categorized as a religious band because their music also explores themes apart from religion in their songs.
When asked about their two-piece world songs “The World that He Sees” and “The World That She Sees” in an interview with LiveJournal, the band’s late lyricist O’Neill stated:
“We’re doing them both, but we’re either going to alternate them or cut it down to one. I’m leaning towards “The World that He Sees,” we’re not a religious band, although I am Christian, it’s important because of what’s going on right now.”
What Type of Music Band is TSO?
TSO is an American rock band. Rock music originated as “Rock and roll” in the early 1950s and drew influences from country music, rhythm and blues, electric blues, folk, and classical music. Rock music involves the use of electric guitars, bass guitars, and drums to address a wide range of issues.
The band’s music also incorporates genres like Symphonic metal, progressive metal, heavy metal, hard rock, Christmas, and neoclassical metal. These genres are characterized by keyboard orchestration, symphonic and orchestral instruments, choir, classically trained vocalists, loud aggressive vocals, eclecticism, emphatic beats, extended guitar solos, dense bass drums, seasonal themes, distorted electric guitars, and technical playing of instruments.
Songs by the band explore a couple of themes ranging from religion to Christmas and cultural, societal, and environmental issues. They draw musical influences from other rock bands like Queen and Yes, Jim Croce and Harry Chapin, and The Wizards of Winter.
TSO is notable for its philanthropic activities. Since they began touring, TSO has donated over $16 million to both local and national charities and at least a dollar each to local charities in the city where they currently have a live show.
The band has released 6 studio albums most of which are Christmas albums. Their 6th album “Letters from the Labyrinth” told other stories apart from Christmas. The album received mainstream success as it reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart and No.1 on Billboard Top Rocks Album Chart.
Is TSO a Christian Band?
What defines a Christian band is their style and type of music. Before discussing the status of TSO as a Christian band, it is essential to identify what Christianity entails and what it means to operate as a Christian band.
A Christian is someone that believes in the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ who is the founder of the religion. A true Christian abides by the laws and teachings of Christianity. They believe in God, Jesus Christ, and other pillars of Christianity and their lifestyle reflects these Christian teachings.
Similarly, a Christian band upholds the teachings and practices of Christianity. Their song lyrics and other musical elements reflect Christian beliefs and principles. Songs by a Christian band are embedded with themes closely related to religion and spirituality and these songs are used to spread Christian messages of love, hope, perseverance, redemption, and salvation.
Members of a Christian band are usually Christians that have professed their faith in the religion and share collective Christian beliefs. Though this is not compulsory, sharing the same beliefs reduces the misunderstandings that might occur due to a clash of interests and beliefs. Also, the band must publicly label itself as a Christian band.
Some members of TSO have mentioned that they are Christians but the band is not labeled a Christian band. In a 2014 interview with the band’s late founder, O’Neill, and Livejournal, he revealed that the band is not religious or Christian, but he is a Christian. In his words:
“I’m leaning towards “The World that He Sees,” we’re not a religious band, although I am Christian, it’s important because of what’s going on right now. With Ukraine, North Korea, and what has happened in the last month with Isis is mind-blowing.”
Also, the band is known for promoting Christmas songs each year. Christmas is a celebration set aside by some Christian communities to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and extend love and kindness to others. Though they might not be a Christian band, TSO has been so focused on releasing several Christmas albums and this says a lot about the band’s religious beliefs.
Some of the band’s Christmas albums and EPs are: “Christmas Eve and Other Stories,” “The Christmas Attic,” “The Ghost of Christmas Eve,” “The Lost Christmas Eve,” and “Dreams of Fireflies(On a Christmas Night). Below is a typical example of a Christmas song by TSO:
A Star to Follow TSO
God rest ye merry gentlemen…..
They’re up in the sky and a star follows…
All await the coming of the Lord…
Await the coming of the
Christmas
Lead and we’ll follow
Hope and tomorrow
Magic and dreams
You are all this and more now
Childhood recalls how
You are Visions and Christmas
We are your children
You take us back when
Ever we call
TSO Christian Songs
It is not enough that TSO sings about Christmas. The band employs deep Christian imagery in these songs. Many songs by TSO have been adopted by Christians and have been listed on Christian music sites. Their Christmas songs have been adopted for carol events in churches and other Christian gatherings. TSO has numerous songs with Christian imagery, some of them include;
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ, our Savior,
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.”
- An Angel Came Down
“An angel came down, one night to the Earth
A mission from God, to find out the worth
Of everything that His children had done
Since that winter night, the birth of His son
And then a sound filled the night
In the cold winter air
And amid his flight,
It holding him there”
- The Prince of Peace
“In the middle of a forest
There’s a clearing by a stream
Where a mother holds her newborn
And the child begins to dream
And he dreams of hopes unspoken
When the tears of man will cease
And his mother holds him closer
For he is the Prince of peace
Let the bells ring out these tidings
Let it echo across the land
That a king is born in Bethlehem
And his kingdom is at hand”
- An Angel’s Share
“Angels grace
This humble place
With hopes of our salvation
Christmas cards
And snow-filled yards
And children wondering
Rejoice, All awaken
Rejoice
Quickly hasten
Rejoice”
Is TSO a Satanic Band?
Some fans, especially Christians have alleged that TSO portrays apocalyptic, Illuminati-esque, and demonic images in their shows. Many have expressed that they have been left disappointed when they go to their Christmas-themed shows but do not get what they were expecting and are rather met with what they tagged “devilish displays.”
Some Christian groups have even accused the band of promoting satanism and occultism. The band has used dark themes in some of their songs and has also displayed Satanic imagery during some of their live shows. Is this enough to label TSO a Satanic band? Even when some members have mentioned that they are Christians and they largely employ Christian messages in most of the songs as reviewed? This notion remains an issue of debate among the audiences of this unique band.
Wrapping Up
The status of TSO as a Christian band remains an issue of debate among its fans. The band has been linked to both Christianity and Satanism but they have outrightly claimed that their band does not operate under the religious umbrella. TSO is not a Christian band but their songs resonate with Christians all over the world.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!