In Your Face Bands

[bleechers]

I've been playing CCM for 8 years now. In that time I keep hearing bands say that they (a) are not in your face or (b) don't shove God down people's throats.

What I am asking is this... could somebody please give the names of all the bands that are "in your face" and that "shove God down people's throats"... and the bad effects it has had.

Thanks!

 

[Seth4Christ]

Disciple is pretty much in your face.. but there are no bad effects.. they just rock.

http://www.purevolume.com/disciple

I prefer the in your face style a bit myself.

 

[spidywebdude]

dude i have no clue whats ur talking abuot realy i dont

 

[spidywebdude]

oh i knwo what ur talking abuot i knwoio a band i cant think of it sname thoe

 

[swingnscream]

I've been playing CCM for 8 years now. In that time I keep hearing bands say that they (a) are not in your face or (b) don't shove God down people's throats.

What I am asking is this... could somebody please give the names of all the bands that are "in your face" and that "shove God down people's throats"... and the bad effects it has had.

Thanks!

I know a lot of in your face bands. I love them much!
Why are they so bad? Cuz they threaten the comfort zone of a medicore world. Harsh, harsh thing to be playing with ppls bubbles. Oh so scary
hahaha.. I know, I shouldn't make fun of ppl it isn't nice. But seriously, that's the truth of it all right there.

Oh and no one can shove God down anyone's throat unless their mouths are already hanging open. Geez... I hope they don't choke on the truth! *gasp* ...Just a thought to be considered there.

 

[Yamagi]

You can only tell As I Lay Dying is a Christian band if you analyze their lyrics and read there thank-yous. Does that make them a "Not in your Face" band?

 

[bleechers]

Why are they so bad?

They're not. The reason behind the question is that I noticed several years back a trend in CCM magazine interviews and on web sites... a number of new artists were stating they were "unique" and defined that by saying that were not "in your face" etc.
I have even seen that same charge here in this forum.

So, I wanna know who people consider "in your face" and why that's supposed to be such a bad thing.

 

[mindgamesnumber1]

I know a lot of in your face bands. I love them much!
Why are they so bad? Cuz they threaten the comfort zone of a medicore world. Harsh, harsh thing to be playing with ppls bubbles. Oh so scary
hahaha.. I know, I shouldn't make fun of ppl it isn't nice. But seriously, that's the truth of it all right there.

Oh and no one can shove God down anyone's throat unless their mouths are already hanging open. Geez... I hope they don't choke on the truth! *gasp* ...Just a thought to be considered there.

Great point and Great Post. Could you name some of them? thanks
That's all for now, God Bless
mindgamer

 

[xpunkskaterx]

You can only tell As I Lay Dying is a Christian band if you analyze their lyrics and read there thank-yous. Does that make them a "Not in your Face" band?

and they have a cross on their drum set

 

[swingnscream]

Great point and Great Post. Could you name some of them? thanks
That's all for now, God Bless
mindgamer

Skillet, Dogwood, Spoken, GS Megaphone, PAX 217, Thousand Foot Krutch, Seventh Day Slumber, Kids in the Way, Justifide, Pillar

Also Supertones and Falling Up ..although I'd say they're are a lil more on your knees than in ur face, but they are both.

I would say bands like Norma Jean, Beloved, Underoath, MewithoutYou, Project 86 ..but they tend to be more poetic with their lyrics becuz they're already in ur face with their music being hardcore, metal, and screamo styles.

I think I could even list some praise & worship-focused artist as "in your face" just cuz that's the kind of worship they have when you seem in concert especially [like Jeff Deyo and Rock 'N' Roll Worship Circus]. But I guess those kind of bands/artist are more "power of praise" than "in your face" ...I don't know where the define line is there. Anyhow, you've got a few bands listed there, Enjoy those. If you want more or a different genre, Let me know... I'll list ya some more. Enjoy,

-KiN

 

[MewithoutYou]

No Innocent Victim (They reunited at this years cornerstone)

the most "in your face christian band" ever don't believe me read there lyrics at

christianrocklyrics com and listen to there songs

they don't have any bad effects though

 

[bleechers]

One More 'Unique' Christian Band

Recently I saw a post at an internet group from a Christian band. They called themselves a "unique" Christian band. Part of their reasoning is this:

"We don't speak Christianese, and we don't shove God down people's throats. Some may ask what right we have to call ourselves a "Christian Band" being that we don't stomp the ground the moment we enter the door."

My first question is: where are all these CCM fans asking why you're not "stomping the ground" (or whatever)? And where are all these bands "shoving God down people's throats"? I've been looking for them since 1995!

Since my very first days in the Christian music scene, I have noticed a pattern. Just about every new Christian act thinks it's unique because they don't "get in your face" or "shove God down your throat" or "preach from the stage"... etc.

This pattern is so widespread that I guaranteed myself that when I visited the newest "unique" band's site, I would most certainly find a statement like the one quoted above.

The band's concern begs another question: if you're "unique" in Christian music, that would suggest that most big Christian artists are shoving God down people's throats... could you name a few... or just one? Truth is, if you follow Christian music, it is abundantly clear that being "unique" is pretty common!

Actually, what you most often get from CCM are attacks against the church! Rich Mullins attacked the gospel of grace itself. He was never shunned. Quite the reverse, he was almost deified on the pages of CCM Mag and is the patron saint of Christian musicians everywhere.

Grab any copy of CCM Magazine sporting an interview with a new band. Almost without exception the new artists will claim they are unique because they either (a) play secular venues (b) have lyrics so obscure, even Christians don't always know it's Christian or (c) they want the "unchurched" to know that they are just like them.

One band bragged that the owner of a bar was initially scared to book them because he heard they were a "Christian" band, but after they played he was thrilled that nobody could really tell! Remember, they bragged about this.

Granted, we all need to be gracious. And we certainly need to "speak the truth in love". But the key to that scripture is that we must "speak the truth". We are also called to "earnestly contend for the faith". We do it in love, we do it humbly, but we must do it! We are commanded by God to speak the truth and to contend for the faith.

Now, if you see an interview in CCM Magazine with a band contending for the faith, I would gladly assign the word "unique" to it!

However, nowadays when I hear "unique" I just substitute "weak". In my heart I'm thinking "ashamed of the gospel", but I won't go that far... yet.

 

[Seth4Christ]

No Innocent Victim (They reunited at this years cornerstone)

the most "in your face christian band" ever don't believe me read there lyrics at

christianrocklyrics com and listen to there songs

they don't have any bad effects though

Cool.. I'll check them out. I really like Disciple cause they are so in your face, check out their lyrics sometime on christianrocklyrics.com or http://www.disciplerocks.com. They are most in your face I've seen/heard yet.

 

[swingnscream]

One More 'Unique' Christian Band

Recently I saw a post at an internet group from a Christian band. They called themselves a "unique" Christian band. Part of their reasoning is this:

"We don't speak Christianese, and we don't shove God down people's throats. Some may ask what right we have to call ourselves a "Christian Band" being that we don't stomp the ground the moment we enter the door."

My first question is: where are all these CCM fans asking why you're not "stomping the ground" (or whatever)? And where are all these bands "shoving God down people's throats"? I've been looking for them since 1995!

Since my very first days in the Christian music scene, I have noticed a pattern. Just about every new Christian act thinks it's unique because they don't "get in your face" or "shove God down your throat" or "preach from the stage"... etc.

This pattern is so widespread that I guaranteed myself that when I visited the newest "unique" band's site, I would most certainly find a statement like the one quoted above.

The band's concern begs another question: if you're "unique" in Christian music, that would suggest that most big Christian artists are shoving God down people's throats... could you name a few... or just one? Truth is, if you follow Christian music, it is abundantly clear that being "unique" is pretty common!

Actually, what you most often get from CCM are attacks against the church! Rich Mullins attacked the gospel of grace itself. He was never shunned. Quite the reverse, he was almost deified on the pages of CCM Mag and is the patron saint of Christian musicians everywhere.

Grab any copy of CCM Magazine sporting an interview with a new band. Almost without exception the new artists will claim they are unique because they either (a) play secular venues (b) have lyrics so obscure, even Christians don't always know it's Christian or (c) they want the "unchurched" to know that they are just like them.

One band bragged that the owner of a bar was initially scared to book them because he heard they were a "Christian" band, but after they played he was thrilled that nobody could really tell! Remember, they bragged about this.

Granted, we all need to be gracious. And we certainly need to "speak the truth in love". But the key to that scripture is that we must "speak the truth". We are also called to "earnestly contend for the faith". We do it in love, we do it humbly, but we must do it! We are commanded by God to speak the truth and to contend for the faith.

Now, if you see an interview in CCM Magazine with a band contending for the faith, I would gladly assign the word "unique" to it!

However, nowadays when I hear "unique" I just substitute "weak". In my heart I'm thinking "ashamed of the gospel", but I won't go that far... yet.

I think most of that has to be with being a CCM band. It's like they're still jr high or high school and trying to fit in with cool crowd while, still trying to keep thier claim to christianity so they can book themselves a show in heaven or something like that. hahah Of course that's like playing the inflatable twister ...not so easy or in their case smart.
I think there is so much pressure on Christian bands/artist to take up the slack in the bad name that Christians are assoicate with these days, that CCM bands feel like they have something to prove to MTV [in a sense].
Note: CCM being Contempory Christian Music ...basically the "mainstream" Christian music.

Not all Christian bands are that way, but I do think that the bands who play more towards pop style of music feel the pressure more. I see a lot of hXc [Christian] bands who strongly feel the need to make their faith known and not just be there [wherever Christian festival or bar] to play a good show.
I think it comes to whether you're trying to be popular or you already know you're not cool so you have nothing to lose. Just an opinion there.. but that's more or less what happens alot, whether it's a band or just ppl who are Christians. Nonetheless, I try not to diss em; it's a hard gig to play [so to speak].

 

[mindgamesnumber1]

Skillet, Dogwood, Spoken, GS Megaphone, PAX 217, Thousand Foot Krutch, Seventh Day Slumber, Kids in the Way, Justifide, Pillar

Also Supertones and Falling Up ..although I'd say they're are a lil more on your knees than in ur face, but they are both.

I would say bands like Norma Jean, Beloved, Underoath, MewithoutYou, Project 86 ..but they tend to be more poetic with their lyrics becuz they're already in ur face with their music being hardcore, metal, and screamo styles.

I think I could even list some praise & worship-focused artist as "in your face" just cuz that's the kind of worship they have when you seem in concert especially [like Jeff Deyo and Rock 'N' Roll Worship Circus]. But I guess those kind of bands/artist are more "power of praise" than "in your face" ...I don't know where the define line is there. Anyhow, you've got a few bands listed there, Enjoy those. If you want more or a different genre, Let me know... I'll list ya some more. Enjoy,

-KiN

Thanks alot for those; I'll check some of them out thanks.
That's all for now. God Bless
mindgamer

 

[freezexbrand]

dude freakin headnoise man

http://www.headnoise.org

 

[mandapanda445]

You can only tell As I Lay Dying is a Christian band if you analyze their lyrics and read there thank-yous. Does that make them a "Not in your Face" band?

i feel like a lot of 'emo' bands and everything coming out can have different translations for different people.... no using As I Lay Dying as example, but any emo/punkish band out. Singing about one thing may mean something to many different people. some people may think its about God, some may think of it as a song for a boyfriend or girlfriend. if it's not an artist who speaks openly about God, or hasnt said they are Christian, you can interpret differeny ways. good point you made!

some in your face bands i can think of: Tobymac- think of songs like "J Train", "Irene", the list goes on
POD- if you listen to the lyrics
I'm sure i will think of more later!

 

[Ginsu]

You know whos a real in your face non preachy band. Rackets and Drapes...

man I forgot about them. it's been so long

 

[AndOne]

Bleechers -

I loved your last post - its the absolute truth! There are way too many bands out there sporting the "Christian label" that probably shouldn't be. It's a trend that has gone out of control in recent years - especially in the music genre that I am particularly fond of - hard rock. Nowadays you can go to a Christian bookstore - pick up a Christian CD (such as POD's latest) and not hear one song that presents a clear cut gospel message of redemption or a song that truly lifts up Jesus.

What really disgusts me as well - is the blind worship that Christian kids give these "Christian" bands. They will defend them to the ends of the earth - simply because they like their music - or because they like the group - not because they are presenting the gospel or the truth.

Let's face it - this whole business is more about making money than sharing truth nowadays. So sad....

 

[Sword-In-Hand]

I think Seventh Day Slumber is one of the best "in your face" bands. I mean they've played in bars and lead people to Christ. In their ministry over 10,000 people have been saved and that was the count a year ago.

Whenever I read about bands who say, "we don't want to shove God down people's throat" I get kind of discouraged about them. I was very pro Anberlin until I read an article where they didn't really want to be known that they were Christians playing music.

Also is the question pertaining to CD's the bands releases as in lyric wise or live in concert and how they address the crowd about the Truth? I think a band who is on a Christian label and doesn't share some form of Jesus at their shows needs some kind of wake up call. I mean that's why they are in the band right? If they want to give thanks to Jesus in their CD covers then they should do the same when they are around the people who need to hear their beliefs. I mean some people will call us Christians as pushy if we even say Jesus' name. I don't buy into this "we don't want to shove God down someone's throat." I think they say that to make themselves feel better about not sharing the gospel of Christ.

I mean I like Christian rock and alot of times I listen to Christian rock bands just to hear positive lyrics and not have to worry about people dropping F bombs or worse, but even if they don't call themselves a Christian band, they still need to remember they are Christian's and proclaim the Man who made them so.