Metal Reviews

Notice they didn't actually try to stop the show from happening. They just expressed their personal disapproval of it. I see nothing wrong with that, personally. After all, you want controversy? You'll get it!

I think they bring the attention onto themselves for having a name like that. They shouldn't cry about it if they want groups to stop hounding them than it's time for them to change their name otherwise STFU.

Only these sad saps would actually go to protest them because of a name. Even when I was a Christian, if there was a band like, I don't know, Jesus Fucks Mary's Cunt Flaps, I'd probably have found it offensive, but not nearly enough that actually go out to protest.

Then you're nothing like the rest of the weak minded bible bashing faggots than inhabit this world.

It's kind of nice that people still protest about it. Shows that the world isn't all cynical, and (more importantly from our point of view, perhaps) that Metal still has something dangerous about it. Imagine if these people had to sit down and actually listen to Non Serviam...

I'm Christian myself, and I don't do that type of thing (although, as I mentioned before, there ARE bands I won't listen to because of my beliefs). Nor do most Christians, for that matter. So I hope you're not judging us as a whole with that statement. Otherwise, you're no better than the people who protest these bands.

Honestly, it sounds to me like those people were just stating their personal opinions of these bands. Are they misinformed and acting a little judgmental? Perhaps. But let's put this into perspective: an anti-theist's response to a bandname like Lamb Of God (before listening to the music) probably wouldn't be much better than a Christian's response to a bandname like Rotting Christ. It's just human nature to hear such a name and pass judgement. Not to mention RC made some pretty bitter/derogatory comments against Christianity when Dave Mustaine kicked them off Gigantour a few years ago.

I think the real reason Blabbermouth posted that was because they knew it would stir up debate among their community.

To be honest I knew that what I said was bullshit, but out it came anyway.

It's okay, you're forgiven.

So you're saying that if your favourite bands had very anti- Christian lyrics, with the music remaining the same, with all the same awesome riffs and solos and stuff, you wouldn't listen to them any more? Sad.

It's the tragedy of the human condition.

Only if the lyrics got so blasphemous that I'd feel like a hypocrite for listening to them. But even then, I would still respect them as musicians and artists.

Was it you who liked Bad Religion?

Bad Religion, contrary to common belief, isn't really anti-Christian (I think people mistake them for an anti-Christian band because of the name, which Brett Gurewitz (SP?) has has explained several times before). Actually, Graffin a few years ago had an email discussion with a fan (who happened to be a devout Christian) and a book chronicling their discussion was published: http://www.amazon.com/Belief-God-Good-B ... 475&sr=8-1 I haven't read it. But I've heard some good things about it.

I know that the lead singer/lyricist guy is a virulent atheist, much like myself, and I've read and approved of the lyrics. (Favourite album is The Empire Strikes First, btw) As for ideologies in music... From an artistic standpoint I don't give a shit about what you believe in. Hell, Bach got all his inspiration from his belief. From an intellectual POV, however, I find any religious belief as inane as the Flying Spaghetti Monster (which is exactly the purpose of the Church of Pastafarianism).

His biases and issues with religion certainly show in some of his lyrics - but at least they're done tastefully/intelligently. And if you read or watch interviews with him, he's actually a pretty fair/reasonable guy (in fact, in one a couple years ago, he pridefully mentioned how BR had a lot of Christian fans and that many would come to him after his shows to mention that their Christian faith was reaffirmed through some of his songs). My favorite album btw is Stranger Than Fiction. But I also really like Against The Grain and The Gray Race.



Well, you know what they say about opinions. Notice, btw, that I made some modifications to my original post.

And for the record, the Flying Spaghetti Monster joke was created by a college student in Oregon, I think, in response to debates over whether or not Evolution should be taught in schools. It wasn't really supposed to be railing on religion as a whole.

I know when it was created. However, the whole "Gospel" of the FSM and the concept that sprung up around was intended to show how ridiculous religious belief and superstition is. If you haven't, watch Bill Maher's "Religulous", even if you don't agree you'll get a good laugh out of it, the man's funny as hell.

The point I was making is that RC shouldn't cry and bitch about people protesting because their name makes them stick out like a sore thumb.

It's no different than a band calling themselves Rotting Jews,Rotting Black or Rotting Mexicans and not even having anything to do with racism but the name itself sparks controversy.

I used to enjoy Maher's show, Politically Incorrect. Even though I definitely disagreed with him on some things. May be (for curiosity's sake) I'll watch his movie one day.

I highly recommend it. He goes through it making everyone from Christian truckers to orthodox Jews to Muslims look intensely stupid, and the results are loltastic.

On the topic of Bad Religion, Greg may be the only real atheist in the band. Brett, in an interview, declaired himself a "provisional deist" ("I don't believe in a God who does much, but I believ in God. For some reason I can't explain" was his explanation). While Jay Bentley expressed spiritual beliefs, but more along the lines of unitarian-universalism than anything else. I don't know about the other bandmembers, though.

It's interesting to study the difference in Brett and Greg's lyrics (if you don't know, they usually split lyrical duties almost 50/50). Greg's tend to be more cynical and biting, while Brett's tend to be lighter and more optimistic. Both are equally talented songwriters IMO. But the difference in tone/attitude between the two is definitely interesting.