Norma Jean Haste The Day Slayer Robert Randolph poster Altar Boys Stryper Behind the scenes at HM Top 100 Christian Rock Albums List ® THE HARD MUSIC MAGAZINE 0 7 0 74470 79599 5 July, August 2010 • Issue #144 $3.99 USA / 4.50 CDN Family Force 5 GROUP (15+): $36.00 / GEN. ADMISSION: $39.50 (Purchase by AUGUST 6) Thousand Foot Krutch AT GATE: $42.00 August Burns Red Demon Hunter Project 86 Lecrae Showbread Mychildren Mybride War of Ages The Classic Crime House of Heroes John Mark McMillan Children 18:3 Bradley Hathaway Ivoryline Paper Route Derek Webb Seabird Leigh Nash B. Reith I Am Terrified Esterlyn Onward Olympas A Plea for Purging In the Midst of Lions Thi’sl Texas In July An Early Ending Oceans in Love Ace Augustine Renee Yohe and many more to come! *Artist subject to change without notice GET THE LATEST INFORMATION AT PURPLEDOOR.COM RYAN RIES SONNY SANDOVAL BRIAN “HEAD” WELCH WWW.THEWHOSOEVERS.COM FINAL.indd 1 6/1/10 9:07:48 AM TABLE OF CONTENTS 09 From the editor Doug Van Pelt REGULAR THE FLAW AND A HALF-BAKED APOLOGY We’re happy to be able to say that this magazine has been published for 25 years Letters 10 now. It’s been exciting, rewarding and difficult to see this dream for a music 12 magazine that focuses on Christian heavy metal, rock, punk, alternative, etc., come Hard news to life and carry on. We are grateful to God and His people for the support we’ve Live report 14 had over the years. Over the years we’ve had a few special “Anniversary issues” (our 7th, 10th, 15th, issue #100 and the 20th). To be slightly different this time – in addition to some retrospective articles – we’ve centered this issue around a FEATURETTE daunting task: The Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time list. This brings me to my next point: Stryper 16 There is a flaw in the label “Christian Rock.” We’ve all known this forever, right? Altar boys 18 There are four popular explanations of what defines a song or album as “Christian 20 Rock.” They are: Scaterd few Tourniquet 22 24 1) the song features lyrics that tell the Gospel story (sin, salvation, Jesus); Brandon ebel 2) the song features lyrics that, while not necessarily conveying the Michael guido 26 “Gospel message,” are shaped by a Christian worldview; 3) the song is performed by and/or written by Christian musicians (including instrumental music or “secular” lyrical themes); FEATURE 4) the song is considered “Christian rock” by many Christian people or, 28 for lack of a better term, it is “of interest” to Christians. The top 100... 40 It is the fourth definition that we’ve kind of gravitated towards over the years. Haste the day 42 Because we’ve taken this approach, some of our selections on this great list might Impending doom be questioned by purists and/or the bands themselves. If your band is on this list Norma jean 46 and you don’t consider yourself to be a “Christian rock” band or you’ve even gone 48 to great lengths to distance yourself from this career-influencing tag, we have a half- HM magazine flippant and half-sincere apology for you. “Sorry. It is what it is. Deal with it.” Slayer says 51 A great man once said, “The purpose of lists is to inspire argument.” While no one may have ever actually uttered that statement, I believe it. We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, let us know what you think! INTERMISSION Robert randolph poster 36 Columns 62 SPINNING AT HM NOW REVIEW 55 ERWIN MCMANUS Wide Awake An audio book that edified creativity in me. Music JET VELVET S/T Beatlesque harmonies and pop. Good. 64 JOHNNY CASH Setlist: The Very Best... A live performance compilation with gusto. Indie pick 65 ANBERLIN New Surrender Fighting on the list choice vs. Friendship vs. Cities. DVD, book, & gadgets FLYLEAF Momento Mori (demos) Don’t be jealous of Bianca’s musical collection. THRICE Beggars Jeff’s been overdosing on Thrice lately. LIFE IN YOUR WAY Waking Giants Uplifting hardcore that’s got Nathan stoked. 10 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ® EDITOR/PUBLISHER Doug Van Pelt CHIODOS SAYS... OFFICE MANAGER Charlotta Van Pelt I’ve been reading back issues of HM recently MKTG & ADS Doug Van Pelt and ran across the interview you did with CONTR EDITORS Kemper Crabb, Greg Tucker, Chiodos last year. In the introduction to Chris Wighiman the interview you mentioned that the band E-NEWS HOUND Jason Irvin member dodged a couple of questions, and MYSPACE COWBOY Levi Macallister INTERNS Nathan Doyle, Bianca Montes, then you published the text of the interview. Jeff Sistrunk After reading the interview I realized that not only did he dodge a couple of questions, CONTRIBUTORS Matt Conner, Jef Cunningham, Loyd Harp, Tim Harris, he wasn’t very effusive with the rest of his Jon Kindler, Rob Shameless, answers even though you gave him some all David Stagg star questions. When reflecting on the intro COVER PHOTO Chad Sengstock you wrote and then the body of the interview BACK PAGE Bianca Montes itself, I realized that you showed great restraint PROOFREADERS Corey Erb, Levi Macallister, in not adding any personal opinions to your Valerie Maier, Carolyn Van Pelt intro. It would have been easy to rip on the guy or make a disparaging comment, but you SCRIPTURE “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth refrained. Nicely done Doug! I always enjoy and rust destroy, and where theives PETE STEWART IN HM? the so-and-so says interviews, and most of break in and steal. But store up for First of all, thank you for fighting the good the band members seem to not want to yourselves treasures in Heaven, fight in keeping HM in print. It is by far the where neither moth nor rust quit talking, so the Chiodos interview stood destroys, and where thieves do not best publication that finds its way into my out for its brevity. You seemed to handle this break in or steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20) mailbox! Secondly, I was wondering if you well during the interview, and you certainly have considered doing an interview with Pete MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 367 handled it well in the article write-up. Thanks Hutto TX 78634 Stewart? As I am sure you are well aware, for showing the love! he is still cranking out some stellar music, –Barry Wolfer, via internet CUSTOMER SERVICE 877.897.0368 both solo and with Grammatrain. It would [email protected] FAX 512.535.1827 be interesting to hear from him in regard to Nate – If you liked that, just wait until you his break from the Christian music scene, read our “Slayer says” story. EDITORIAL [email protected] his time with The Accident Experiment and MARKETING & ADS [email protected] 512.989.7309 most recently his reunion with Grammatrain. Thanks for your time! GETTING THE MAG TO THE MASSES SUBSCRIPTIONS U.S.A. – $18, Canada/Mexico – $23, –Dave Kratz, via internet I can’t tell you how thankful I am for you and [PRINT] Overseas – $28 the magazine and ministry. I am getting ready [DIGITAL / ONLINE] Everywhere – $6 Nate – First of all, I’d like to know what other to purchase 10 subscriptions for my Sunday IF YOU MOVE Please send us your new address, School high schoolers. With so few outlets for or you’ll likely miss issues from publications make their way into your mailbox your subscription. Send an email to (it doesn’t take much to top Divine Equestrian “good” Christian music I have been a fan and [email protected] Quarterly). Secondly, I would love to get Pete reader for a long time now. I am also going to donate to the cause. My wife and I are praying WRITE US Letters/email must include full in here. I’ll get someone on that. name. All submissions become about the amount. I have been so blessed by property of HM Magazine, and may you all over the years. As a 39-year-old profes- be edited/condensed. THE SHAPE OF METAL TO COME sional man, I don’t know what I would do or SEND TO Letters 2 Ed, POB 367, Hutto, TX What is your perspective on the lifespan how I would find out about all of the amazing 78634 | [email protected] of hardcore/metal music, especially in the music God is inspiring these young men and Christian subculture? I have noticed, like women to make without HM. I incorporate ANSWERS hmmag.com/faqsupport FACEBOOK facebook.com/HM.Magazine most, that hardcore and metal have been music in my Sunday School lessons each TWITTER twitter.com/dooglar receiving more attention over the past 5-10 week and have played everything from the old MYSPACE myspace.com/hmmag years. Case in point, Cornerstone, IL is P.I.D. (Preachers in Disguise), who are in my HM Magazine is dependently mostly “heavy” bands. Do you think the top 100 albums, to Project 86 and the kids just owned and operated (Psalm 62) genre is at its peak and will begin to decline, eat it up. I hope and pray God will continue to Printed in the U.S. like punk or grunge did, or do you think the use you all and I want to thank you for your Internet will continue to fuel the (formerly) faithfulness. FUELED BY niche audience? –Tim Otken, via internet –Nick Hardy, via internet Nate – Thanks man, we’ve been really Nate – Emo kids turned into scenesters, who blessed by the encouragement that’s been evolved into hipsters.