Hello-music is life
Happy 1st of March. As I mentioned Nate and I were really into chugging metal. The louder the better! We also both grew up with an internal struggle that comes with a religious upbringing. The love of all music and the guilt brought on by constant demonizing of any music that was not Hymns or artists with christian lyrical content and appearance.
I know Nate and I both teeter-tottered between the secular metal we love so much and the guilt of liking it. Several times Nate and I both threw out tons of tapes/posters and merch from our favorite bands in an effort to “repent”. Luckly there was no shortage of christian sound alike bands which blurred the lines even more. The album art and sound was identical. Bands like Deliverance, The Crucified, Tourniquet and Mortification blew anything Stripper had done in the 80’s, away.
Remember Nates dad owned a limo service? I loved taking the limo to practice, the music store, etc. I really is a different feeling stepping out of a limo in public. “WOW, must be Burt Reynolds or something”! Whenever our band got together to jam or practice we took the limo. If I remember correctly, we took the limo to see Mortal and The Crucified in Concord, CA. Mortal was a techno drum/sound effect metal band. They had electronic drums and it was the first time I recall a band playing sound effects and movie quote’s on a track that played along side. Common place now.
The Crucified were ahead of their time as well. Evoking the early days of punk, trash and rap/rock. The guitarist Greg Minier was so fast and yet had a great groove to his playing. Check out Pillars of Humanity. The guitar work alone is worth the time.
At the time, like I mentioned, I was struggling to find musical expression through the limited landscape of christian rock. Luckily, the venue was small enough that I got the opportunity to go back stage and talk with Mark Salomon, the singer. He was so “normal” and down to earth. I guess I was expecting a rock star attitude but he was so gracious. I talked to him about my musical tug of war.
He told me he struggled with the same type of conflict. “while we are a christian band and we are passionate about our message, we’re a band like anyone else. No better or worse.” Imposter syndrome, doubts about faith and life itself are real! I am very grateful to have met Mark. That started my open minded thinking towards music as a language that can transcend all barriers and doesn’t subscribe to our human limitations. It only enhances, comforts and stirs the soul.
Next time,
Part 2 of Christian Death Metal? Meeting Mark Salomon and Greg Minier from The Crucified and my first kiss at church camp.