Demon Hunter - Real Despair, Real Hope

For those of you who belong to the uncultured masses, Demon Hunter is a Christian Hardcore Metal Band and probably one of the best of their genre I have ever heard. From me that is saying something because as far as I am concerned most "Christian" music is empty, vapid, self centered pop trash. I will have to say if you are going to find more explicit Christianity you tend to have to look in the ranks of the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal groups such as Kutless, who is probably the best because not only do they rock their songs are openly and unabashedly Christian, generally you won't find their music to be a generic love song written and performed by a supposedly Christian person. Now Demon Hunter, is not quite as explicit in their Christianity in that one will not find them mentioning Christ in their lyrics, but that is not to say Christianity is missing in their lyrics. They are like the Chronicles of Narnia baptizing the imagination in musical form.

Take for instance, As We Wept, in this one song we see the anguish Paul wrote about in always doing that which he didn't want to do, but still retained hope in the one who died for him.

I will stand and fight to justify you.
You have bled and died to justify me.
Force me down into hate.
Your freedom will stop when I can't breath.
I'm taking the path that i don't need.
I'm taking the place so it won't bleed.
Broken out and turned away.
Burned to the ground and change the face.
Bled to death and turned to gray.
Resurrect again to say.
I made my promise, and now i've fallen.
Through broken pieces i set you.
I will stand and fight to justify you.
You have bled and died to justify me.
Let me see it all die in front of myself so i can't lie.
A hollow design for the new side.
Exterior death for the old side.
This is the end of the last time.
Bury the old and say the name.
break the mold and new remain.
Resurrect again to say.
I made my promise, and now i've fallen.
through broken pieces i see you.
I will stand and fight to justify you.
You have bled and died to justify me.
A lifeless body, a broken soul.
I fall to zero, I've lost control.
I've lost control, I will stand and fight to justify you.
You have bled and died to justify me.

Video Undying

While falling just shy of being explicit, meaning they actually say the name Jesus in relation to justification, they are a great topic starter if you are going to talk with a person who is into Metal. The other part that I like is they are not afraid to express anguish and despair, unlike other song writers who write about it but never make it to actually expressing it and thereby seem incredibly shallow. Maybe we could use their music in our liturgy? Just kidding!