Heaviest/Grittiest Christian Power Metal Releases

Not looking for a list of “happy metal” releases here where keyboards overpower or hinder the other instruments and gritty/dynamic vocals:

Teramaze Doxology
Oracle Desolate Kings 
Antithesis Dying for Life

The vocals aren’t really harsh, but Sardonyx’s Majestic Serenity has a cool, dark, foreboding, heavy, and proggy sound.

By the way, how are Into Eternity’s lyrics for anyone that has had a chance to evaluate?

average joe wrote:By the way, how are Into Eternity’s lyrics for anyone that has had a chance to evaluate?

Anti-Christian

I had Dead or Dreaming and Buried Into Oblivion and both focused on despair and anger. D or D had some anti-Christian lyrics.

Chaz Bond era Jacobs Dream
EchoSoul
Seventh Servant
Atkins May Project ( I understand to be Christian friendly)
Orphyn
The Great Gamble
Angel 7

I don't think Believer - Dimensions is really all that progressive. It kindof is, but not really compared to Extol - Synergy or anything like that.

mothy wrote:Chaz Bond era Jacobs Dream
EchoSoul
Seventh Servant
Atkins May Project ( I understand to be Christian friendly)
Orphyn
The Great Gamble
Angel 7

I forgot about Synergy andeven Blueprint Dives

I think Tourniquet’s Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance album fits the bill. Lots of weird twists and turns. It’s heavy and gritty too. The only difference is the vocals are not “operatic” like most power/prog bands.

Kreyson's latest comes to mind:


I don't know if epic doom fits what you're looking for, but Nomad Son has some pretty gritty stuff that some categorize as "power doom."


Maybe some of Rob Rock's stuff like Fires Of Babylon?


That's all I can think of at the moment!

Usually gritty vocals and progressive metal don't go that often together, unless you're talking about death metal or metalcore vocals.

Temple of Blood wrote:Usually gritty vocals and progressive metal don't go that often together, unless you're talking about death metal or metalcore vocals.

Although they are not Christian, Opeth seem to be one of the few heavy/gritty bands that could be considered progressive.

TZ75 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:Usually gritty vocals and progressive metal don't go that often together, unless you're talking about death metal or metalcore vocals.

Although they are not Christian, Opeth seem to be one of the few heavy/gritty bands that could be considered progressive.

I think what above average Joe wants is gritty SIINGING, not super soft clean singing plus death growls.

Temple of Blood wrote:

TZ75 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:Usually gritty vocals and progressive metal don't go that often together, unless you're talking about death metal or metalcore vocals.

Although they are not Christian, Opeth seem to be one of the few heavy/gritty bands that could be considered progressive.

I think what above average Joe wants is gritty SIINGING, not super soft clean singing plus death growls.

To be honest, it’s a confusing post. The actual question wasn’t very clear IMO.

Made it more specific to power metal.

Kerrick - Nomad Son has my attention! Kreyson in another language?

average joe wrote:Kerrick - Nomad Son has my attention! Kreyson in another language?

Nomad Son is awesome!  One of my favorites.    I'm glad you dig 'em too.  They are primarily a "doom" band though so most of their stuff is a bit slower than the song I posted, but they're not afraid to speed it up too (obviously).

Yup, Kreyson sings in Czech.  The song I posted is from their most recent and heaviest album.  However, their first two albums were also released in English.  I only have the Czech versions, but they're excellent albums.  You can find the English ones for pretty cheap too since they were re-released by Ulterium Records not too long ago.  They also released a compilation called 20 Years Of Kreyson which is a selection of old songs re-recorded in English too (and are different than what's on the two albums I mentioned).

TZ75 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:Usually gritty vocals and progressive metal don't go that often together, unless you're talking about death metal or metalcore vocals.

Although they are not Christian, Opeth seem to be one of the few heavy/gritty bands that could be considered progressive.

Love me some Opeth

Opeth3232 wrote:

TZ75 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:Usually gritty vocals and progressive metal don't go that often together, unless you're talking about death metal or metalcore vocals.

Although they are not Christian, Opeth seem to be one of the few heavy/gritty bands that could be considered progressive.

Love me some Opeth

Never would have guessed.

SAINT Time's End comes to mind with songs like Time's End and Steel Killer.

I'd add several songs from the Northern Flame debut to the list. Of course they apply keyboards but in combination with the guitar sound, on the instrumental side of things they sound more like those typical gloomy Finnish melodic black/death bands. The vocals are lower than usual power metal so yeah... oh well, here's an example.

Rob Rock's stuff comes to mind.