Lyrics and albums question

Just for curiosity’s sake, what do you all do when it comes to bands that have super offensive lyrics on some albums, but not on others? Do you avoid the band altogether, only avoid those albums/songs, or just listen anyway?

For example, much of modern Exodus is lyrically terrible. But some of the classic Zetro stuff isn’t any more objectionable than any classic thrash. So how do you handle their discography?

I avoid the songs that are offensive. I may change my view on this in the future, but that's where I am right now.
Reguarding bands that regularly have offensive content--most of the time I lose interest in them. There's enough great music in the world that I don't need to bother with them.

I used to avoid them for the most part, didn't want to spend the money, but with things like Spotify I can pick through the songs easier.

I'm probably very inconsistent in how I handle this. Whether the lineup of the band has changed would definitely be a factor though.

Avoid secular music, problem solved.

Except then we could argue over what actually constitutes Christian music…

We do that, don't we?

Little bit. 


Just ask Stryper 

Sevenoneself wrote:I avoid the songs that are offensive. I may change my view on this in the future, but that's where I am right now.
Regarding bands that regularly have offensive content--most of the time I lose interest in them. There's enough great music in the world that I don't need to bother with them.

 This    I could not have said it better.  My thoughts exactly.

I tend to avoid bands that have regularly offensive lyrics, even if there are some songs that are okay.
Although my bar for what I consider offensive has lowered a bit over the years.

I thought of two concrete examples of this.

I hold Christian bands to a high standard. I was extremely disappointed in the heretical lyrics in Shadows of Paragon's album Amendment. It so tarnished the band in my mind that, even though I quite liked their previous album, I haven't listened to it since.

Another example is Megadeth's album So Far, So Good...So What. The lyrics of the Sex Pistols cover are bad enough that I don't even want to listen to this album. I could just skip the track, but then I would feel like I'm not even experiencing the album.

I don’t mind skipping the Megadeth song, especially since it’s a cover. I also skip The Conjuring on Peace Sells and Looking down the Cross on Killing, although those are originals.

Not familiar with Shadows of Paragon. What was the issue?

On Amendment there were two songs expressing the idea that God was not content on his own and had an actual need for reciprocated love from humanity.

Ah. Yeah, too many prefer to exalt man and denigrate God. (Even if unintentionally).

From the song Mindblowing:

"You are the source of love
love cannot be content alone
You are a self-reliant person
still You have a need
for Your love to be returned
so that love can be complete"

From the song Not by Domination:

"the reign of the world was given to humans
the earth was for us
to wield, to ply, to farm, to tend
to manage for useful things
the Creator was longing for love
despite His self-reliance, see
to be loved was a need
yet to be filled
and love can’t be forced
so He gave us free will"

I'm pretty similar to CW in the way that if a band has some bad lyrics, it generally taints their whole catalog for me.  That being said, it'd be easy for me to overlook some bad lyrics on early stuff if the band had come to faith and then changed their ways.  But the opposite if the band goes the other way.  I too hold Christian bands to a higher standard, so bad theology is worse to me than "safe secular."  Nostalgic favorites of mine like Iron Maiden or Sonata Arctica both have some far-from-great lyrics, but I can give them a pass since they're not claiming to be Christian and I do have a sentimental connection to them.

CW, I remember when that Shadows Of Paragon CD came out and looking into the lyrics.  That's one band whose music I won't be purchasing any time soon.  IIRC there were some universalist themes too, but I could be wrong.

Yeah, those are some unfortunate lyrics.

Kerrick wrote:CW, I remember when that Shadows Of Paragon CD came out and looking into the lyrics.  That's one band whose music I won't be purchasing any time soon.  IIRC there were some universalist themes too, but I could be wrong.

I don't remember seeing anything universalist but it definitely wouldn't surprise me.

Anymore, I view music as safe or blasphemous, if I get into theology there's a lot of out there stuff by so called Christian artists. It's not a consistent standard but I can't only listen to Petra and TQT.

Black Rider wrote:Anymore, I view music as safe or blasphemous, if I get into theology there's a lot of out there stuff by so called Christian artists. It's not a consistent standard but I can't only listen to Petra and TQT.

Agreed. I still listen to Dalecore even.

Pethead wrote:Just for curiosity’s sake, what do you all do when it comes to bands that have super offensive lyrics on some albums, but not on others? Do you avoid the band altogether, only avoid those albums/songs, or just listen anyway?

For example, much of modern Exodus is lyrically terrible. But some of the classic Zetro stuff isn’t any more objectionable than any classic thrash. So how do you handle their discography?

When Zetro first joined Exodus, they were a bit more lyrically diverse than they were with Paul Baloff. Steve would write lyrics that were less about the devil and more about society and violence. 

When Gary Holt started taking over the lyrics, it went downhill. He is from the same anti-Christian viewpoint as Kerry King.

My favorite Exodus era was from Pleasures of the Flesh to Impact is Imminent. Force of Habit has some cool tunes, but it’s a little too commercial. The horns on the Rolling Stones cover are cringe!

It sounds like most of us are at a similar place with this issue. 

For me, I agree with most of y'all. I'm inconsistent, but I tend to skip songs I find particularly problematic and bands that pretty much stick to those topics. I do listen to a couple of the classic Slayer albums from time to time, but some of their catalog I won't touch. For a band like Morbid Angel, I just avoid them entirely. 

I am bothered by sexually suggestive lyrics because I don't want those rattling in my head, tempting me to lust. 

I'm find with bands questioning religion (e.g. Rush), despite my obvious disagreement, but not with blasphemy. 

I try to balance a recognition of common grace in secular music with the command to be renewed in my mind.

I too have avoided Morbid Angel entirely.  And Deicide, and other bands that seem committed to a certain path that I want no part of.  I've never felt like I was missing anything with most of them.

However there's a few albums I've always thought were great musically and while I don't listen to them now they required a little more of a "brace yourself" approach, like the early albums by Bathory, Slayer, Exodus, Sodom, Destruction, Merciful Fate, etc.

Maybe 6 months ago I asked the question: why do we put up with Christians in bands who don't portray Christian character? The general answer was something along the lines  that Christian musicians aren't pastors/elders and so we can't expect them to meet the character qualifications.

So my question is: why do some of you hold the lyrics of these Christian bands to a high theological standard? Is this not a double standard? I'd assert that it is basically saying that theology is more important than the fruit of the spirit and godliness.

I'm not judging. I'm asking an honest question. I come from a background where good theology basically excuses all ungodly behaviour. So I'm sensitive to this. But I want to learn from your perspectives. So, especially, Crimson Warrior & Pethead (because you both commented on this), can you help me understand where you are coming from?