Early Metal Bands that copied Secular Band Names & Styles

I'm wondering if there are any threads on this, or if there are any sources that confirm early Christian metal bands mimicked Secular Band Names and/or styles. I'm not saying it was a bad thing, as these bands really wanted to give fans a Christian version of the secular music they loved. 

Please 1) correct me if I'm really off on some of these designations, 2) add the (many) ones I've missed, and 3) provide sources if you know them.  I'm just exploring these possibilities:

Iron Maiden > Sacred Warrior, Holy Soldier (?)
Van Halen > Haven
Slayer > Saint
Marilyn Manson > Rackets & Drapes
Whitesnake > Whitecross
Exodus > Leviticus

The only one of these that occurred to me was Whitecross, especially when the Triumphant Return cover is so similar to Whitesnake’s s/t.

I always thought the name Saint was a riff on Priest (I.e. Judas Priest).

Did Atheist predate Believer?

WildWorld wrote:Did Atheist predate Believer?

According to metal-archives, Believer under that name predated Atheist under that name by one year. Atheist was first known as Oblivion, and Believer was known as Deceiver.

WhiteHeart was a conscious response to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Angelica - Metallica was pretty blatant, not the music but the name and logo.

Sevenoneself wrote:Exodus > Leviticus

Genesis predated both!  

Guns n Roses-Gethsemene Rose

and not band names, but the obscure band Malachia titled their debut album Under the Blade while Bride's debut was titled Show No Mercy. Sure, the terms are kind of generic (and Bride had a song on said album called Show No Mercy), but given the time they were released (1986), it could be seen as using well known album titles by metal bands (Twisted Sister and Slayer respectively).

Pethead wrote:

WildWorld wrote:Did Atheist predate Believer?

According to metal-archives, Believer under that name predated Atheist under that name by one year. Atheist was first known as Oblivion, and Believer was known as Deceiver.

and Believer got the name from the Ozzy tune...

crucifyd wrote:

Pethead wrote:

WildWorld wrote:Did Atheist predate Believer?

According to metal-archives, Believer under that name predated Atheist under that name by one year. Atheist was first known as Oblivion, and Believer was known as Deceiver.

and Believer got the name from the Ozzy tune...

Unfortunately true.

Raegoul wrote:Angelica - Metallica was pretty blatant, not the music but the name and logo.

I’m still not convinced of this just because the two bands sound nothing like each other.

Stryken - Twisted Sister, Motley Crue
New Jerusalem - Led Zeppelin
Trytan (first album) - Rush
X-Sinner (first album) - Cinderella, AC/DC
Jacob's Dream (first album) - Queensryche

Pethead wrote:

Raegoul wrote:Angelica - Metallica was pretty blatant, not the music but the name and logo.

I’m still not convinced of this just because the two bands sound nothing like each other.

And I dont see the resemblance between the two logos:

 

Yeah, a ton of metal bands have similar logos.

Guys, this is kind of corny. Secular bands copied each other's font and names all the time, it's not like christian bands invented this.

Raegoul wrote:Angelica - Metallica was pretty blatant, not the music but the name and logo.

I wondered about this but wasn't sure.

Black Rider wrote:Guys, this is kind of corny. Secular bands copied each other's font and names all the time, it's not like christian bands invented this.

I didn't start the thread to make any bands look bad for copying others, or to site influences or commonality. Two thoughts:

1) Sometimes bands are specifically trying to channel another band. I've written plenty of songs through the years trying to emulate the sound, lyrics, feel of a band that I really like. Back when I was in high school, Rackets & Drapes were very clearly attempting to copy the top shock rock artists. 

2) I'm fairly certain that many of the earliest Christian metal bands were trying to emulate or copy the sound of specific secular bands. It was common for Christian music stores to have comparison charts on the wall to help people find the band that sounded most like a secular band. The metal genre wasn't old enough to have diversified, and I think some of the early bands were actually trying to make a Christian version of a secular band/album to offer Christians a God-honoring alternative.

I think you’re both right. Some Christian bands were trying to copy other artists (Living Sacrifice’s debut is an obvious riff—pun intended—on Slayer). But secular bands have done the same thing for different reasons. We’ve got AC/DC clones all over the place and I remember a few years ago when Greta Van Fleet came out and were a Zep clone.

No worries. I just hear this so much and I always think how it's not just Christian bands. Shoot, GnR took Aerosmith's sound and beefed it up but people think it's original.

And the word of the day is ------- copied not copy!!!!!!

Black Rider wrote:No worries. I just hear this so much and I always think how it's not just Christian bands. Shoot, GnR took Aerosmith's sound and beefed it up but people think it's original.

There is an Aerosmith AND Rolling Stones influence no doubt, especially on the lies album with the brass and sound in general. However, GnR had an original sound with Axl's vocals and Slash's guitar tone and style and overall sound, and his and Izzy's, memorable, 'GNR" flavored riffs. Those bands, I'd ague, were influences, but GNR really did have a sound of their own that is instantly recognizable- Snakes in the play ground anybody?

^That’s true. Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler didn’t quite have the “cat with its tail caught in a blender” vocals that Axl brought to the table.

Pethead wrote:^That’s true. Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler didn’t quite have the “cat with its tail caught in a blender” vocals that Axl brought to the table.

Ha ha, yep, so true. Odd vocal no, bit like Billy Corgan- you either love it or hate it. Don't mind Axl in small doses. Pretty over Sweet Child "O" mine though!

Saint is nothing like Slayer (name or music).

They’re an alternative to Judas Priest.

Pethead wrote:WhiteHeart was a conscious response to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

But they sound nothing alike.


As to the earlier mention of Whitecross sounding like Whitesnake, that is way off.  Whitecross sounded much more like Ratt in both guitar sound and style and Scott's voice sounding a lot like Stephen's.