Who was the first Christian metal band?

I mean apart from Stryper ok? Thrash, extreme, stuff like that.
The earliest I know of is the Messiah - Merciless Strike demo from 1986. The earliest official album I know is VR - Human Sacrifice.

Heavens Force 1983
Early Metallica Megadeth clone

Hard Rock:
 REZ Band, Jerusalem, Petra

 Hard Rock / Metal:
 Barnabas, Daniel Band




 Heavy Metal:
 
 Leviticus (1981/1984) I shall conquer
 Messiah Prophet (1983/1984) Rock the flock
 Saint (1983/1984) Warriors of the son
 Creed (1983/1984) - Creed (EP)


Thrash:
 I remember the first thrash songs very well:
 
 Bloodgod - Battle of the flesh 1985 (it was called a thrash song then)
                Black Snake
 The Lead - Return Fire 1986
 Deliverance - Greeting of death 1986
 Martyr demo Death is dead 1987

Believer, Vengeance rising, the Crucified ...
 


 Don´t know at the moment whom I have forgotten ...

I did a quick search on the Metal Archives for Christian bands formed pre-1980 and came up with a few:

https://www.metal-archives.com/search/advanced/searching/bands?bandName=&genre=&country=&yearCreationFrom=1900&yearCreationTo=1980&bandNotes=&status=&themes=Christianity%2C+-anti&location=&bandLabelName=#bands

Sir Lord Baltimore is the first imo though we've redefined the term heavy metal so they probably don't count anymore. Same with Jerusalem and Resurrection Band.

mothy wrote:Heavens Force 1983
Early Metallica Megadeth clone

Kill em All/Show No Mercy clone

great stuff

Temple of Blood wrote:

mothy wrote:Heavens Force 1983
Early Metallica Megadeth clone

Kill em All/Show No Mercy clone

great stuff

Id throw in Killing is My Business since it was a direct rebuttal to Kill Em All

Kerrick wrote:I did a quick search on the Metal Archives for Christian bands formed pre-1980 and came up with a few:

https://www.metal-archives.com/search/advanced/searching/bands?bandName=&genre=&country=&yearCreationFrom=1900&yearCreationTo=1980&bandNotes=&status=&themes=Christianity%2C+-anti&location=&bandLabelName=#bands

That is a very good list! Thanks Kerrick!

I have forgotten Emerald and Stairway Shame on me.

I'm pretty sure it was Temple of Blood. I'm pretty sure he was riffing and headbanging to early versions of Behind The Inverted Star when he was in junior high...

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm pretty sure it was Temple of Blood. I'm pretty sure he was riffing and headbanging to early versions of Behind The Inverted Star when he was in junior high...

pre-K.

But it was hard to play those riffs on an Elmo guitar with only 4 buttons.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm pretty sure it was Temple of Blood. I'm pretty sure he was riffing and headbanging to early versions of Behind The Inverted Star when he was in junior high...

pre-K.

But it was hard to play those riffs on an Elmo guitar with only 4 buttons.

Haha! I wasn't sure how old you are. I figured I was pushing your age a bit!

Temple of Blood wrote:

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm pretty sure it was Temple of Blood. I'm pretty sure he was riffing and headbanging to early versions of Behind The Inverted Star when he was in junior high...

pre-K.

But it was hard to play those riffs on an Elmo guitar with only 4 buttons.

But it would be fun to see, and please tell me the Elmo guitar is making it on the new album.

mothy wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm pretty sure it was Temple of Blood. I'm pretty sure he was riffing and headbanging to early versions of Behind The Inverted Star when he was in junior high...

pre-K.

But it was hard to play those riffs on an Elmo guitar with only 4 buttons.

But it would be fun to see, and please tell me the Elmo guitar is making it on the new album.

AMEN to that!

mothy wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm pretty sure it was Temple of Blood. I'm pretty sure he was riffing and headbanging to early versions of Behind The Inverted Star when he was in junior high...

pre-K.

But it was hard to play those riffs on an Elmo guitar with only 4 buttons.

But it would be fun to see, and please tell me the Elmo guitar is making it on the new album.

Come on, get real.

I'm playing a 5 button Bluey guitar now.

^ I see you youngsters are up to date on your kid shows

Temple of Blood wrote:

mothy wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Sevenoneself wrote:I'm pretty sure it was Temple of Blood. I'm pretty sure he was riffing and headbanging to early versions of Behind The Inverted Star when he was in junior high...

pre-K.

But it was hard to play those riffs on an Elmo guitar with only 4 buttons.

But it would be fun to see, and please tell me the Elmo guitar is making it on the new album.

Come on, get real.

I'm playing a 5 button Bluey guitar now.

Well thats good to hear, I just didnt want to assume that you have improved those skills and moved up to an extra button