Search - Deliverance :: What a Joke: Stay of Executio

A Christian Alternative to Slayer

Gravesmith | Indiana | 04/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a Christian first and Metalhead second, so often I find myself torn. Non-theist metal groups often produce amazing sounds but their lyrical content is typically infused with dark themes antithetical to Christian doctrine. On the other hand, most Christian bands . . . well, they suck to be quite frank. Using their message as an excuse for substandard song writing, plenty of groups that couldn't cut it in the traditional market find nationwide distribution on Christian labels.

Deliverance is one of those rare Christian groups that is not only listenable but enjoyable - even to a non-Christian audience. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first and only Christian band to get air play on MTV's Headbanger's Ball back in the day. Certainly other "Christian" bands with less overt lyrics in more mainstream genres have followed in their footsteps, but Deliverance manages to hold its own in comparison to groups like Slayer while conveying Christian theme lyrics - some of which are taken directly from Psalms. The singers wailing soprano might not appeal to metal fans accustomed to the gutteral shouting found on a Mastadon or Bolt Thrower album, but the lyrical quality is gradually infused with deeper gothic undertones in later albums (like in their amazing cover of David Bowie's Beauty and the Beast on their Camelot in Smithereens album). Some of their songs can get a little silly and they perform well in their genre rather than being remarkably innovative, but this group is worth a listen for just about anyone. They aren't perfect, but I would put this forward as an example of quality Christian music."

Christian Metal Review

Ronn Rozman | Colorado Springs | 10/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Deliverance is a Christian Metal band that has really proven thay they have what it takes to be in the Metal scene. This is a band that I happen to like, and I have most of their CD's now. Jimmy Brown is a great vocalist. This band has gone through some storms, but the Lord has brought them out to sing to the world about Christ in a Metal format."

Christian Metal at its best!

G. Kiser | Bluff City, TN USA | 03/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Deliverance, wow. Growing up I loved the heavy sounds of hard rock, but I always worried about the lyrics. Normally associated with this kind of music are songs about death, hell, destruction, murder, suicide, rebellion, drunkeness, drugs, promiscuity, fornication, blaspheming, etc. Here is a band that has held up for over a decade playing the same kind of metal sound (thrash, heavy metal), and yet the lyrics are about . . . well . . . deliverance from the above things. The words are VERY uncompromising with the gospel message. For all the metal-heads in your family that need a Christian alternative to this style of music, this is the band for them. And you don't have to worry about the lyrics!"