What was the first "White Metal" band ?

I'd vote for Barnabas ...

I’d say Rez Band.

Complicated question about a non-existent genre IMO. The term "Christian Metal" is just fine, really.

But...Stryper. OK so someone close this thread and let's move on after lunch K?

Thrasher73 wrote:

I’d say Rez Band.

I thought they were bluesy hard rock?

The first notable and semi mainstream Christian Metal band was Stryper. There was a few others in the early 80s, but they were very obscure in comparison.

Regarding the term “White Metal”, I found this on Wikipedia:

Chicago doom metal group Trouble was known to be the first band that was publicly marketed as "white metal" since their early albums Psalm 9 and The Skull feature Biblical references.[30] The origin of the "white metal" term remains unclear; it is merely known that the non-Christian label Metal Blade Records used "white metal" as a marketing term, in contrast to black metal.

Yep . But that Nickname ("White Metal") really is used here in Brazil since the 80's or 90's as a synonymous with Christian Metal , for many reasons , maybe because it's even way easier to pronounce .

I voted for Barnabas because they where way heavier than the Christian Blues Rock of some bands that appeared on the 70's , yet still belong to the "pre Stryper" era .

Christian Metal, white metal, Jesus metal, whatever you call it. Rez and Petra started out in the 70’s. Stryper brought it to the mainstream in the 80’s.

Now the genre nazis will say Petra and Rez weren’t metal but hard rock.

Thrasher73 wrote:

Christian Metal, white metal, Jesus metal, whatever you call it. Rez and Petra started out in the 70’s. Stryper brought it to the mainstream in the 80’s.

Now the genre nazis will say Petra and Rez weren’t metal but hard rock.

Well , that's basically what I think . I think the first White Metal band was really Barnabas because they started back in 1977 . Some people arguing about the actual start of "White Metal" would argue that Messiah Prophet and Messiah (fairly unkown band) where the first ones , but both these started in 1979 . So Barnabas gets my vote . Their first album also was earlier , "Hear the Light" was released in 1980 .

Troublezone wrote:

Thrasher73 wrote:

I’d say Rez Band.

I thought they were bluesy hard rock?

Most of the time, but I'd say their 8-10 heaviest songs are very metal.

anthrax_fan wrote:

Yep . But that Nickname ("White Metal") really is used here in Brazil since the 80's or 90's as a synonymous with Christian Metal , for many reasons , maybe because it's even way easier to pronounce .

Ah this I did not know. Kinda fascinating actually.

And that REZ song posted above? Yeah, I had no idea they were metal. That's almost a Too Fast for Love flavor right there!

Anyone remember The Daniel Band? Probably not the earliest, but I think their first record was early 80's. I seem to remember them having a metal edge despite the lame name.

I don’t know about Petra... they sound like the 80s band Starship.

Never liked the term. It always made me think of the 70s band Angel (who wore all white clothing), who werent really a metal band anyway.

Troublezone wrote:

I don’t know about Petra... they sound like the 80s band Starship.

True, but one has to admit the power combo of On Fire and Beyond Belief had a cool heavy metal topcoat amidst all the poppiness. Plus those two albums were great at eschewing commercial formulas and employing unique songwriting dynamics while remaining catchy as hell heaven. Just listen to the song Creed. A searing hair metal anthem at the least.

I've begun to notice over time that On Fire is becoming a forgotten album, which is a downright tragedy. Not only was it THE major turning point for the band's sonic direction, but its also some damn whoppin' great arena rock, big drums, power chords et al. It's pretty much a heavy metal album even if it crosses that line by a hair. It's their masterpiece through and through, even IMO above the genius of Beyond Belief. And, yes, we have the Elefante bros to thank for this, but also the fact the Petra was simply a stupidly-talented bunch.

This Means War, though, is simply OK, and way more of that Starship sound is evident there. I have no idea why that album gets so much praise as their power moment. It's like such an audience had never heard the other two albums I mentioned. In the end, Beat the System is headbanging fury compared to the dripping keyboards and synthetic sparkles of This Means War.

corplhicks wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

I don’t know about Petra... they sound like the 80s band Starship.

True, but one has to admit the power combo of On Fire and Beyond Belief had a cool heavy metal topcoat amidst all the poppiness. Plus those two albums were great at eschewing commercial formulas and employing unique songwriting dynamics while remaining catchy as hell heaven. Just listen to the song Creed. A searing hair metal anthem at the least.

I've begun to notice over time that On Fire is becoming a forgotten album, which is a downright tragedy. Not only was it THE major turning point for the band's sonic direction, but its also some damn whoppin' great arena rock, big drums, power chords et al. It's pretty much a heavy metal album even if it crosses that line by a hair. It's their masterpiece through and through, even IMO above the genius of Beyond Belief. And, yes, we have the Elefante bros to thank for this, but also the fact the Petra was simply a stupidly-talented bunch.

This Means War, though, is simply OK, and way more of that Starship sound is evident there. I have no idea why that album gets so much praise as their power moment. It's like such an audience had never heard the other two albums I mentioned. In the end, Beat the System is headbanging fury compared to the dripping keyboards and synthetic sparkles of This Means War.

I checked out those two albums you mentioned Beyond Belief and On Fire, and they did have a few songs that border on heavy metal. I actually prefer the sound of Beyond Belief. It’s a more modern production and less dated imo.

Funny thing is that they kind of have that Dream Theater keyboard and vocals vibe on some of the mellow songs. I previously only knew of their 70s mellow rock like Yahweh Love and stuff like that (which is far away from metal) and the Starship “AOR” rock. I guess they changed with the times like so many others when more guitar oriented heavy music was popular.

I like some Petra music , basically only the "AOR" albums that where released between 1986 and 1991 , these where all great . These and Jekyll and Hyde is the only music they made that I can actually enjoy .