The Sappy Love Ballad Phenomenon (SLBP)

Who here listens to and enjoys the sticky sweet ballads on Christian metal albums?

As it was on secular releases at the time, most commercial christian metal albums seemed to have at least the one obligatory sappy ballad. Instead of a ballad to the singer's bimbo d'jour, the songs are at least Christ-centered, but that doesn't make some of them any easier to listen to.

It seems like in alot of cases, the Christian ballads are even more sappy-sweet. I always thought they took away from the flow of the album.

Songs like Stryper's "My Love I'll Always Show", Whitecross' "Behold", Letter 7's "First Love" are some examples of this phenomenon.

Anyone have thoughts?

I guess it was done to get airplay on the Christian radio stations?

Stryper's worst habit was putting two ballads on every album. One would've been plenty.

I'm a sucker for a good power ballad, Christian or otherwise. Some of the better Christian power ballads include:

Bride- I miss the rain.
Bloodgood- Top of the Mountain
Bloodgood- Messiah
Barren Cross- Heaven or Nothing
Crystavox- Home Again
Eden Fan the Flame
Fear Not- Till the end of my days
Guardian Forever and a day
Guardian- Never Say Goodbye
Holy Soldier- Eyes of Innocence,Tuesday Morning,The Pain Inside of me.
Novella Whispers in the Night
Sacred Warrior- He died, Holy Holy Holy
Ultimatum- The Grip
Rob Rock- Ode to Alexander

Several good ones IMHO

The sticky sweet ones I can do without, but "I'm So In Love With You" (Resurrection Band) was just a great song...more of a power ballad really though.

Depends on the song. Some "sticky sweet" ballads I enjoy while others don't interest me. It also helps that my earliest musical interests was soft rock (Chicago, Billy Joel, etc.).

We used to cover I Miss the Rain, so I would have to say that's my favorite. We did it when we opened for Bride in 92 & they came on stage & played it with us.

I also like ballads! Sometimes they are the best song on the album!

Some of my fave Christian ballads:

Bride - I Miss the Rain
Stryper - Honestly
Bloodgood - Top of the Mountain
Whitecross - Walk with Me
Sacred Warrior - He Died
Barren Cross - Heaven or Nothing
One Bad Pig - Red River
Deliverance - Speckled Bird
Rez - Rain Dance
Petra - Thankful Heart

Many good songs already mentioned here. I really love 'em, and I also have a compilation CD, entitled Heavenly Ballads, with a lot of them collected.

Whitecross - In His Hands
Idle Cure - Innocent Again
Bride - I Miss The Rain
Magdallan - House Of Dreams
Holy Soldier - Eyes Of Innocence
Age Of Faith - Will I Find Love
Chryztyne - Remember You
Rachel-Rachel - Time
Legend - Lead Me Back
Bloodgood - Top Of The Mountain
The Brave - Just A Man
Halo - Soul Searcher
Creed - Broken Heart
Angelica - Carry Me
Liaison - Lay Your Weapons down
Guardian - Do You Know What Love Is


I also love many others, of course. And from the top of my head:

Joshua - Remembering You
Whitecross - You're Mine (They ruined the re-recording of the album by not having this song on the album!!)
Whitecross - Walk With Me
Whitecorss - Behold
Barren Cross - He Loves You
Sacred Warrior -He Died

and most of Stryper's ballads are quite enjoyable too.

Quote :

Bride- I miss the rain.

Not a big ballad guy, but that's a great one.

Heaven Or Nothing is good as well.

I think the Barren Cross ballads are above par as well.

Sacred Warrior-He Died(one of the Best ballads,ever)
Bloodgood-Shes Gone
Stryper-Honestly
Lady
Bride-Sweet Louise

Quote :

Bloodgood-Shes Gone

Good one there.

I'm pretty close to calling the rock station I listen to at work and tell them if they don't stop playing so many damn sappy ballads i'm going to stop listening to them.