My Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s (@ Darklands blog)

To commemorate the Darklands blog’s first anniversary, João Rodrigues honoured me with the invitation to take the helm of the Song of the Day institution for the next week. He challenged me to come up with an original theme to run through the 7 day posts, so I picked what historically been a controversial subject matter: Christianity in Metal.

While religion and art has always been a matter of heated debate, I would risk saying that the perceived contrast between both has never been so stark as it was in the 80’s when a growing number of bands started expressing their faith and including Christian overtones (or outright evangelism) on their hard driving music, an area that had always been associated with the excesses of sex, drugs and occultism. This obviously sparked heated debate on both sides of the fence and the bands ended up getting flack from everywhere. Not for the faint of heart.

As a teenager I followed the emergence of this fairly subversive counter-culture so, when João spoke to me, I could not think of a better theme for this series than the Top 7 Christian Metal bands of the 80’s. Of course when you pick an arbitrary number of bands from a big list, you always leave out obvious (and better) choices for other people. In fact it pains me to not include a few bands myself.  In my selection process I tried to find a balance between how good the band was, how early it appeared and how influential it ultimately was to the scene. But ultimately, my personal taste also had a huge impact so your mileage may vary! Also, don’t read too much on the order in which the bands are presented: it is neither chronological nor related to overall rating… it’s just, you know, "some" order.

Wanna know what my picks are? Just head over to the Darklands Blog from July 31 to August 6 and see for yourself!

• Day 1 - Barren Cross - Dying Day
• Day 2 - Bride - Heroes
• Day 3 - Rez Band - Military Man
• Day 4 - Sacred Warrior - Evil Lurks
• Day 5 - Vengeance Rising - Can't Get Out
• Day 6 - WhiteCross - When The Clock Strikes
• Day 7 - Stryper - Soldiers Under Command

My Poetry: "Mend" (2011)

As we go through the ebb and flow of life, we accumulate memories, images and feeling. Some are good and hopeful and we strive to cling to them. But some are bad and hopeless and we find that, try as we might, sometimes we can't let them go. But the fact of the matter is that they are all part of our growth process: they permeate you and I and make us who we are.

So you wouldn't be YOU without that flunked year in school, that dream job you lost, that loved one that has died or that special person that broke your heart. What you need to do to not go insane is occasionally exhaust the hurt part out of your system and keep only the inner growth part... and do so in one of the many creative ways available to you.

Today I felt the urge to do some soul purging of my own in a way I haven't done for a good 18 years (well, since writing lyrics for a rock band!)... by writing some (bad) poetry:

"Mend"

by Miguel Melo

 

If Man is meant to be loved

And peace and joy the ultimate end

Then why is my heart torn

And how long will it take to mend?

If patience is a virtue

And faithfulness heaven sent

Then why does betrayal my heart tear

And righteous anger not let it mend?

As my mortal days wither on

And dearth of goodness is all I'm handed

Can I wish away a heart that's torn

And dream of one that's fully mended?

Sadly life is but a travesty

And make do I must with what I am

Asking: How far has my heart been broken

And will it ever be whole again?

Film Review: "The Beaver" (2011)

Director: Jodie Foster
Writer: Kyle Killen
Stars: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and Anton Yelchin

Things are really looking black in the eyes Walter Black (Mel Gibson). Though he in affluent company owner, married to a loving wife and has two healthy kids, midlife crisis has really set in and everything around him seems to have lost its sheen. As he keeps receding deeper into depression and apathy, his long-suffering wife (Jodie Foster) breaks the proverbial camel's back by kicking him out of the family house (much to the applause of the eldest son). 

As he tries to take his life in the sole company of a hand puppet he pulled out of a dumpster (the eponymous Beaver), a freak accident occurs and Walker wakes up to find that the puppet he holds, may in turn hold the answer to his problems. You see, talking through this puppet (who, unlike him, speaks in a broad cockney accent) Walter becomes a very balanced individual, with humour and love for his family, vision for his company and general spunk for life.

Gibson has been talked about a lot in recent years for all the wrong reasons related to his personal life. If you factor in that he has been directing more than actually facing the cameras as of late, it is easy to forget that he has been first and foremost an actor for over 30 years.

I'll put this simply: while many feel he overacts at times, Mel Gibson puts in a downright masterful and passionate performance on this movie. You just won't be indifferent as he roller-coasts from the light-hearted premise of the film into the murky depths of finding out you can only be your best self, when you are not yourself. Gibson is aided, of course, by a strong performance by Jodie Foster who, for a change, plays a humane and tender role in stark contrast with her usual hard-boiled self.

Having said that, let me stress this: don't go into this film thinking it's a romantic comedy because it is not. It really is (especially towards the end) a dramatic display of the games people play and the tolls they have to pay to get by in life.

I'm sure this film will mostly go unnoticed by critics and film goers alike. And while this will not be the movie of the year by any means,  there is still a lot here to like and I'm sure I won't be the only person that can really relate a lot with Black's plight.

My score: 7.0 / 10