In recent years, rock and metal covers of popular worship songs have carved out a special place in the hearts of music fans. These unique renditions blend the intensity of rock with the reverence of worship. These unique renditions offer a fresh and dynamic take on familiar spiritual anthems that captivate listeners who appreciate the energy of rock and the depth of worship music.
I am attracted to the intense emotions and powerful music in rock and metal, which allows me to connect with these songs on a deeper, more visceral level. In this article, I'll highlight some rock and metal covers that have resonated with me and others about how they add a bold, new dimension to the worship experience.
Venerant Hearts - "In Christ Alone"
Venerant Hearts is a type of supergroup with multiple solo artists working together on one project. You have passionate artists like Ben S. Dixon, James Franchise, and Luis Paquotl. Their debut single is a cover of the beloved worship song "In Christ Alone." It has been four years since they released the single, but it's solid, and I loved their take on it, along with many other fans. Hearing all three artists' styles mixed together on this project is exceptional.
Ben S. Dixon - "Psalm 46 Lord of Hosts"
Ben S. Dixon is one of my favorite solo Christian artists. His songwriting is always deep, theologically sound worship. His 2020 album, Oh Propitiation, is one of the best worship-focused metal albums in recent years. For his cover of "Psalm 46 Lord of Hosts," made famous recently by worship group Shane & Shane, Ben brought along a couple of other notable artists—Jonathan Spear and Aaron Ashcroft—to help perform it. The song is a great cover and displays Ben's musical talents.
Stryper - "Amazing Grace"
Rock veterans Stryper recently released their To Hell With The Amps in 2024, a chock-full of reimagined and acoustic versions of their famous songs. One surprise was their only non-original song, a tender rendition of the classic hymn "Amazing Grace." From the band's collective vocals to the well-crafted acoustic arrangement, this cover is a standout song among many other covers of this hymn.
This Surrender - "Great Are You Lord"
James Franchise is the frontman for the heavy pop punk worship band This Surrender, a band based in New York City. James is very active and passionate about Christian rock and metal. His music often covers worship, contemporary Christian songs, and some original material. One of their most famous covers is artist Santiago Hidalgo's "Great Are You Lord." Fan donations made The album cover possible, showcasing incredible community support for This Surrender and James' other works.
Behold The Beloved - "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
One of the most promising Christian rock bands is Behold The Beloved. This Pennsylvania-based five-piece rock band has been active for ten years, and their 2022 release, No Surrender, was an excellent album full of praise and rock. But they caught much attention in 2019 with a cover of famous worship band Hillsong's major hit, "Oceans (Where Feet May Fall)." This high-powered cover showcases this band's talents and offers a chance to worship a popular song to an exciting new beat. It's one of my favorite worship covers.
Becoming the Archetype - "How Great Thou Art"
This one is a little throwback, but it's worth it. I couldn’t give an honest list of great worship covers if Becoming The Archetypes' "How Great Thou Art" cover wasn't there. The infamous melodic death metal band delivered the most crushing and brutal cover of this hymn that I've heard to date, and it continues to be one of my favorite songs from the band as a whole. They recently reunited and released an incredible album, Children of the Great Extinction, in 2022, but there were no ear-opening covers like this one.
Beard The Lion - "Wretch Like Me"
This song is a stretch, but you must hear it. Beard The Lion is a criminally underrated progressive metal band from Texas. Their re-recording of their debut, Out of the Eater, Something to Eat, is a masterpiece, and the singles they've released since then are incredible. "Wretch Like Me" is on this list because the band sings an unforgettable cover of some of "Amazing Grace." As I always say, support your favorite bands by listening to and streaming their music.
Ryan Adams lives in Las Vegas with his family and spoiled rotten dog. He is an avid supporter of the Christian rock and metal scenes.
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