Faith Hope Love

Although the Jimmy Swaggart/Jim Baker crowd was quick to denounce heavy metal in general as a tool of Satanism, a number of headbangers have used metal to promote Christianity, including Stryper, the Resurrection Band, Contagious, and King's X. Quite often, King's X did so in such a subliminal fashion that they fared as well in the secular market as they did in Christian circles. While Faith Hope Love isn't quite as strong as Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, the CD illustrates the band's imaginative, ambitious nature and proved to be its commercial breakthrough. Tracks like "Six Broken Soldiers," "Fine Art of Friendship," and the hit "It's Love" may have been inspired by Christianity, but they don't force it down anyone's throat. The lyrics are never preachy or obnoxious, which explains why those practicing Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism won't find the rockers' striking blend of metal, progressive rock, and Beatlesque power pop off-putting. ~ Alex Henderson