Can Metalcore Serve the Kingdom?

Christianity has always been a little misunderstood. The same applies to the Metal genre. When we combine the two, things get a little wild.

During the rise of Metalcore in the early 2000s, unheard stories triumphed in seedy clubs, never to be heard by average churchgoers. A small faction of Christians infiltrated the metal scene, shining a light where it was thought to be impossible.

Author Chris Yates is a retired Metalcore drummer who aims to bridge the gap of understanding between two seemingly opposing forces, proving that Metal can have its place in a walk with Christ.

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Real 2005 - 2006 Archival Band Footage From the Author

Song: “Set Me Free” by The Delirium Fail. This track originates from Chris’s side project with long-time guitarist and friend Aaron, the inspiration for the character Kyle in the novel.

This camcorder footage shows Chris’s first band (Jolly Lhama) during their CD Release / Going Away show and their arrival to Seattle in 2006. The band was not Christian-based at the time, as you may guess from the name.

These events are detailed in Undeceived: A Christian Metal Novel with a reimagining that includes Christ in the mix— the way it should have been from the beginning.

UNOFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK

Check out some of the Christian Metal and Rock that led the author to his faith.

Visit the YouTube playlist to see the full tracklist!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi, I'm Chris Yates — retired Metalcore drummer and now family man, writer, videographer, and designer based in Paris, Texas. I started my music journey in 1999, moved from Texas to Washington with my band in 2005, and played in projects from Seattle to Austin before returning home to start a family.

Undeceived: A Christian Metal Novel is based on events from my years playing in the DFW, Seattle/Tacoma and Austin scenes. The overarching Christian theme of this story is fictional (I came to Christ after returning to my hometown) but the band vignettes are taken from my past memories.

I like to imagine what my band's trajectory would have been had I not turned down our guitarist's offer to play Christian metal. I think he was right from the beginning. This story charts the path of what could have been, focusing on the core lessons that I learned from Jesus along the way, even before I knew what was happening. I pray that this book speaks to you or someone you love.

My favorite generation of music was a blip on the radar, lost to the sands of time. Early 2000s Metalcore holds a special place in my life. This book aims to keep that scene alive, even if only in our hearts.

PRESS & NEWS

Undeceived HQ - Chris Yates - 2026

undeceivedofficial@gmail.com