Holy Riffs: How Sacred Scriptures Shape Iconic Hits

Rock and metal music has long intertwined with religious themes, drawing from sacred texts to craft lyrics that evoke power, mystery, and conflict. This connection is evident in how bands adapt stories from the Bible’s dramatic narratives or Hinduism’s ancient epics, using them as lyrical foundations to explore human existence, morality, and the supernatural. While Metallica‘s “Creeping Death“ serves as a classic example—pulling directly from the Bible’s Book of Exodus to depict the plagues on Egypt—numerous other songs follow suit, spanning secular and faith-based subgenres. This exploration reveals a genre that respects the epic scope of religious literature while often reinterpreting it through a lens of rebellion, introspection, or critique.

The Bible, with its vivid tales of apocalypse, redemption, and divine intervention, remains the most common source. In the Book of Revelation alone, imagery of horsemen, beasts, and judgment has inspired a slew of tracks. For instance, Metallica‘s “The Four Horsemen“ channels the apocalyptic riders symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death, transforming the scripture into a thrash metal anthem about destruction and fate. Similarly, their “My Apocalypse” echoes Revelation’s end-times chaos, with lyrics evoking extreme peril and renewal. Iron Maiden, masters of historical and literary themes, contribute heavily: “The Number of the Beast” famously references the mark of the beast (666) from Revelation, portraying it as a symbol of evil and societal control, complete with Bruce Dickinson’s soaring vocals amplifying the dread. Their “Moonchild” weaves in the Whore of Babylon and fallen angels, blending biblical horror with occult elements for a narrative of birth and damnation. “The Writing on the Wall” draws from the Book of Daniel‘s story of Belshazzar‘s feast, where a divine hand writes a prophecy of doom on the wall, symbolizing inevitable judgment. Even “Revelations” incorporates the first verse of G.K. Chesterton‘s 1906 hymn “O God of Earth and Altar,” which itself is rooted in biblical pleas for divine guidance, adding a layer of traditional Christian devotion to the band’s heavy sound.

Christian metal bands often retell biblical stories with a focus on faith and triumph. The Showdown‘s album A Chorus of Obliteration features tracks like “A Monument Encased in Ash,” recounting the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah from Genesis; “Epic: A Chorus of Obliteration,” inspired by the fall of Jericho in Joshua; “From the Mouth of Gath Comes Terror,” based on David and Goliath from 1 Samuel; and “Dagon Undone (The Reckoning),” drawing from Samson‘s tale in Judges. Amaseffer‘s Exodus – Slaves for Life narrates the full Exodus story up to the Hebrews’ release, using orchestral elements to heighten the biblical drama. Theocracy, an American Christian power metal band, offers songs like “Bethlehem” (Simeon meeting baby Jesus in Luke), “Altar to the Unknown God” (Paul’s speech in Acts), “Easter” (the empty tomb in the Gospels), and “The Master Storyteller” (a meta-reflection on the Bible itself). Other examples include Thrice‘s “Like Moths to Flame” (Peter’s denial in the Gospels) and “The Messenger” (Isaiah’s calling in the Old Testament), as well as Saviour Machine‘s operatic albums based on Revelation.

Secular bands also mine the Bible for metaphor and intensity. Def Leppard‘s “Rock of Ages” borrows its title and bombastic tone from a biblical hymn referencing God as a steadfast refuge (e.g., Psalms and Isaiah), fitting their 1980s glam metal excess. Dio‘s “Holy Diver” alludes to the Harrowing of Hell or Satan’s fall, drawing from New Testament apocrypha and Revelation. Lamb of God‘s “Reclamation” uses Revelation’s fire and end-of-world motifs to critique environmental collapse. Avatar‘s “Hail the Apocalypse” mirrors Revelation’s storms and sinking cities, while Manowar‘s “Revelation (Death’s Angel)” directly references Armageddon and trumpets of judgment. Black Label Society‘s “Doomsday Jesus” invokes the Horsemen and a savior amid decay, and Black Sabbath‘s “Children of the Grave” echoes Revelation’s call to resist empire. Judas Priest‘s “Blood Red Skies” draws on perseverance themes, and Saracen‘s “Horsemen of the Apocalypse” urges awakening against the riders. Megadeth‘s “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” touches on religious conflicts, inspired by broader biblical warfare motifs.

Moving beyond the Bible, Hindu texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and epics such as the Mahabharata provide fertile ground for “Vedic metal,” often portraying gods like Shiva in roles of creation and destruction. Rudra, pioneers from Singapore, infuse albums like Hymns from the Blazing Chariot with Vedic shlokas and mantras, celebrating Hindu philosophy through death metal growls and chants. Kartikeya, a Russian band, bases “Tandava” on Shiva’s cosmic dance that ends the Kali Yuga era, with lyrics like “Hark! I am Mahadeva, master of the universe” praising his forms as Nataraja and Pashupati. Their “He Who Carries the Head of Brahma” retells Shiva severing Brahma’s head, invoking names like Bhairav and Lingadhyakshasa in Sanskrit chants over thrash riffs. Dying Out Flame from Nepal delivers “Shiva Rudrastakam,” a Vedic death metal track rooted in ancient Sanskrit hymns to Shiva, blending brutality with transcendental wisdom from the Upanishads and Gita to evoke spiritual renewal. The Down Troddence‘s “Shiva” adapts the Shiva Tandava Stotram—attributed to Ravana—describing the god’s hair with the Ganga river and his fiery dance, using heavy bass to create a devotional trance. Persefone‘s Spiritual Migration album, especially “Returning to the Source,” draws on Hindu concepts of rebirth and enlightenment. Cult of Fire‘s मृत्यु का तापसी अनुध्यान explores death and asceticism from Hindu perspectives, while Rotting Christ‘s “Devadevam” is entirely in Sanskrit, featuring the Gayatri Mantra as a prayer to Shiva. Behemoth‘s The Apostasy and bands like Genocide Shrines also weave in Hindu lyrical influences, often portraying deities in demonic or empowering lights. Rob Favotto’s “Kali Ma” is an epic Hindu metal song celebrating the goddess Kali, blending international influences with themes of destruction and renewal. Bloodywood incorporates Indian folk metal with Punjabi elements, as in “Gaddaar,” touching on cultural and mythological motifs.

Buddhist texts inspire a niche but growing subgenre, where sutras and mantras are fused with death metal to promote enlightenment or social commentary. Taiwan’s Dharma band, founded by Jack Tung, uses classic Buddhist mantras in Sanskrit or Mandarin as lyrics, drawing from ancient sutras to blend with growling vocals and heavy riffs, aiming to spread Buddhist teachings through music. Their songs often serve as allegory for Taiwanese liberation, supported by Buddhist clergy who chant during performances. Japanese bands like Evil and Gokuraku Jodo touch on Buddhist themes fleetingly, with album art or lyrics evoking cosmology. Indian band Gautam draws from Buddhist concepts, while Chinese band Yaksa‘s “Xiangmo zhou” incorporates mantras for a unique fusion. Stoner metal band OM uses meditative drones echoing sutras, emphasizing spiritual quests.

For Islamic texts like the Quran, direct positive adaptations are rare in rock and metal due to regional restrictions and the genre’s rebellious ethos. Saudi band Al-Namrood uses Arabic scales and lyrics critical of religious tyranny, drawing from pre-Islamic jinn and tales like One Thousand and One Nights rather than quoting the Quran, to protest sharia’s constraints. Indonesian bands like Purgatory and Tengkorak form part of an “Islamic metal” scene, with lyrics revolving around faith and social issues, though often more interpretive than textual. Muslim metal and punk lists include Hizjrah‘s In God We Trust and Latahzan’s Islamic Death Metal, focusing on Islamic mythology and ideology. This scarcity highlights cultural debates, as metal’s anti-authority stance clashes with conservative interpretations of Islam.

Norse religious texts, particularly the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, underpin Viking metal, emphasizing paganism and Viking Age sagas. Bathory‘s Hammerheart is a concept album devoted to Vikings, shifting from Satanic to Norse mythological themes. Enslaved‘s Hordanes Land and Vikingligr Veldi retell Norwegian legends with folk melodies, while “793 (Slaget Om Lindisfarne)” celebrates the Viking raid on Lindisfarne. Burzum echoes the Hávamál from the Poetic Edda in pagan themes. Einherjer‘s artwork draws from Thor’s hammers and sagas. Amon Amarth retells brutal Norse legends across their catalog, including battles from the Eddas. Tyr‘s “Prophecy of Ragnarok” and “Yggdrasil” invoke apocalyptic myths and the world tree from the Eddas. Skáld‘s “Rún” draws from runic magic in Norse texts. Disembodied Tyrant & Synestia‘s “The Poetic Edda” directly adapts verses from the Edda.

Ancient Egyptian texts, especially the Book of the Dead, inspire occult-tinged death metal. Nile‘s “Chapter of Obeisance Before Giving Breath to the Inert One in the Presence of the Crescent Shaped Horns” references spells from the Book of the Dead, evoking funerary rites. Their album What Should Not Be Unearthed echoes propaganda texts but ties to the Book’s themes. Septicflesh‘s “Anubis” draws from Egyptian mythology, including the god of the afterlife. Nemuer‘s “Gates of Duat” brings spells from the Book of the Dead to life. Third Ear Band‘s “Egyptian Book of the Dead” directly titles and themes from the text.

Taoist and Confucian texts influence Chinese metal through “hermit aesthetics,” balancing withdrawal (Daoism) and societal engagement (Confucianism). Zuriaake‘s music and lyrics embody these philosophies, using imagery of retreat and morality without specific songs named. Other Chinese bands fuse traditional culture with metal, drawing on Daoist introspection.

Sikh scriptures appear in rock fusions, as with Malaysian band Anhad‘s tracks like “Mangla Charan” (verses before kirtan), “Ardas Bhaee” (prayer mantra), “Ik Ongkar” (core Sikh chant), and “Pavan Guru” (shabad rendition), blending rock with devotional elements.

For the Book of Mormon, adaptations are limited but include metal covers of LDS hymns, such as “Praise to the Man” in heavy style, and Nashville Tribute Band’s songs like “I Am a Book” dedicated to the text.