Film Comment: Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?

Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? (2004) is a documentary about the Christian Rock Music industry. Their music doesn't sound much like traditional church music, Gospel, or Contemporary Christian Music. This is not Amy Grant or Larnelle Harris; this is heavy metal Rap, death metal, growlers, screamers, thrash metal, emo, ska, techno, blues, Celtic, stadium rock, hardcore, rockabilly, etc. Mark Nicks of Cool Hand Luke says, "We are able to reach kids who will never go to a big Contemporary Christian show."

Though traditionalists often say that these musical forms are not even music, much less worship, the musicians respond that their music is from God and for God and has an evangelistic origin. Joel Thorpe of Alethian: "In the dark metal scene, it's all hatred and darkness and despair and we just want to show that there is hope, there is a light, and that light is Christ."

Some portions of the documentary were filmed at the Cornerstone Christian Music Festival in Bushnell, Illinois. The bands featured include Celestial Static, MXPX, Pedro the Lion, duVal, Elly Woman, five iron frenzy, Stryper, Squad Five-O, Zao, Alethian, P.O.D., the Supertones, and Living Sacrifice.

One of the musicians declares, "Chrisrians should be making incredible music!"