Raucously proclaiming the Gospel in sticky-floor pubs

February 2025

Heavy Metal might seem an unlikely medium to convey the Gospel of Christ. Yet for singer, guitarist and lyrist Elliot Miller, it’s a gift and a genre that enables him to connect powerfully with people to whom churches don’t typically appeal.

In this interview, he tells us more:

It's a visceral thing for me. The gospel message is in your face! The music is in your face! So in many ways it's a natural combination.

I see my music as a very incarnational ministry, a rejuvenation of the message. God has put me in this context: I'm here to show something of myself. The gospel is authentic to me. Salvation is authentic to me. So I'm sharing it in a way that feels authentic to me.

At first, I was the only Christian in the band. When I was invited to sing with Eclipse Machine, my reaction was: "Hey, that's great, but I'd like to bring something to the table". They were open to that; welcomed a songwriting input that spoke of my faith. Rehearsing in a church also offered inroads: an opportunity to notice the stained glass, to develop conversations... and invite members to Alpha.

My approach to evangelism is infused with gratitude and optimism. In contrast to the attitude: "the world is broken: let me tell you how it can be mended", my take is: "The world is glorious: let me tell you HOW wonderful!" It’s easy to become stuck in a 'this sucks, but what alternative is there?’ trap... disliking ‘the system’ and authority figures, but no clear idea what to replace it with. I feel I can respond with concrete hope: "Here's an alternative - and we've had it for 2,000 years!"

People are looking for characters. David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Corey Taylor... Well, I know a really good character - Jesus! I'll say to my band mate who's written a song: "...I like this, but where's our hope in this? Let's embody this hope in a character..." 

The music itself has got to captivate. In King of the Hill, a guitar-wielding pastor is dealt the ruthless put-down: "You're not making Christianity better; You're just making Rock ‘n’ Roll worse!". The music must compel, for the message to convince.

People are curious to understand how I reconcile this with the vicar training. I've played with some heavy bands - it's shouty, it's screamy - and for some people, this is SO outside of their own circles! Yet the Bible has plenty of people shouting and screaming...

Does it take courage to front out my faith to a pub full of strangers? Oddly, no! I'm an autovert - not a natural extrovert but someone who can flip into a role. I see this as spiritual gift - as God asking me to dig deep. So in practice, it comes quite naturally.

I am very much open to the questions that arise. My response is: "Good question - let's open up the Bible here." Sometimes no-one wants to talk (that's fine), and sometimes they do (which is great). I hope they’ll see the gospel as a real living thing through me - that I serve as a lens. I haven’t experienced pushback - the zeitgeist has changed. People are more open now to spiritual angles. I often get "That’s cool man, I like the way you put that." Its a matter of convincing them: "Give Jesus a try!"

We have a different presence to other bands. While we don’t bill ourselves as a Christian act, you might notice that our lyrics are gospel centred; that we behave differently. I'll say, "Look lads, it's important to me that we're not swearing, taking the mick, can we just pull back a bit?" It's important, how we relate.

Sticky-floor pubs are my mission field. These smelly, backwater taprooms are places full of characters, places where I understand the language, the culture, the norms. Just as Paul had his tent-maker ministry, I'm thinking: these are my people.

The point of the music is: that someone like ME hears it! Take the lyric to A Dandelion Cipher by progressive metal band Evergrey. It wrestles with God through the lens of unanswered prayer, and transmits the message that God can deal with your wrestling.

Thrash metal was significant in my own spiritual formation. I was raised in a non-denominational church - there was lots of music. Yet walking in the park listening to Megadeth - that brought me closer to God.

There's a place for everyone in the church - but not all those places have been established yet. I'll meet a Harley Davidson motorcycle mechanic and I'll be thinking: how do I open up a space for them? How do I make the gospel accessible to them?

I feel there's a tendency towards monoculture in evangelism. That it's aimed at people who look and behave like us - as opposed to people who present differently. We need to attract people - but who are we inviting? When I think about my future (ordained) ministry, I'm attracted to a city parish with an underused building. Immediately I’ll be thinking: "there's a space here - and I know people whom I can invite in, who would love to use it."

I'd like to see a Church that’s more open to different ways to express the same message. A Church that breaks down barriers, that appeals to people with itchy feet to go out and spread the good news. A Church that raises up new leaders in vibrant contexts!

Elliot Miller with Eclipse machine