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The words "Devil Music" invoke visions of ritualistic killing of small animals by guitar wielding, fire-spitting, ber-musicians. Although this image happens on stage with a select few, over-the-top bands, most members of so called devil music bands are very rational and sane musicians whose message just happens to be critical of religion. This type of music spans a wide range of musical styles from death metal, to punk, even to Wagnerian operas. No other field of music has been more controversial and misunderstood as this one, but with the church loosening its grasp on people's thinking, it is gaining a larger fan base and is starting to be a force to be reckoned with in rock music.

The history of devil music goes back to the ninth century when a group of musical notes called the tritone was introduced. According to Finlo Rohrer of the BBC in his article "The Devil's Music" the tritone was first called Diabolus in Musica, or The Devil's Interval. This effect occurs when two notes are played at the same time that are three whole tones apart from each other, such as when an F # and a C are played together. This musical occurrence has been heard all throughout music from Richard Wagner's Gotteramdung , Ozzy Osbourne, and in various films when the bad guy enters the scene. This is of course a basis for devil music guitar riffs; it is a very sinister genre of music after all.
There are three bands out right now that exemplify rock that is critical of religion. The first one is a punk rock band called Bad Religion. Bad Religion has been making their brand of heavy fisted, critical, punk rock since the mid-80's and only recently have they had any radio play. With songs out called "Gods Love," "Shattered Faith," and "The Process of Belief," they are well known for speaking out against the wrongdoings of religion, mainly the Catholic Church; that was the premise for starting the band. Bad Religion is the most renowned name of devil music in punk rock.
Death metal engrains images of Satan rocking out to bands like Lamb of God, Cannibal Corpse and the illustrious Slayer. Slayer pretty much started the death metal revolution and of course death metal goes hand in hand with Anti-Christian messages. With albums called "God Hates Us All," "South Of Heaven," and even "Diabolus in Musica," Slayer has perfected the art of preaching against Christianity.
Eyehategod is quite possibly the most blatant Anti-Religion band name out right now. They are about as sinister and Jesus

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