Every generation has its “devil’s music” boogeyman.
It was jazz in the 1920s.
It was Elvis’ hip-shaking in the 50s.
It was electric guitars in the 70s.
Now it’s screaming vocals and double-bass drum pedals.
Christians have been pointing at styles for a hundred years and saying, “That’s Satan’s sound!”
But here’s the truth: Satan doesn’t own a single note. He’s never written a chord progression. God made sound, melody, and rhythm and called it good. The devil only twists it for idolatry.
Scripture never condemns a style of music. It condemns worshiping false gods, feeding your lust, glorifying rebellion, and using God’s gifts to celebrate sin.
“Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.”
—Psalm 33:3 (LSB)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.”
—Colossians 3:16 (LSB)
The Bible’s picture of worship is loud, varied, and skilled… cymbals, lyres, trumpets, choirs, new songs, even battle cries.
So what about screaming vocals? Well, if you can scream lies, you can also scream truth. If a man can scream obscenities in a bar, he can scream Psalm 46 in the assembly of God. Volume and tone aren’t the problem, truth and holiness are.
The music is just the vehicle. The morality depends on the driver and the destination.
If the lyrics are soaked in God’s Word, the heart behind it is humble, and the purpose is to glorify Christ, then whether it’s a harp or a full-on metal breakdown, it belongs to God. And if the lyrics mock Him, deny Him, or celebrate sin, then even the sweetest looking choir is an abomination.
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
—1 Corinthians 10:31 (LSB)
Semper Reformanda
Some insist that certain beats or vocal styles themselves stir up the flesh in sinful ways. They point to how music has been used in pagan worship, sexualized dancing, or violent crowds, citing Exodus 32:17–18—the sound of Israel’s idolatrous feast—or Amos 6:5–6, where God condemns those who strummed harps while living in self-indulgence.
But the sin in those passages wasn’t a certain chord or tempo—it was the idolatry, pride, and rebellion that music was serving. In Exodus, the singing was to a golden calf. In Amos, the instruments were the soundtrack to arrogance and injustice. The problem was sin.
Screaming music? Same test. If it’s full of blasphemy, filth, or hate for God, then it’s wicked. If it’s full of Scripture and reverence and aimed straight at the throne of grace, then scream louder.
Truth That Withstands
God owns every note. Satan can’t create—only corrupt. The real question isn’t whether a style is “devil’s music,” but whether it’s proclaiming the truth of the Lord of Hosts or serving the kingdom of darkness.
Are you on vacation?