Anger. It's a subject that we don't talk about often—especially in the church. Yet anger is a very real emotion and one that we must face at some point. I've written many articles about joy, rest, and peace. But anger is a subject that I haven't touched on before. But it's something that should be discussed more often.
Whenever I'm discouraged or need a boost of encouragement, I turn to music. There's so much power in the music we listen to, and I believe that music has the power to help calm our anger. Anger is a difficult subject, and it can get confusing trying to understand how to deal with it. But through the power of music and the truth written in the Bible, we can find ways to cope with our anger and channel it for God's glory and righteousness.
With the help of my coworkers and fellow music lovers Selena Schulz and Ryan Adams, we've put together a list of songs about anger. Whether you need some aggressive rock music or a song to cope with the anger you're feeling, we have you covered. Also, NRT contributor Paul Phillips gives insight on how to use music for benefit, not hindrance.
Selena Schulz
Internal Unrest
"Madness in Me" by Skillet
Do I need to say any more? This Christian rock band is iconic for many reasons, including their long-lasting presence (their first album was released in 1996), talented band members, and ability to craft so many unique themes into hit songs.
One of their more dated but no less impactful songs is "Madness in Me." This song drew me in because it never resolves, and that's what I love about it. Of course, healing is a vital topic to discuss as well, and that's what I'll dive into in the next song, but right now? Sometimes it feels good to let it all out. That's exactly what these raw lyrics speak of, "I can't get away/From the fire that burns inside, consuming/I fight to stand up but I can't breathe."
I'll be the first to admit that emotions—in general—are difficult topics to discuss because of how hard it is to put words to their depth. But, Skillet's vivid imagery breaks this stigma which is why they're the first band that made me feel heard.
Anger has a threatening strength that can be deafening at times. If you take away anything from this song, know that you're not alone. "The voices scream, the enemy takes over everything/This is the madness in me," the band expresses. Anger is real and a force to be reckoned with. It's okay to admit that.
Timely Healing
"Back From The Dead" by Skillet
One of Skillet's biggest hits and most-popular music videos is "Back From The Dead." This fight song sings of redemption, freedom, and a contagious light. What is that light, you may ask? Well, it's Jesus, and I adore how the band mixes the message of salvation into this melody.
As I mentioned, anger can be overwhelming. In a way, it's like a toxic poison spreading through your body. It's not until it leaves that you ever realize how harmful it was. Holding grudges has never improved my life for the better, and cherishing unforgiveness digs a pit deeper than the problem itself. When these oppressive actions are surrendered to God though, He has an authoritative way of turning it all around.
When lead singer John Cooper sings, "Flying high, flying high at the speed of light/Full of love, full of light, full of fight/Cause I'm back, back, back from the dead tonight," I never fail to feel a rush of victory. God carries with Him such a beautiful sense of revival, and better yet, it's real. He has never broken a promise which means that healing is a possibility closer than you might think. I urge you to consider this fact as you rock out to Skillet.
Anger is a damp and dark hole to reside in with walls dripping with despair. There's more to life, and there's more light in Jesus. I guarantee that an encounter today will carry over tomorrow with you singing, I'm "back from the dead tonight."
Ryan Adams
A Storm of Emotions
"The Storm In Me" by Phinehas
We often feel like we have a storm of emotions in our heads and hearts, whether it's from depression, grief, or even anger. Our anger is what gets the better of us and can hurt those around us and ourselves. That's what "The Storm in Me" by the hard rock band Phinehas is talking about.
In "The Storm In Me," lead singer Sean McCulloch wrote about the midst of struggles in 2020 he found himself in—personally and socially. And much like a storm, the sound gets intense fast. When the bridge hits, he yells, "I don't want to drown alone in my dark!". This reminds me of many of the lament Psalms, commonly written by King David. He often described his difficulties in vivid detail, much like this song does. David also uses his lamenting and the venting of his frustrations to remind himself of God's goodness.
The first couple verses have Sean singing, "Pull me out of the water/Pull me out of the sea/Pull me out of the water." This is a very relatable song for those who feel like all their anger does is pull them under, or they feel like they're not strong enough to calm the storm inside them.
Walking Away from Destruction
"State of Me" by Lacey Sturm
Hard rocker Lacey Sturm is a recognizable name in the rock world—and for good reason. It carries biblical, timeless truths and relatability. Her solo career has seen her lean into that side of things even more so—with Life Screams in 2016 to the recent singles, such as "State of Me." With "State of Me," she takes a direct and introspective look at the condition of our souls. Anger, addiction, and other negative emotions are courses to eternal death, as she explains it.
Lacey explains the meaning further, "Choosing life is violent in that we reject every subtle form of suicide, every eternal death choice that would try to disorient, distract and seduce us away. Eternal life starts in our souls. So, look at the state of it. And if you see eternal death, be violent against it, cut off every temporary thing that would bring that into your heart, and reach out and cling to eternal life—even if it costs you this temporary one."
The lyrics of "State of Me" are quite poignant on the matter, singing, "Look at the state of me/You can't deny it/I'm gonna walk out/So follow me now." It's one thing to recognize that we're not in a state of health but to decide to walk away from your destructive behaviors is even more difficult. Sometimes, we need someone or something to follow, as she sings, to lead us to a better way of life. Who or what can you choose to follow out and away from that which keeps you falling into anger?
Grace Chaves
Righteous Rage
"I Need You" by Gable Price & Friends
How does God view anger? Does He ever get angry? In the Bible, any time we see God getting angry, it has to do with righteousness. Whenever He gets angry, it's because His glory is at stake, or His children are being mistreated. In our world today, we tend to get angry about petty things and argue over subjects that aren't worth our time. What if instead, we chose to view anger from a different perspective? Instead of getting angry about things that won't last, what if we channeled this emotion for righteousness?
Now, I understand that all this is easier said than done. When someone hurts us, our natural human response is to get upset and angry. But it's what we do with that anger that matters. Ephesians 4:26 (NIV) says, "In your anger do not sin." There's no way around it: we're all going to get angry at some point. But instead of lashing out and hurting others, we should first bring our hurt to God. He's more than willing to walk alongside you and help carry your burdens.
One of my all-time favorite bands is Gable Price & Friends. They have a new song out called "I Need You," and the second verse captures the tension found in anger. "Righteous rage/Hold me deep inside the tension every day/Can anger be holy if you don't let it eat clean through you?" Let's talk a little more about this "righteous rage" that they talk about in the song.
What if we chose to tap into this idea of righteous rage? What if our hearts were in tune with God's, and we chose to get angry about the things that anger Him? In our world today, there is so much injustice and poverty. It's easy to look at these things and wonder, "Why won't God do anything about it?" Well, He did do something about it. He created us.
Instead of letting petty arguments drag you down and stir up anger inside of you, choose instead to channel your anger for righteousness' sake. Find the injustice in your community and make it your ambition to show love to those who are hurting. Let the things that break God's heart break yours and go be the solution.
Paul Phillips
Music of Choice
Music affects us in every way. It draws out emotion, leaving us vulnerable at our weakest. But music can also hurt as well. Whether you're blowing off steam to hard rock or hip-hop or calming yourself with worship or Christian contemporary, keep in mind what music you play, and pay attention to the lyrics. In this scenario, I'll use hard rock since that's usually my genre of choice when I get angry. Years ago, I dipped into music with songs that have melancholic and 'forget you' messages. It fed my anger; it didn't dissipate it. Sometimes, the music sparked a flame of rebellion in me as well. The lyrics only put negative thoughts in my head, not helpful ones.
So, before a flare-up, choose go-to music that'll not only calm you down but lift you up as well. So, when you have that flare-up, you have your go-to choices ready to go. Skillet's great to ride the anger into the calm zone. Hillsong Worship is great if you want to calm your anger with soothing, worshipful music. Happy listening.
Assembled from the four corners of North America and beyond, the NRTeam is comprised of staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving music and writing about the music they love.
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