The Redlands, Calif., hardcore band The Great Commission formed only two years ago, yet got signed to recording label Strike First Records after only 18 shows and in three months had signed on for its first national tour.

It’s all by the grace of God, says band vocalist Justin Singh, who with lead guitarist/vocalist Angela Razo started the hard-rocking, Christian hardcore band.

The Great Commission, currently on a national tour with War of Ages, headlines a Monday night show at Art Ambush. “God is opening doors for us,” he said, speaking by phone from the road.

Christian hardcore music, now an established genre, fuses thundering metal rock with Christian lyrics, though for many bands the music sets the stage for one-on-one contact with fans after the show, away from the stage.

Christian music is now big enough for these specialized genres and although many churches may preach tattoos, heavy metal and black clothes point a slippery slope to hell, Singh obviously doesn’t buy that. “I believe every single ministry is unique,” he said.

Some Christian hardcore and metallist bands emphasize a positive, no-drugs message. Others preach a “heart of a warrior, stand-your-ground” call while some stress divine healing and the supernatural, explained Singh. Great Commission’s call? “We want to give a testimony to encourage and share with others,” he said. “There are a lot of Christians out there, but there are a lot of broken Christians.”

Singh and Razo had played in the band xDeathstarx, but left to form Every Man For Himself when xDeathstarx took a different direction. They quit that band and created The Great Commission, intending to play shows in and around Redlands, Singh recalled, but their hard-edged sound proved so popular that they found, as Singh said, “God opening doors.”

Part of The Great Commission’s sonic crunch comes from three guitars (Razo, Nelson Flores and Scott Bustamante), each handling a different range for a sonic layering. Throw in Joshua Loza’s bass, Solomon Joy’s drums and Singh’s vocals and that’s the package that landed them a slot on national tours. The current tour ends in mid-March, at which time several of their members return to ministry positions in their different churches. They’ll also start writing new material for the next round of concerts and tours and a follow-up to their CD “And Every Knee Will Bow.”

Singh draws on his own experience when interacting with Christians drawn to hardcore music: As a non-Christian, he had visited a Christian church and had made friends with some of its youth. When they shared their music, however, church parents drew a line. “They told me I had to choose between this radical music and their church. The most damaging part was that was the idea I had of God, this unforgiving God,” he said.

Those who come to Monday’s performance can experience both, the band singer said.

“Expect it to be loud. Expect it to be heavy. Expect it to be Spirit-filled,” he said. “What we do is worship, so we put our all into it.”

choover@wacotrib.com

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