| | |  | RAP MUSIC | Home » » Hell's Bells 2: The Power and Spirit of Popular Music- New DVD 6 1/2 Hours | | | | | | | Description: | | Normal retail price is $59.00 "Perhaps the greatest documentary on any subject ever! Lives will change." Ray Comfort- Internationally renowned author and evangelist "Four stars- Movie Guide's highest rating!" Dr. Ted Baehr, Christian Film and Television Commission Hell's Bells 2- The Power and Spirit of Popular Music- Over three years in the making, this much-anticipated sequel to the original Hell's Bells series weaves together science, satire, testimonies, parables, interviews, expansive research, and a vibrant Christian perspective to create a series that is as fascinating as it is educational and evangelistic. Far more than just a commentary on the dangers of rock music, this eight-part, six-and-a-half hour, up-to-the-minute documentary uncovers the "war of the worldviews"- the epic struggle between good and evil, sin and redemption for the souls of men and the destiny of culture. Part 1: Introduction- Foundations for Cultural Analysis; 19 minutes. Part 2: Sound & Fury- An Examination of the Power of Music; 50 minutes. Part 3: Heartbeats- Music's Spiritual Connection; 30 minutes. Part 4: Notes From the Underground- The Occult History of Rock; 70 minutes. Part 5: Hearts of Darkness- Rebellion, Nihilism and Death; 48 minutes. Part 6: Mojo Rising- Satanic Sex and Rock 'n' Roll; 60 minutes. Part 7: Antichrist Superstars- Rock's Ultimate Rebellion; 43 minutes. Part 8: Knockin' on Heaven's Door- Music and Life at the "Cross" Roads; 48 minutes. Great not only for evangelizing the lost and challenging Christians to greater holiness and service, it also serves as an outstanding primer on worldviews. Using music as a diagnostic tool, HB2 examines the modern world, dusting it for the fingerprints of the men and ideas that have sought to dethrone God and set man up in His place. Ideal for Bible study, Sunday school class, or cell group, viewers are encouraged to watch and discuss the material over eight successive weeks. | | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Eric Holmberg | | Director:
| Erik Hollander & James Gelet | | Format:
| HiFi Sound, NTSC | | Subtitle:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 2 | | Studio:
| The Apologetics Group | | Run Time:
| 370 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| January 05, 2004 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 30 reviews |
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35 of 38 found the following review helpful:
 Must-Watch for ParentsJan 22, 2008
By Tim Challies
Many years ago, when I was in my mid-teen years, I made the decision to stop listening to mainstream rock music and to turn instead to Christian music. Until that time I had been listening to whatever was on the radio. I had quite a few tapes and had once had a whole collection of those old vinyl 45's. While I was usually not interested in music that was blatantly anti-God, I did listen to some that would surely have made my parents cringe had they heard it. But when I was fourteen or fifteen, my conscience began to accuse me about this music and I remember what was a near-religious experience for me, where I biked down to a local waterfall and, with no one else present, tossed some tapes over the edge in what was really a ceremony whereby I repented of that music. In the subsequent years, I bought Christian music and have since had little interest in mainstream music. Every now and then a song or a band catches my attention, but since I have so little willful exposure to it, this is quite rare. At the same time, I have kept abreast of what is happening in the music industry. Music saturates our culture, and it is difficult not to know what songs and artists are popular, for they are played on television, in commercials and are piped through malls, airports and any other public location. Needless to say, where the music of the 80's and 90's was bad, the music of our day is even worse. There has been a continual slide whereby the mainstream songs of our day are far worse than what was acceptable even ten or twenty years ago.
Many years ago, soon after I repented of my old music, I heard of a video called Hells Bells. Unfortunately, try as I might, I was never able to watch this video. I recently discovered that a sequel to this production was available and was able to secure a copy and study it this weekend. It is over six hours long, so this was no small undertaking. The DVD is produced by the same group that made Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism which I reviewed here, and it is likewise hosted by Eric Holmberg. As with Amazing Grace, it is well-written, well-produced and theologically-sound. What I found especially impressive, is that while it is passionate about the subject matter, it avoids becoming what I feared it might - an obnoxious, uninformed tirade against the evils of anyone who likes to listen to music with a beat. It is alarming without begin alarmist.
It is important to note that because of the subject matter, this presentation contains disturbing material of a sexual and occultic nature and is inappropriate for younger viewers. At the beginning of the video, Holmberg warns that if you have no interest in or access to this type of music, you should probably not continue watching. But the bulk of the material, while it represents the worst of what the rock culture has to offer, is drawn largely from material that you might see on MTV or hear on your morning commute while listening to the radio. There are many places where details are blurred, film is censored and words are blanked out, but the heart of the horror remains in place.
While not explicitly stated, it seems that the presentation is targeted primarily at unbelievers, but secondarily at believers who have been drawn into this rock-n-roll culture. I would suggest that parents of teenaged children would do well to watch it as well. It kicks off with an introduction that provides the foundations for cultural analysis. Among the topics discussed is the philosophy of "judge not," which dictates that we are wrong to question what others do, for morality is a personal matter. This is examined in light of what Jesus really meant when he warned against judgment. Having been assured that it is not only our right but even our responsibility to examine and judge something so revered as music, the presentation turns to this topic for the next six hours. Particular topics that the presentation covers in-depth are:
* An Examination of the Power of Music
* Music's Spiritual Connection
* The Occult History of Rock
* Rebellion, Nihilism and Death
* Satanic Sex and Rock-n-Roll
* Rock's Ultimate Rebellion
* Music and Life at the Cross-Roads
Following these sections is a time of challenge and response, and finally some personal testimonies of God's grace and goodness in the lives of a few individuals. The clear purpose of the producers is to contrast Biblical morality and order, with the rock culture's immorality and chaos. Constant contrasts are made between the words of the Bible and the words of artists and listeners of rock music, between the heart of God and the blackened hearts of the rockers. We learn that the heart of rock-n-roll is rebellion, the sin that is at the heart of every sin, for Satan sinned by rebelling against God and the led humans in the same rebellion. When we sin against God, we make idols of ourselves, displaying the "me-ism" that is at the heart of rebellion. In one particularly noteworthy moment, the host asks many different teens to name three songs that promote sexual purity before marriage. Soon he was asking them for two, and then for one. No one could name a single song. While this is interesting, what is even more important is to ask ourselves why this question seems so absurd. It is absurd to ask about a rock song promoting purity or love for parents because such sentiments are antithetical to the very heart of rock music.
Another interesting observation was that the people at the heart of the music seem to understand what rock music is all about far more clearly than the kids who merely drink it all in. I am reminded of the latest series of American Idol where Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) was a guest judge. When confronted with a talented contestant who was a youth pastor, Simmons said to him, "I think you're a country artist, and Iâ(tm)ll tell you why. If you sing pop lyrics, youâ(tm)re going to have a problem with your ministry. Because rock and roll by definition -- and popular music -- is about sexuality. The rules are different for country. You can sing Christian oriented lyrics and be acceptable, and you can sell millions of records." Time and again we see that the people who make and produce this music understand that it is, at heart, Satanic and in direct opposition to God. I was left wondering why it is that others cannot see this. And I came to realize that we cannot examine rock music without beginning with the foundation of the rebellion that is at its core.
One of the sections I found most shocking and convicting was the one dealing with the blasphemy that takes place when artists act out their rebellion and hatred towards God, and then thank him for their success or wear a cross around their neck. The video shows a montage of artists thanking God for their success (Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Destiny's Child (who were dressed in very-nearly nothing), Sisqo (who subsequently thanked a thong for its part in his success)) and praying before their shows (Limp Bizkit, Christina Aguilera (immediately before performing the song "Dirty" which is true to its name)). I was forced to wrestle with the anger that must burn in God as he looks at these people acting out their hatred towards Him, and then ascribing this "success" to Him - to a God who is infinitely holy and infinitely pure, incapable of committing or condoning sin.
A further strength of the presentation is that its relevance is enhanced by the fact that it is only one year old. Watching the original Hells Bells may be interesting, but when the criticism goes no further than Van Halen and Lynrd Skynrd, it is easy to write it off as a dinosaur that has no bearing on our day. And while people who listen to this type of music may be able to avoid any association with the ultra-hard-core Satanic death-metal bands, the focus on the big names means that there will be some connection to each viewer. In this edition, there are literally hundreds of different artists that receive at least a passing mention, many of whom are still on the charts: Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Dave Mattews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 180, Sarah McLachlan, MxPx, KISS, Incubus, (to name just a few) and any number of rappers and hip hop artists whose names meant very little to me.
If there is a place this presentation falters, I would suggest it is in the area of "what next." Having proven that much of the popular music of our day is absolutely unsuitable for consumption, the producers do not suggest next steps. I was left with questions such as: Can rock music be redeemed? Is it evil to its core, or is Christian rock music a suitable alternative? At the heart of these questions, is the deeper question of what makes evil music evil - the words, the music or the intent of the person who made it. I am sure it is for the best that Holmberg did not tell us to burn our CD collections and turn exclusively to classical music, but some guidance in moving forward would have been helpful, especially for those who were convicted of their need to remove themselves from this rock culture.
A consideration for me after watching this video was, How much is too much? How graphic is too graphic? I was forced to examine what I feel is given in a spirit of information, and what is just "too much." I concluded that generally the producers did a good job of knowing where to draw the line. By the very nature of the content, this video had to be graphic, and even shocking. For example, it is one thing to state that today's popular songs laud or laugh about every type of sin and debauchery - rape, bestiality, masturbation, homosexuality and every other type of deviant sex, but it becomes a reality in our minds when we see that the artists singing about these topics are considered "family-friendly" and may be playing in your son or daughter's stereo at this very moment. I remember many years ago my friends and I would sing Cyndi Lauper's song "She Bop" never knowing that it was a song about masturbation. Similarly, young children today are singing songs about topics that are far beyond their years, for Britney sings a song about masturbation and N*Sync sings one about cybersex. Many other artists sing about topics far worse. Some information will only reach us when it shocks us.
In summary, I found this presentation both convicting and biblical. The producers went to great lengths to be accurate and to do thorough analysis on the heart of music, rather than merely attacking the peripheral issues. The presentation continually turns to Scripture and ends with a theologically-sound time of response where people are invited to repent of their sin and turn to the Lord. Despite being graphic and discussing very dark subject matter, and with the same caveats as given by Holmberg at the beginning of the series, I recommend this presentation for both teens and parents. I am sure that this video can and will be used to reach many as God uses it to convict them of the evil heart of popular music.
26 of 30 found the following review helpful:
The Myth of NeutralityJan 04, 2005
By G. Johnson
Hell's Bells 2 is even better than the original. There is no condemnation of Rock music as an art form. What it does is demonstrate the sheer pervasiveness and intrinsic power of music to shape and mold character and values. HB2 is a powerful expose' of how nihilism has used the tool of music to present a worldview that stands in opposition to Biblical and historic Christianity. If you purchase this DVD, and you are honest, you will we see that much of today's music is anti-Christ.
17 of 20 found the following review helpful:
Biblical Worldview on Steroids!Jun 27, 2006
By Laura K. Birkofer
"Contra Mundum"
This is simply the best video series I have ever seen on "understanding the times." Some people may view this DVD set as evangelistic - and it certainly could be used in that way. But I learned more about our modern world -- where we came from and how we got to where we are now -- by watching this well-done and extremely compelling series.
Using popular music as a diagnostic tool will keep people who would normally be bored with more traditional worldview analysis on the edge of their seat. Even my nephew, recently out of a youth detention facility and normally pretty disdainful of Christian programming, actually asked to watch this. Every family and church needs to have a copy.
14 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Here's the real Stairway to Heaven!Mar 29, 2006
By The dogma is the drama
I saw the article in the New American magazine that interviewed Eric Holmberg and referenced (and raved) about this documentary. Now I understand what all the fuss is about. Balanced, thoughtful and incredibly well-researched, this is one of the finest documentaries on any subject I have ever seen.
And for those reviewers who have made fun of it -- or are using it for a drinking game (right!)-- I would have been just as cynical about it...until I was born-again and the lights were turned on.
THE MIND ALWAYS JUSTIFIES WHAT THE HEART HAS CHOSEN.
13 of 16 found the following review helpful:
It's scary!!! But trueJul 26, 2007
By blood_bought_saint
First of all this is very much an orthodoxy Christian world view on secular music. I first saw this when I was a brand new baby Christian. I already knew that many artist like "The Doors", "AC/DC", "Kiss", "Led Zeplin", etc. where all Satanic and I stopped listening to all those guys... and I loved them too. Music was and still is a center piece in my life.
After watching this video I stopped listening to secular music (voluntarily). Months later I listend to one of those "good" bands, one which I wouldn't have thought of as Satanic in the least bit. The Foo Fighters... they were my favorite of the bands still making music at the time. I cried after truly listening to the lyrics of their music. Many of their songs actually mock Christ!!! He also states how happy he is to be a member of Satan's followers in many of his songs... it's deep in the lyrics but easy to see with the mind of Christ. Needless to say, I never listened to them again (voluntarily).
Music stays with you and sticks with your spirit forever. You need to purge all the evil with you. Christ has nothing in common with Satan, so you shouldn't either. This video does define that line very well. If you don't believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God then you will not agree with this video... but it's still the most education video on music in America that I've ever heard of!
I'd recommend this for all peoples... but not all ages. The subject matter deals with the Spiritual, Social, Mental, Sexual, and Occultic connections of Western Secular Music. I personally wouldn't show this to anyone who isn't mature enough to talk about sexuality. The topics on the first disk are tame enough, but the second disk might as well have that written on the top. It's well censored, but not so much that you lose the idea of what's going on. There's a lot of shock in this too... for all you people who've yet to be jaded by the world... God bless you guys too.
If this video doesn't shock you, then you've personally served under satan willingly and can testify to the truth in the documentary.
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