A musical duel: Christian rock band or rock band of outspoken Christians?

Flyleaf and Skillet have toured together before, so Friday in Utah some segments of their similar fan bases have a decision to make: Which one to see live?

A Christian rock band or a rock band of outspoken Christians?

Whatever show you choose to attend, both bands' music makes the case that being a Christian musician doesn't mean you have to pander to religious audiences or that secular fans should worry about being converted.

The Tennessee rock band Skillet released the album "Awake" in late August, and to the music industry's surprise, it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart. Flyleaf, from Texas, is releasing its second album, "Memento Mori," on Nov. 10, and that band of Christians, while

denying it is a "Christian rock band," freely brought up a Bible verse in an interview.

Members from both bands talked about why Christian rock is much more than Stryper.

Skillet » John Cooper is the frontman, lead singer and bassist of Skillet, a band formed in 1996 that includes his wife, Korey Cooper (guitarist and keyboards), with lead guitarist Ben Kasica on lead guitar and Jen Ledger on drums.

The band always has blended different elements into its music, including industrial rock elements and orchestration that adds grandeur to its sound.

One thing the band never envisioned was mainstream success.

"I was flabbergasted" when "Awake" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard

chart, Cooper said. "I had really high hopes that we could break the top 20."

Before mainstream success, Cooper and the band released a worship album in 2000, and he's not ashamed of the label of Christian rock band. "I've never shied away from that," he said. "It's a lot of work to dance around."

What is working, though, is also appealing to non-Christians through the band's music. "We don't sing to [just] Christian audiences," Cooper said. "Somehow, it's working really well for both audiences."

The band's music was recently licensed by World Wrestling Entertainment and National Football League in TV coverage, and that exposure has drawn more fans. Cooper was surprised that his band's songs caught the attention of entertainment executives. "It's been such a slow, steady build for us," he said. "Our last record was certified gold, which we had never had before."

Flyleaf » If this Texan hard-rock band had really wanted to avoid being typecast as a Christian rock band, it would have avoided naming its second album (to be released on Nov. 10) "Memento Mori." The Latin phrase, Flyleaf bassist Pat Seals explained, is a common theme in Medieval art and means "remember you will die." In ancient Rome, during parades of victorious generals, the generals' slaves would also be displayed, reminding onlookers that mortality can never be eluded, and that sometimes the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

"We chose the title because we've had a few deaths in the family for the band," Seals said. "Although it's tragic, it makes you really happy to be alive."

Guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya quoted 1 Corinthians 13:13, a scripture that conveyed the message of the album: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Despite raising questions of mortality, the concept album is meant to be uplifting and love-inspiring. "Everything we learn here will be applied in the afterlife," he said.

"Everybody in the band believes that the soul goes on after our body quits," Seals said. "We believe in a heaven and a hell. There are some consequences to what we do now."

"Life is meant to be lived," Bhattacharya added. "It's a really hopeful album. [Death] doesn't have to be a horrible thing."

The band released its first self-titled album in 2005, which went platinum, thanks to fans' appreciation of its rock hooks, as well as lead singer Lacey Mosley's evocative, high-pitched vocals, which add a more feminine dimension to the genre's male-dominated bands. "Fully Alive" and "All Around Me" were high-charting rock radio hits for Flyleaf.

Both bands used the same producer on their most recent releases. Bhattacharya, of Flyleaf, said Skillet deserves its recent success, while adding that the band's live shows can be transcendent. "They have one of the best shows I've seen," agreed his bandmate, Seals, the bassist. "Be prepared to be blown away."

OK, we will. But doesn't Flyleaf know that they are playing on the same night?