Churchpunk

**Churchpunk** is a musical genre native to Cabina, characterized by *avante garde* instrumentation and religiously subversive themes. It has achieved a measure of sectorwide spread through its appeal both to Repentant subcultures and rebellious teens.

"*Some of the stuff that passes for punk these days would probably produce shrieks of horror to the ghosts of music past. Of course, that was as true as it was at the turn of the previous century. The one thing anyone can say for certain is that Churchpunk never stands still.* "
—Professor Mesajo Rey, Media on the Margins

## History

### Early Years

Historians of the movement trace the origins of “Churchpunk” to a 3122 Lux Gravare media initiative funded by the Church of Humanity, Repentant, designed to aid practicing Repentant followers in need of a voice. In collaboration with PRISM, various musicians were able to secure their very own radio service and studio complete with speakers, receivers, recording, and broadcasting equipment. In encouraging expression for both musicians and individual monasteries, the genre of Churchpunk was born.

Since then, Rebel Radio, a continuation of this first Cabinan media initiative, has supported and funded Church-Punkers in the universe of Acheron Rho.

### Technological Innovation

Technology, in particular, is one of the things that defines where musical style is going as the rebels of today get ahold of the cheap hardware of tomorrow to create sophisticated digital sonics and electronic software.

In the year 3198 after the fall of House Cygnus, a two-person band called The Dream Beats played live and the history of music on Cabina was changed forever. The duo debuted an instrument they called “synth-link,” a control sequence for instrumentals and vocals that anyone with a functioning brain could trigger to induce temporary “synth-like” perfection on human performance, whether in song, danger, or instrumentals.  This instrument, enabling the performer to weave ethereal and thrilling vocals through the music, and caused scores of imitations and wannabe’s following in its wake.  Most proved unable to replicate the advanced tech as it was custom-made by the programmer Filip Jennifer Krzysiek, but the inspiration of the Dream Beats and Tanja Florina’s superb vocal control and artistry made inclusion of avante garde instruments an essential part of Churchpunk going forward.

### Post-CHR Developments

The Church of Humanity, Repentant dissolved as an institution in 3201 due to internal schism and outside pressures.  Rebel Radio broadcasting continued, however, running independently on funding received directly from the independent monasteries and followers of their various brands.

Moreover, the dissolution of the CHR seemed, if anything, to inspire an upsurge of Repentant art, much of it commenting on the failures of the Church, the warring ideologies of the Repentant faith, and the future of Repentance now no longer tied to institutionalized religion. Recognizing an opportunity to capitalize on this anti-establishment sentiment, the Rebel Radio talent agency took the lead and expanded the scene of Churchpunk both locally and abroad. They were quick to market and tie themselves to SERAPH's enterprise, and with mainstay brands such as Preachers From the Ashes, Repent Against the Machine, Teal Day, My Cah-Binn Romance, The Nonhumans, Rethink-182, The Scream, Dead Empire Walking, The Exarchs, Manufactured Morality, Human Machine, Kul-n-Zat and the Wavemakers, Mad Religion, and Gold Temple Rejects, its influence on culture has only grown in relevance.

## Genres of Churchpunk

Churchpunk is as varied and idiosyncratic as its practitioners, though overall most consider avante garde instrumentation and Repentant themes to be fundamentals of the style.  Some of the more common genres are noted below.

"*Style, performance, passion, and the sound itself are vital components. But what makes punk really move is the message. Love. Hate. Anger. Awe. Hope. Repentance.* "
—John Davelkhon, PRISM Citrine Yellow review of Churchpunk, 3201[[src]]
### RepentanceRock

Preachers are a very big deal in Churchpunk. Not only are they sweepingly charismatic, but the most famous ones come with their own monastical choir to chant and sing the tunes of repentance. It is particularly known for being sung in the same language the High Church uses in their sermons, adding a layer of forbidden fruit to those who follow the more mainstream beliefs of the high church.

### Hermitrock

Here is another personality type that emerges on the scene. It is typically performed solo, and driven by a need to protect or reclaim a sense of wilderness.  It is marked by a thrilling serenade with the accompaniment of a choir of animal and natural sounds played in harmony, rather than instrumentals. On Cabina this is usually a mix of Bumbumast swarms combined with the strange syntax of Cah-Binn conversing with each other, amongst the lush chuckle of river water, intense winds, snow or melting ice.

### Liberationrock

A lot of this music is characterized by rage and doesn’t have much good to say about the status quo. Every hit band that breaks out into the scene is not comfortable listening, as the primary characteristic of this genre is a confrontational message, but they have a market both in speaking to the oppressed and with rebellious teenagers who seek creative ways to hurl abuse at their parents. Generally speaking, this type of performance ends in a brawl of some kind either during or after the act.

### Psychorock

Characterized by its subtle nature and reliance on live performance, this was only made its own genre after a few local bands were caught trying to use their psychic gifts to hype up a crowd. At first glance, it might seem odd. But a few live performances by bands in this genre have confirmed that the use of psychic gifts on crowds can have an effect. Though most call it phony or object to the invasion of their headspace in this manner, attendance is voluntary. The psychic emanation around a Psychorock concert is considered an additional artistic layer of this music, and this genre is often contrasted to Liberationrock, whose effects on the audience stem solely from acoustics and message.  Considering the kind of money a psychically gifted person can earn elsewhere and the effort it takes to develop musical gifts, very few go into Churchpunk. They’re in it because they really want to do it.

* Clockworkers' Faith
* Concord of the Sanctified Souls
* Deadbound
* Devotees of the Good Work
* Divinity of the Sky Whales
* Gardens of the Repented
* Hand of the Weeping Way
* Helping Hands
* Hieratic Jabal
* Infinite Chant of the Soul Indivisible
* Initiates of the Holy Void
* Kindly Ones
* Mudders of the Earth
* Order of the Ouroboros Cycle
* Order of the Quill
* Soul ex Sol
* SPACE Initiative
* Stewards of Knowledge
* Students of God’s Empire
* Tapeinosi
* The Sky is a Lie
* Wave Whisperers
 Culture & Activities
* Great Rethinkers
* Lux Gravare Founding Day
* SERAPH
* Vigil Pilgrimages
* Vigil's Railroad
 History (Pre-CHR)
 History (CHR)
* CHR Welcome and Outreach Centers
* Treaty of Cabina
* Sector Trade Organization
* Concord of Peace
* Liberatory Coalition
* Temperance Coalition
* Four Deeds
* Statement of Shared Values
* Phoenix Foundation
* Dissolution of the CHR
 FAQ