CODY, Wyo. — The lights go down and thunderous strains of dense, foreboding music blast from the speakers. Teenagers start to thrash in rhythmic, kinetic fury as the region’s top Christian death metal band begins to play.

“I think we’re probably the region’s only Christian death metal band,” joked Ryan Hayes, lead singer for Righteous Vendetta, before the band’s performance earlier this week at the Cody Cattle Co.

Hayes and his bandmates are quick to acknowledge the cognitive dissonance generated by their music, which combines a frenetic, heavy metal sound played with maximum intensity and savagely barked lyrics espousing Christian themes of grace and salvation.

“My 67-year-old grandpa said he never thought he’d live to see the day when there was Christian death metal,” said Steven Nichols, the band’s bass player.

On offshoot of the more familiar heavy-metal style, death metal features growling vocals, frenzied percussion, distorted guitars and abrupt changes in key and tempo.

While death metal may sound cacophonous to ears older than 30, to be played well the genre requires an ensemble of disciplined and accomplished musicians.

With one exception, Righteous Vendetta’s members, who have played together for about one year, are all music students at Northwest College, said drummer Zach Paris.

The exception is lead guitarist Tim Schoessler, a classical pianist and the school’s music program coordinator.

“I’m the lame old dude that tells them to shut up,” joked Schoessler, 27, describing his relationship with his college-age bandmates.

While Schoessler enjoys performing technically demanding classical piano works by Liszt or Prokofiev, he especially relishes playing live shows with Righteous Vendetta.

“They’re both fun, but there’s something about playing in a metal show when the crowd is getting into it that’s so exciting,” he said.

“There’s no better feeling than being on the road, touring and getting to see the country and play music in new places,” Hayes said, adding that the band will start an extensive regional tour in January.

In some small towns, appreciative kids take to the band’s music immediately, while other crowds aren’t sure what to make of their distinctive sound, he said.

“Sometimes the kids just start throwing down, and other times, they just stand there and have absolutely no reaction, which can be awkward at first. It totally depends on the kids,” Hayes said.

While the band’s lyrics focus on a Christian message, the group typically plays on bills with secular bands that draw a diverse crowd.

“We usually don’t tell people we’re a Christian band, because we’re trying to get that crowd that doesn’t know the word of God, so they will come to a show,” said Nichols, who moved from Spearfish, S.D., to join Righteous Vendetta.

“Our music is about the good things in life. This kind of heavy music can be happy. It can be life-changing,” he said.

Band members are hoping to change their own lives by breaking into the music business.  They will soon release a new album, “Complexity of the Fallen.”

Lori Hayes said she supports her son Ryan’s efforts to pursue a career in rock music.

“It’s not the music I grew up with, that’s for sure. It’s totally different,” she said.

“He’s trying very hard. They’ve actually got some record labels looking at them. But if it doesn’t work out, it’s not for lack of trying. He has put his heart and soul into it,” she said. “He is a good Christian boy, so you can’t ask for anything more.”

Contact Ruffin Prevost at rprevost@billingsgazette.com or 307-527-7250.