DC TALK Arguably the most popular Christian rock band, Nashville's dcTalk began spreading God's word in 1989. Since then, they've written Jesus Freaks (a book about people who died for their faith) and scored a platinum disc (their latest, Supernatural, has gone gold). But success doesn't shock singer Toby McKeehan. "I think people are into extremes, and our music is very extreme," he says. "Jesus was a very extreme man."

Rock fans who like music with a moral message have been down with Washington, D.C.-based Christian band DC Talk for a while now. The talented trio--Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max--have been at it for nealy 10 years and their lastest effort, Supernatural, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts. By fusing rock and religion, DC Talk made being into God cool--no wonder they called their breakthrough album Jesus Freak! Fresh from their 65-city Supernatural Tour, DC Talk will be performing at summer music festivals across the country. For complete info, check out their Web site at http://www.dctalk.com.

Social critics have long debated whether rock 'n' roll is the devil's music or heaven inspired. The lasted Billboard album charts should add fuel to that theological fire. Last week, dc TALK's album Supernatural debuted at No. 4, landing between Psychic Circus by KISS at No. 3 and Mechanical Animal by Marilyn Manson at No. 5. But while the demonic Manson courts controversy and the geriatric KISS covets relevance, dc Talk is appealing to a higher power. The Christian rockers conside the Almighty their greatest musical influence. Asked his opinion of Manson, whose last album was titled Antichrist Superstar, dc Talk's Kevin Mac said, "I'd love to hang with him and discuss '80's music." Maybe they should talk literature. Manson's autobiography was titled Long Road out of Hell.