Vinnie James Looks to a Higher Calling : Music: The singer-songwriter changes his name and course; from now on he’s known as Masada and the beat is Christian rock.

Vinnie James, the singer-songwriter from Orange County who was praised by critics for his debut album in 1991, is back with a new nom de rock and a new direction: He will be known as Masada on his next album, which is geared for the Christian rock market.

The almost-completed record, due early next year, will be called “No More Plastic Jesus.”

“It’s real raw,” said James, who debuted with “All American Boy,” a tough, heartland-rocking album on RCA Records, then tried to smooth out his sound--something he now says was a mistake--on a follow-up album that never was released.

James said he hadn’t considered working in the Christian market until last spring, when he was approached by Thom Roy, an executive at Frontline, a Christian label based in Newport Beach. At the time, James was thinking about putting his musical career on the back burner after a long, unsuccessful attempt to land a new record deal in the secular market.

Writing from a spiritual point of view isn’t new, James said: “It’s one thing that’s always been part of my life. I sang in the choir” as a boy growing up in New Jersey. “I’ve always believed in God and trusted in God for my life.”

Still, he said, at first he resisted the idea of making a Christian album, but eventually told Roy, “‘I’m going to see if God gives me some songs for this record, see if I’m inspired to write this kind of music.’ The songs started flowing. We cut the record, and it’s very good.”

*

Masada was the mountaintop fortress in Judea where the Zealots, a Jewish sect, committed mass suicide rather than surrender to an overwhelming Roman force in 73 AD, ending the first Jewish revolt against Roman rule.

“It’s not a sappy Christian record by any means,” said Michael Black, vice president and general manager of Frontline. “It’s kind of biting. I think we’ll get some controversy on it.”

Besides pushing the record through customary Christian pop outlets, Black said, the label plans to pitch James/Masada’s album to secular stations in the Adult Album Alternative format.