The irony of it all: the lead singer of a "Christian rock band" has pled guilty to solicitation of murder against his wife.

Timothy Lambesis, the lead singer of As I Lay Dying -- a band with such a large Christian following that they refer to themselves as a "Christian rock band"; also, the band members are devout Christians -- has pled guilty to one count of solicitation of murder against his wife, Meggan Lambesis. According to ABC News, the singer remains free on $2 million bond until he's sentenced on May 2 in San Diego.

Fox News reports that Lambesis' plot to kill his wife came as a result of an undercover sting operation. Howard Bradley of the San Diego Sheriff's Office came across the singer at a coffee shop, after the singer told his personal trainer that he wanted his wife "gone." According to Bradley's testimony, when Bradley blatantly asked the singer if he wanted to have his wife killed, the singer replied "Yes, I do."

('Til death do you part, eh Timothy?)

The reason Lambesis wanted his wife dead, according to further testimony, is because she restricted his visitation rights to their three adopted children when they separated in September 2012. (Who could blame her, really...)

And in case there was any confusion about what Lambesis' intentions were when it came to his wife, he told Bradley again, "just to clarify, just so you know, I do want her dead."

Lambesis faces up to nine years in prison.

Founded as a two-person act in 2000 by vocalist Tim Lambesis, As I Lay Dying has released six albums, one split album, and two compilation albums. As I Lay Dying's fourth studio album An Ocean Between Us peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, and No. 1 on the Top Rock chart. The band has performed at events such as Wacken Open Air, With Full Force, Soundwave Festival, Sounds of the Underground, Warped Tour, Bloodstock Open Air and Taste of Chaos. In 2007, As I Lay Dying won the Ultimate Metal God award from MTV2 at the first annual All That Rocks special; was named Artist of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards in 2005, 2007 and 2008, and was nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for the song "Nothing Left."