Top 10 Best Bands to Listen to After a Breakup

I think we can all agree that breakups suck, and getting through them can be very trying. Thankfully, there are more than a few bands out there to help us along.

The Top Ten

Staind

Staind is a post‑grunge/alternative metal band formed in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1995. The band's lineup consists of Aaron Lewis (vocals, guitar), Jon Wysocki (drums. Left in 2011), Johnny April (bass), and Mike Mushok (guitar). After Wysocki's departure, Sal Giancarelli filled in on drums until... read more

Staind is very good at writing about the pain of life in general, which of course includes relationships. My personal favorites are Right Here and Tangled Up in You. While they aren't necessarily breakup songs, you can never go wrong with Mudshovel or Raw.
Red

Red is an American Christian alternative metal and alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band was formed in 2002 by brothers Anthony Armstrong, who plays guitar, and Randy Armstrong, who plays bass, along with lead vocalist Michael Barnes. Their music blends orchestral elements with hard... read more

Talk about a band that can cover some serious relational pain. I would personally recommend Lie to Me (Denial), or if you're feeling a bit angry, If We Only and Damage are perfect.
Bullet for My Valentine

Bullet for My Valentine are a Welsh metalcore band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band consists of Matthew Tuck (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Paget (lead guitar, backing vocals), Michael Thomas (drums), and Jamie Mathias (bass guitar). Former members include Nick Crandle and Jason James,... read more

I think the name of the band alone is enough to justify this one.
Three Days Grace

Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge and alternative rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992. The original lineup consisted of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. Initially named Groundswell, the band changed its name... read more

Three Days Grace seems more worthy of first place to me. For one, let me name some TDG breakup songs: I Hate Everything About You, Gone Forever, Bitter Taste, Over and Over, On My Own, Let It Die, Last to Know, Wake Up, and Someone Who Cares. I like Staind, but when it comes to rock breakup songs, Three Days Grace is the king of modern rock breakup songs.

Couldn't agree more. This band is all I've been listening to after being dumped a few weeks ago. So relatable. Everything from the lyrics to the sound in Adam Gontier's voice. Never knew how much this band could help you through a breakup until recently.
Stabbing Westward
Breaking Benjamin

Breaking Benjamin is an American alternative metal band formed in 1999. Vocalist Benjamin Burnley has remained the only constant member of the group. The band's former lineup included musicians such as Chad Szeliga on drums, Aaron Fink on guitar, and Mark Klepaski on bass.... read more

Just ask songs like Breath, Skin, Crawl, and my personal favorite, Simple Design.

Breaking Benjamin has helped me through hard times.
Katatonia

Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström. The band has released nine studio albums spanning the course of three decades, and their tenth studio album, The Fall of Hearts, was released on May 20, 2016. Katatonia's sound has evolved from death-doom... read more

For almost all of you who have never heard of these guys, Katatonia is a band from Sweden that originated as a doom metal band but has since become more of a gothic rock act. Lyricist Jonas Renkse certainly knows how to write a good breakup song, as evidenced by songs like Ghost of the Sun, My Twin, and For My Demons. Definitely go check these guys out if you haven't already.

I used to sit down and cry to Katatonia for hours each day when I had depression. It didn't make me happy, but it sure provided comfort. Would recommend!
Linkin Park

Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin Park... read more
Sevendust

Sevendust is an American alternative metal band from Atlanta, formed in 1994.
Initially founded by bassist Vince Hornsby and drummer Morgan Rose as Snake Nation, the lineup later expanded to include guitarist John Connolly, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon, and guitarist Clint Lowery. After cycling... read more

Songs like Crucified and Trust are perfect for a breakup, and Lajon's vocals definitely add to the effect.
Adema

Adema is a nu-metal band from Bakersfield, California. The band formed in 2000 with lead vocalist Mark Chavez, guitarists Tim Fluckey and Mike Ransom, bassist Dave DeRoo, and drummer Kris Kohls. They released their self-titled debut album in 2001, which included the hit single Giving In.

Adema has a lot of songs about relationships. In fact, nearly every song by these guys is about some form of anger because of a relationship. It can get a bit annoying at times, but it works magic when you need something relatable.

The Newcomers

?
Blink-182

Blink-182 is an American pop-punk band formed in 1992. The original lineup featured Mark Hoppus on bass and vocals, Tom DeLonge on guitar and vocals, and Scott Raynor on drums. Raynor was replaced by Travis Barker in 1998. The band rose to mainstream success with the album Enema of the State and has... read more
?
Green Day

Green Day are an American pop-punk and punk rock band formed in East Bay, California, in 1987. The core members are Billie Joe Armstrong on vocals and guitar, Mike Dirnt on bass, and Tré Cool on drums, with Jason White often performing live on guitar. They blend punk rock, pop-punk, and alternative rock... read more

The Contenders

Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold is an American alternative metal band formed in 1999 in California. Their longest lineup consisted of M. Shadows (vocals), Synyster Gates (lead guitar), Zacky Vengeance (rhythm guitar), Johnny Christ (bass guitar), and The Rev (drums).... read more

Good for anything, and they have very good emotional songs dealing with a different sort of breakup... the Rev dying. This makes them a great choice for dealing with breakups. Just listen to "So Far Away" if you're sad or "A Little Piece of Heaven" if you're on the angrier side of things.
Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts. The band formed in 1999 after the breakup of Overcast and Aftershock. They are considered one of the pioneering bands of the metalcore genre.

Killswitch Engage definitely knows how to encourage you if you feel defeated, especially with songs like The End of Heartache and the more recent Strength of the Mind.
Queen

Queen is an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar). Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury, a fan... read more
My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The lineup since the band's 2019 reunion includes lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way, with Jarrod Alexander serving as a touring drummer. Bob Bryar was the drummer from 2004... read more
Pantera

Pantera was an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul.
The band started out as a glam metal act in the 1980s with little success. After replacing their original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, they signed a major record deal with... read more
Korn

Korn is an American nu-metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band's current lineup includes founding members Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, along with Ray Luzier, who replaced original drummer David Silveria in 2007. Korn... read more
Coldplay

Coldplay is a British rock band formed in 1996. The group includes Chris Martin (lead vocals, piano), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), and Will Champion (drums, backing vocals). Their manager, Phil Harvey, is often referred to as the unofficial fifth member... read more
Evanescence

Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. The group rose to prominence in the early 2000s with their debut studio album Fallen (2003), which included the hit singles Bring Me to Life and My Immortal... read more
Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. They have released eleven studio albums.
The band is known for its dark, moody lyricism and aggressive vocal delivery. Their biggest hits include "Closer," "Hurt," "Wish," "We're in This Together... read more
Five Finger Death Punch

Five Finger Death Punch, often abbreviated as 5FDP or FFDP, is an American heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Formed in 2005, the band's name was inspired by the martial arts film Five Fingers of Death. They released their debut album, The Way of the Fist, in 2007.
Disturbed

Disturbed is an American alternative metal, nu-metal, and hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band consists of vocalist David Draiman, bassist John Moyer, guitarist Dan Donegan, and drummer Mike Wengren... read more
The Offspring

The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Originally named Manic Subsidal, the band currently consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, and drummer Brandon Pertzborn... read more
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more
The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more
Paramore

Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. They rose to fame with albums like Riot! (2007) and Brand New Eyes (2009), known for blending pop-punk and alternative... read more