Top 10 Modern Punk Bands
Here's a list of the best punk bands from the 90s and up.
Rise Against is an American hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe, and drummer Brandon Barnes. They are known for popularizing punk. Some of their most well-known... read more Well deserving of this number one spot! My friend recommended them to me, and I listened to The Good Left Undone and Savior with no prior knowledge of them. I thought those two songs were fantastic, so I listened to some of their other songs. Less than 24 hours after first hearing them, I bought a ticket to see them live. They were fantastic live! They went from being a band I never knew existed to my favorite band in less than two days. They're still my favorite band to date. I urge people who don't know who they are to listen to them. It's well worth your time!
Green Day are an American pop punk/punk rock band formed in East Bay, California in 1987. The members include Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals and guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass), Tré Cool (drums) and Jason White (guitar). Green Day are associated with punk rock, pop punk and alternative rock. Some of their... read more You cannot leave Green Day off this list. They are the kings of the punk revival. They are the most popular punk band ever, for better or worse. They make very catchy and original songs that many of us have heard. Even after they "sold out" with American Idiot, they still make great music.
Green Day is the reason I even started to play music. I wouldn't be a self-started punk rocker without their inspiration.
Green Day are the kings. They aren't exactly modern since they were formed in 1986, but still, no one comes close to them.
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, bassist Greg K., lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman and drummer Pete Parada. Why is The Offspring so far from the top? I personally prefer them over Green Day. The Offspring has funny songs like Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) and Why Don't You Get a Job? but they also have serious songs like The Kids Aren't Alright, Come Out and Play, Self Esteem, and Days Go By. Seriously, who doesn't love Come Out and Play? I find Green Day and Blink-182 overrated. They're good, but I wouldn't call them the best. Rise Against and Sum 41 deserve their places, though. Maybe switch them around.
The Offspring is not only better but much more well-known and influential than a lot of the other bands. The Offspring influenced culture in the '90s in a way that can contest that of Blink-182 and certainly more than I-SPY or Fifteen. Also, My Chemical Romance not being in the top ten proves that this list is bull. It needs more people to vote.
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band makes extensive use of soaring three-part vocal harmonies, guitar solos and lyrics that often contain religious and political commentary. They should be at least number 3. Bad Religion is a phenomenal punk band.
BR should be in the top 5. They're a great band and still make good music.
Bad Religion brought me back to punk after years away.
Highly underrated, Propagandhi started as fast-paced, in-your-face melodic skate punk before transforming into the technical progressive hardcore band they are today. With albums like How To Clean Everything and Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes under their belt, how have they not been mentioned? Their witty, satirical lyrics with that punk rock grit make them one of the smartest punk bands of the modern era. Also, Supporting Caste is an absolutely amazing record that everyone should give a listen to. It is beautifully made. Best songs: Dear Coach's Corner, Back to the Motor League, Purina Hall of Fame, Anti-Manifesto, and Note to Self.
My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from Jersey City, New Jersey, active from 2001 to 2013, and again from 2019 to present day. For much of their career, the band consisted of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, bassist Mikey Way, and drummer Bob Bryar. They are one of my all-time favorites, and although people list them under many genres, there will never be a band quite like them. They are very unique in their sound and style.
I mean, honestly. Please, listen to any song on Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge other than The Ghost of You and I'm Not Okay (I Promise), which didn't do them justice.
As a teenage boy, My Chemical Romance was my favorite punk rock band, and I still love them. They are possibly my favorite band of any genre.
Blink-182 is a pop-punk band formed in 1992. The original lineup consisted of Mark Hoppus on bass guitar and vocals, Tom DeLonge on guitar and vocals, and Scott Raynor on drums. Raynor was fired from the band in 1998 and replaced by drummer Travis Barker. They gained mainstream popularity after the... read more If you don't think Blink-182 is the best punk band ever, you don't know punk rock. It's as simple as that. To say Green Day is punk is only true for their old songs. American Idiot is very punk, but to say 21 Guns is punk... Blink-182 has real-life situations, and they rock so much more than Green Day. I would put Blink-182 at the top, then Sum 41 all the way. Rise Against is a great band, and so is The Offspring, but Sum 41 shows the youth punk, which is way more inspirational.
Ok, here's the deal: Blink-182 created pop punk. They make great songs about adolescence, relationships, personal problems, etc. They make songs with humorous lyrics as well as songs with more serious concepts. Very fast, catchy songs.
Sum 41 is a Canadian pop-punk band from Ajax, Ontario, Canada. Originally called Kaspir, the band was formed in 1996 and separated in 2023. The band members included lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Deryck Whibley, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Dave Baksh, co-lead guitarist and backing vocalist... read more Not only did Sum 41 become noticed alongside bands such as Blink-182, Green Day, and The Offspring with their contribution to pop punk, but they have done many different styles of punk rock, ranging from pop punk to melodic hardcore. They have had their share of serious song topics and classic relationship pop punk topics.
Sum 41 should be in the top three alongside Green Day and Blink-182. See for yourself. Listen to Still Waiting, Blood in My Eyes, The Hell Song, and Over My Head.
This band is the reason I like pop-punk. One of their newer songs, War, is my favorite song.
Just bare bones skate punk with a somewhat sensible political view. Steps and Moderne Rebellion will cure your boo-boos.
The Newcomers
Hawk Nelson is a Canadian rock band from Peterborough, Ontario. Formed in 2000, the band has released eight studio albums to date.
NOFX are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. I don't understand how these guys aren't in the top three. They've been around longer than most of the bands already mentioned and are still rocking.
NOFX and Bad Religion not being 1 and 2 is a joke. Rise Against at number 1, seriously?
Ribbed, Punk in Drublic, White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean, and Heavy Petting Zoo are great albums. Then it drops off after.
Billy Talent is a Canadian rock band from Mississauga, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Benjamin Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk. Billy Talent is a band that has a different sound with each album. It shows their range as a band and growth as a whole. They are focused on giving quality and passionate work while never reproducing a sound from another album. That is something a lot of bands don't accomplish. They do this while staying true to their punk roots and maintaining their unique sound.
Billy Talent is my favorite band of all time and the first band to get me into rock music. Personally, I think they should be number one on the list. I love their music and them so much.
If it weren't for Jeff Ott, the frontman of Fifteen, being a part of putting 924 Gilman and the Berkeley punk scene on the map, bands like Green Day and Rancid would not exist. Period. A big reason the pop punk explosion of the '90s saw the light of day.
Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge/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 Definitely worth a listen. Their new stuff has a slightly different sound than their older songs. However, their new vocalist is doing a great job! If you enjoy songs with a raw and "real" feeling, give these guys a try.
Why is Three Days Grace so far down on the list? As a punk rock and metal listener, I can attest that TDG is one of the best, at least in the top ten. Their old songs were very real, and the new ones are uplifting to the spirit. They deserve a top spot.
I really dig these youngsters. Great sound. They're getting pretty popular, so we'll see where they go from here.
Seriously? Fat Mike is the reason half of these bands were ever signed in the first place. Anyone not putting them in the top three should play golf, say whoops, and call an ambulance.
I swear to God, these guys are way too low on this list. Come on! Californian Punk!
All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Towson, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore, formed in 2003. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alex Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zack Merrick and drummer Rian Dawson... read more All Time Low are the perfect example of a modern punk band. However, they should definitely go back to their 2009 music-sounding days!
I cannot explain my love for them. They have amazing music, and the composition of the lyrics is so witty.
Their music is amazing! I love their music, and without a doubt, they are my favorite band!
Pierce the Veil is an American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2006, the band was founded by brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes after the disbandment of the group Before Today, which was formed out of the San Diego punk rock scene. You may have heard of "Hold on 'Till May" or "King for a Day" by these guys.
