Top 10 Greatest Christian Hard Rock Bands
The most liked genre from the beginning was Hard Rock. Here is the list of Christian Hard Rock bands.
Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996 and based in the United States. Hands down, Skillet is the best out there! I first heard their songs some years ago on my uncle's CDs, and I've just kept listening to them over and over. Once you hear them, you'll never get over the songs. Their albums are amazing, and hearing them live is even better! One of my favorite Christian bands!
They have music for depression, songs about how much God loves you, and if you've heard Hero, you can tell they're Christians. I wasn't a fan as a little kid, but now I absolutely ADORE them.
Go listen to Whispers In The Dark. It shows how much love Christ has for his bride (the church), and it makes me teary-eyed just thinking about it. So thankful for the Savior who has done so much for me!
Red is an American Christian alternative metal/alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band was formed in 2002 by brothers Anthony Armstrong (guitarist) and Randy Armstrong (bassist), along with lead vocalist Michael Barnes. Red is one of my favorite bands of all time, among Nine Lashes and Decyfer Down. The vocals, though sometimes harsh (which I don't necessarily mind), are incredible. The guitar riffs are powerful and inventive. They've developed their own style: cinematic, building, and generally a massive sound. Some rock bands (like Skillet, Firelight, even Disciple sometimes) just sound very flat. Red does not fall into that category.
Go listen to Darkest Part, Already Over, and Pieces. You won't be disappointed.
Creative, engaging, unique, full sound - fantastic. Often, when I hear "screamo bands" in my search for fresh music, it only takes less than 3 seconds of play time to switch them back off. I do not consider Red a screamo band. They are a talented and lyrically musical band that is able to incorporate some screaming in a way that is musically relevant enough that I can stand it (I am, after all, 50+!). Of course, I still appreciate the Red songs with minimal screaming.
All in all, my favorite band. Stay true, Red!
Demon Hunter is an American Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington, started in 2000 by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark. Although the brothers created the band together, only Ryan remains, since Don left the band to take care of his family. Even though I'm not into the screaming/growling vocals, the clear vocals are the best I've heard. Their music is indescribable. I just can't get enough of their sound.
These guys deserve to be at least number two. They are amazing. Their voices grab you and get your attention. I honestly can't get enough of these guys.
One of the best of both metal and hard rock in the Christian world, in my opinion.
Thousand Foot Krutch is a Canadian Christian alternative rock band that was formed in 1995. They have released eight albums. In addition, they have released two live albums and three remix albums. Thousand Foot Krutch is just... purely amazing! You can have a lot of different sounds to suit your mood, and different songs carry different messages to help you through life. I would recommend Phenomenon (the first song I ever listened to by TFK), War of Change, Last Words, Everyone Like Me, Be Somebody, and The End Is Where We Begin. They are just so amazing! TFK is EASILY my favorite band. RAWK ON!
Thousand Foot Krutch has been my favorite band for the last ten years now. I've got every one of their albums from Set It Off to Oxygen: Inhale. They have a good mix of hard rock, nu-metal, soft rock, and worship. I also have found a lot of their lyrics very relatable.
Flyleaf is an American rock band formed in Bell County, Texas, in 2002. The band has charted on mainstream rock, Christian pop and Christian metal genres. Flyleaf is my number one. No matter how much I listen to them, I'll never get enough of hearing Lacey Sturm's voice.
Cassie is their number one song in my opinion.
Come on, why isn't Flyleaf in the top ten!?
Stryper is an American Christian metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet, Oz Fox, Perry Richardson, and Robert Sweet. They started it all, and the new album No More Hell to Pay shows they are still kicking ass!
Stryper was one of the very first hard rock metal Christian bands. They opened a lot of doors as well as hearts.
To Hell with the Devil. I think I've made my point.
Disciple is talented, no doubt about it. They do have a lot of screaming, though. But about 50% of their songs don't, and those ones are unbeatable. Dear X and Remedy are my favorites. Best Christian band along with Skillet and Fireflight. Ashes Remain is also really awesome.
Disciple is my third favorite hard rock band. They are only behind Skillet and Red. I recommend buying the Attack, Long Live the Rebels, and Love Letter Kill Shot albums.
Really good band! Amazing lyrics, and they sing a good message. They know how to be hard enough, but not too hard. They mix just enough yelling into their songs. I have all of their albums.
Payable on Death, also known as P.O.D., is a Christian nu metal band formed in 1992 and based in San Diego, California. Ok, their older stuff from their Satellite album was good, but their newer stuff is crap. Especially their album called Murdered Love. They dropped the F-bomb while they were singing about God. Not cool.
P.O.D. should be way higher. There's some controversy about the Christian title, but they are a really rad band with lots of boss music. Listen to Boom and you would agree.
P.O.D. is the first and still the only current Christian rock band that has gone 3x platinum. Plus, it's not their only platinum album either. Come on, y'all!?
Maybe I've been neglecting the Christian hard rock scene. However, I recently found this band Fireflight, and I gotta say... I like them a lot. That being said, #5 on the all-time list? ASHES REMAIN and PILLAR deserve to be higher. Just my opinion, but all things being equal, I think those two should be ranked higher.
The first time I heard their songs, I fell in love with them. Fireflight sings and rocks it out to all those who need someone to always be there for them. They are incredibly awesome, and God has given them talents they haven't put to waste.
Jesus is truly the way, the truth, and the life.
Project 86 is an American alternative metal band that was formed in Orange County, California, in 1996. Primarily categorized within the Christian rock and alternative metal genres, the band has gained recognition for its intense, aggressive sound and thought-provoking lyrics. Over the years, they have... read more Hands down, the deepest, most complex, true to the music Christian hard rock band. I have been listening to them since the early 2000s! Every album is different and will always leave you pleasantly surprised.
This band is great! They have been around for a long time and are one of the best Christian rock bands out there.
Saw these guys at Joshua Fest, and they were so awesome! Great band with lots of energy!
I love their song "On My Own." It reminds me that if I try to do something I don't know how to do without help, 9 times out of 10 I will mess up.
All-time favorite. If I had to choose one artist to listen to forever, it would be them.
Ashes Remain should be easily in the top five. They are way better than the others.
Chevelle is an American alternative metal band that formed in 1995 in the Chicago suburb of Grayslake, Illinois. The band was originally composed of brothers: Pete Loeffler, Sam Loeffler and Joe Loeffler. I cannot believe Chevelle is forgotten. It is a platinum rock group, and they truly rock! I have all their albums, and I especially liked their Vena Sera album.
Living Sacrifice is an American Christian metal band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1989. Over the years, their music has evolved to encompass various styles, including thrash metal, death metal, and metalcore. They are considered pioneers in the Christian metal genre, known for their unflinching... read more Voted best new heavy metal band when they first came out by a heavy metal magazine.
I was into this band before they got popular. I was listening to their excellent debut, and it reminded me of how great a band this really is. I've decided to forgive them for Ascend, and here's to hoping they'll return to rocking out again. From Water to War and Escape are their best!
The vocals and tone of all their songs are great. However, their newer albums are a bit too soft. I prefer their older albums, which have a more hard rock aspect. Overall, great band!
World We View and From Water to War are both amazing albums that I recommend. Plus, Thousand Foot Krutch and Demon Hunter have collaborated with this amazing band!
Pillar is the best band of the last decade that no one has heard of, but they are not trying to win a popularity contest. They play for the reward they will receive in heaven. No metaphoric, sugar-coated lyrics here. Just in-your-face Jesus. Similar to their heavy metal brothers in Christ, "For Today."
How can anyone put Pillar as #3? They should be #1! Pillar is not just another rock band that sounds like a typical rock group. They have made some of the best albums that Skillet or Red can't even touch.
Pillar was such a great and fantastic band! I love the tattoos, dreadlocks, and the screamo effect! It's epic!
Decyfer Down is a Christian rock band formed in 1999 and based in Morehead City, North Carolina. Until 2002 – the year that Christopher Clonts joined the band – they went by the moniker Allysonhymn (pronounced All-eyes-on-Him). Decyfer Down is well known in Christian music, but the band is also... read more Decyfer Down, despite the loss of a significant band member after their first album, produced one of the best albums (in my opinion) the Christian hard rock community has ever seen. Their first album is incredible, their second, out of this world. Their most recent album, however, was somewhat disappointing for me, although some of the songs match the quality of their previous albums.
My favorites of theirs include:
1. Fading
2. Crash
3. Break Free
4. Fight Like This
5. Vanity
Among others too difficult to list. If I had to make a list of best Christian hard rock bands (not the most popular or well-known), it would likely be:
1. Decyfer Down
2. Nine Lashes (also extraordinary hard rock)
3. Thousand Foot Krutch
4. Skillet
5. We As Human
6. Ashes Remain
7. Disciple (in general, too much screaming for me but I do like some of their songs)
8. Starset
9. Falling Up
10. Pillar
Some RED songs are absolutely amazing as well, but they also have plenty of screaming in their style. Demon Hunter also has some good music for those with a taste for some grunge metal.
Switchfoot is an American alternative rock band from San Diego, California. The band plays as a quintet. Switchfoot's words are pulled straight from the life and soul of the singer John Foreman and almost always have a spiritual air to his songs. Tie that in with music fit for an ocean, and you've got a groovy band that sounds too good for its own good.
Their hard rock songs like Dark Horses and Afterlife are equally good as their softer stuff. This is the best band ever.
Incredible band. Love the way they get heavy but still leave room for fantastic melodic arrangements!
Listen, Mean What You Say, Best In Me, and Learn From The Night are some of Sent By Ravens' best songs on the album Mean What You Say. They have the perfect mix of everything. They have piano and violin in some songs and then hard rock in others. Mean What You Say has the best guitar solo. Listen has the best pre-chorus. The vocalist uses the perfect mix of head-voice in all his songs. They are unbelievably talented.
This band is beyond awesome and one of the best bands I have ever heard. They outshine any secular band out there. God is definitely using this band. Thanks, guys, and keep rocking!
Petra was a great rock band for their time! I saw them in concert twice, and they were all about God and bringing the truth! I was more of a fan when Greg Volz was the lead singer and was amazed by his range!
Not in the top ten? Petra is the greatest Christian rock band ever. They started it all.
Best Christian rock band ever. They paved the way for many!
Theocracy is a Christian progressive power metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia. Come on, people! Seriously?! Stryper, the very band that put Christian rock on the mainstream map, the very core of the genre, ranked way down as if a side statement? Makes no sense. Then there's no mention of the best group out today, which is Theocracy. Not only is their music far superior to any band mentioned here as the melody and harmonies are unlike any other, but their lyrics are deep. Deep-rooted is Theocracy in theology!
A Christian band should just be that - Christian. Theocracy has powerful lyrics and music to support it. With no argument or comparison, they are truly the genuine band out there and by far, simply the best.
Underoath is an American rock band from Tampa, Florida. Founded by Dallas Taylor and Luke Morton on November 30, 1997, in Ocala, Florida; subsequently its additional members were from Tampa. Why weren't they already on this list?
Kutless is a Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon formed in 1999. Since their formation, they have released multiple studio albums and one live album, Live from Portland.Recently, I have listened to their 2021 album. I love their song "Born for This."