In this blog post we list some of the best Christian rock bands of all time. Here, we strike a balance between rockfest headliners and the worship-band stage, delivering hard-charging anthems for secular and spiritual audiences alike.
1. Skillet
Skillet is an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, consisting of all Christian members. Skillet formed in 1996 with two members: John Cooper, former vocalist for Tennessee progressive rock band Seraph, and Ken Steorts, former guitarist for Urgent Cry. The two bands met through touring together, but those bands disbanded soon after, so John and Ken’s pastor encouraged them to form their own band as a side-project. Coming from different styles of rock music, they decided to name the experiment Skillet. After, Trey McClurkin joined the band as a permanent drummer. Slowly amassing an audience in the mid-’90s, they beefed up the band’s lineup and broke into the mainstream in 2001 with their fourth album, Alien Youth. From there, the quartet experienced a quick ascent on the charts, rapidly increasing in popularity with each successive release.
Stream Skillet songs
2. Sixpence None The Richer
Sixpence None the Richer, often known as just “Sixpence”, is a pop/rock band with roots in New Braunfels, Texas, United States, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. Named after a passage in C. S. Lewis’ theological book Mere Christianity, the group is best known for their critically acclaimed 1999 self-titled album, with ‘Sixpence None the Richer’ showing their strong influence from both melodic Christian rock and 60s British invasion music.
Stream Sixpence None The Richer songs
3. P.O.D.
San Diego four-piece P.O.D. are also born-again Christians whose faith takes a central place in their music. Emerging out of Southern California in the early ’90s, P.O.D. (aka Payable on Death) rose to the top of the nu-metal/rap-rock scene with their third album and major-label debut, 1999’s The Fundamental Elements of Southtown.
Stream P.O.D. songs
4. Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch (often abbreviated TFK) is a Canadian Christian rock band from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. They made their debut in 1995 when Trevor McNevan, Joel Bruyere, and Steve Augustine started putting a praise & worship spin on the nu-metal sound of the time. Since forming, Thousand Foot Krutch has sold over 1.1 million albums and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums Chart twice.
Stream Thousand Foot Krutch songs
5. NEEDTOBREATHE
South Carolina rock group Needtobreathe debuted in the 2000s with an earnest tone similar to John Mayer or Kings of Leon and lyrics inspired by their Christian faith. With each successive album, they made a slow climb toward the top of the pop charts, emerging in the Top Ten with 2011’s The Reckoning and rising to number two with 2016’s Hard Love. Meanwhile, each of those albums, as well as 2020’s Out of Body, hit number one on the Christian Albums chart.
Stream NEEDTOBREATHE songs
6. Casting Crowns
Christian rock group Casting Crowns were formed in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida. He fronted the group as a singer and songwriter, recruiting guitarists Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes and violinist Melodee DeVevo. They later moved to Stockbridge, Georgia in 2001 only to gain more members. Casting Crowns have sold over ten million albums and dominated Christian radio via chart-topping singles like “Lifesong,” “Until the Whole World Hears,” and “Courageous.”
Stream Casting Crowns songs
7. Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an alternative rock band that was formed by brothers Jon and Tim Foreman and their surfing buddy, Chad Butler. After gaining a foothold in the contemporary Christian music scene, alternative rockers Switchfoot went mainstream with 2003’s The Beautiful Letdown, a double-platinum album that straddled the line between sacred and secular rock music.
Stream Switchfoot songs
8. MercyMe
MercyMe was formed in 1994 and released their national debut album in 2001. After landing a major crossover hit with 2001’s platinum-selling “I Can Only Imagine,” Texas-based CCM band MercyMe became a perennial staple of both the pop and Christian charts. The group has also had 13 consecutive top 5 singles on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, with 7 of them reaching No. 1. MercyMe has won 8 Dove Awards and has had many Grammy Award nominations.
Stream MercyMe songs
9. Flyleaf
Flyleaf is an American rock band, formed in Belton, Texas, United States in 2000. They originated as a band called Listen, and then changed name to Passerby, but due to an existing band owning the rights to that name, their name was changed to Flyleaf after they were signed to their record label. Although the band relies on themes transcending many faiths and ways of life, they insist being a Christian will always be a part of them and influence their writing.
Stream Flyleaf songs
10. Anberlin
Anberlin is an alternative rock band from Winter Haven, Florida, United States formed in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007 their line-up has consisted of lead vocalist Stephen Christian, bassist Deon Rexroat, lead guitarist Joseph Milligan, drummer Nathan Young and rhythm guitarist Christian McAlhaney. Their debut album, Blueprints for the Black Market, was quite successful. Spurred on by popular singles “Readyfuels” and “Change the World”, it sold over 60,000 copies and raised Anberlin’s profile. The band has released four albums and an EP in their six-year run and have sold over 400,000 albums.
Stream Anberlin songs
11. Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Brian Pittman (bass), and Matthew Hoopes (guitar, backing vocals), during the band’s junior year in high school and their time at Malone College. In August 2001, Relient K released the album The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek. The album sold 300,000 copies and Relient K’s momentum continued to build as they played nearly 200 shows in North America before the year closed out. The band has received numerous awards including a Grammy Award nomination in 2004 for Best Rock Gospel Album and two Dove Awards.
Stream Relient K songs
12. Red
Red (usually capitalized RED) is a Grammy nominated American Christian alternative metal band from Nashville, Tennessee established in 2004. RED’s positive message and versatile sound, which incorporates elements of post-grunge, nu-metal, alternative rock, Christian metal, and hard rock, have earned them a loyal following since their debut in 2006 with the Grammy-nominated End of Silence.
Stream Red songs
13. 12 Stones
Twelve Stones was formed in the small New Orleans suburb of Mandeville, LA. The group was mostly still in their teens when they formed the lineup of vocalist Paul McCoy, bassist Kevin Dorr, guitarist Eric Weaver, and drummer Aaron Gainer. Success came to the band in 2003, when McCoy duetted with Evanescence on “Bring Me to Life,” which became a smash hit and was included on the Daredevil soundtrack as well as Evanescence’s debut album, Fallen.
Stream 12 Stones songs
14. Ashes Remain
Ashes Remain was formed in 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland by Josh Smith and Ryan Nalepa, who met at a summer youth camp. By 2003 the group had expanded into a five-piece with the additions of Rob Tahan, Jonathan Hively, and Ben Kirk, resulting in the independent release of their debut album, Lose the Alibis.
Stream Ashes Remain songs
You may also like: