Source – Wikipedia
1. Skillet
| Year | 1996–present |
| Genre | Christian rock, Christian metal, Hard rock |
Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. The band currently consists of husband John Cooper (lead vocals, bass) and wife Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) along with Jen Ledger (drums, vocals) and Seth Morrison (lead guitar).
The band has released eleven albums, two of which, Collide and Comatose, received Grammy nominations. Two of their albums, Comatose and Awake, are certified Platinum and Double Platinum respectively by the RIAA, while Rise and Unleashed are certified Gold as of June 29, 2020.
Five of their songs, “Whispers in the Dark”, “Hero”, “Monster”, “Awake and Alive”, and “Feel Invincible”, are certified Platinum, while another four, “Rebirthing”, “Comatose”, “Not Gonna Die”, and “The Resistance” are certified Gold.
Skillet went through several line-up changes early in their career, leaving founder John Cooper as the only original member remaining in the band.
They are known for a relentless touring schedule, which garnered them a top five ranking in the Hardest Working Bands of 2010 by Songkick.com.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
2. Switchfoot
| Year | 1996–present |
| Genre | Alternative rock, Christian Rock |
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band’s members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums, percussion), and Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals).
After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream recognition with the inclusion of four of their songs in the 2002 movie A Walk to Remember.
This recognition led to their major label debut, The Beautiful Letdown, which was released in 2003 and featured the hits “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move”.
The album sold over 2.6 million copies. They have since been noted for their energetic live shows, and their seventh studio album Hello Hurricane received a Grammy award in 2011 for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album.
According to Jon Foreman, the name “Switchfoot” comes from a surfing term. “We all love to surf and have been surfing all our lives so to us, the name made sense.
To switch your feet means to take a new stance facing the opposite direction. It’s about change and movement, a different way of approaching life and music.”
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
3. Third Day
| Year | 1991–2018 |
| Genre | Christian rock, Southern rock, contemporary Christian |
Third Day was a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee (both of whom were the only constant members) and Billy Wilkins.
Drummer David Carr was the last band member to quit, prior to the band’s farewell tour in May and June 2018. The band’s name is a reference to the biblical accounts of the resurrection of Jesus on the third day following his crucifixion.
The band was inducted in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 19, 2009.
They have sold over 7 million albums in the United States and had 28 number one Christian album chart radio hits. Their fans are known as “Gomers” after a song on their second album about Gomer.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
4. Kutless
| Year | 1999–present |
| Genre | Alternative rock, Christian rock, hard rock |
Kutless is an American 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. They have sold over 3 million records worldwide.
The band was formed in Portland, Oregon, as a campus worship band named “Call Box”. They performed during the 1999–2000 school year at Warner Pacific College.
Their first guitarist, Andrew Morrison, decided to leave the band shortly before they signed with BEC records. James Mead replaced Andrew at lead guitar.
The Band changed their name to “Kutless” in October 2001, before releasing their first three-track EP followed up by their full-length album in 2002 on BEC Recordings.
Kutless chose their name because of a Bible verse. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NRSV). Because of this, the band says, “He took our cuts for us… leaving us ‘Kutless’.”
5. Relient K
| Year | 1998–present |
| Genre | Alternative rock, Christian rock, Pop Punk |
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio, by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during the band members’ third year in high school and their time at Malone University.
The band is named after guitarist Hoopes’ automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name.
The group is associated with the contemporary Christian music culture, most notably the Christian rock and punk scene. The group has also performed alongside secular artists.
The band has reached critical success with mainstream pop-punk and alternative rock. The band’s sound incorporates piano and acoustic elements.
Since its formation, Relient K has released nine studio albums, seven EPs, two Christmas albums, and one collection of rarities. The band has received numerous awards including a Grammy Award nomination in 2004 for Best Rock Gospel Album and two Dove Awards.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
6. Thousand Foot Krutch
| Year | 1995–present |
| Genre | Christian rock, Hard Rock, Nu Metal |
Thousand Foot Krutch (often abbreviated TFK) is a Canadian Christian rock band formed in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1997. The band has released eight studio albums, two live albums, and three remix albums.
The band currently consists of founding member Trevor McNevan (vocals, guitar), Steve Augustine (drums), and Joel Bruyere (bass, backing vocals).
Since forming, Thousand Foot Krutch has sold over 1.1 million albums and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums Chart twice.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
7. Red
| Year | 2002–present |
| Genre | Christian rock, alternative rock, alternative metal |
Red (stylized as R3D or RED) is an American Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2002 by brothers guitarist Anthony Armstrong and bassist Randy Armstrong, with lead vocalist Michael Barnes.
The band’s first line-up also consisted of drummer Andrew Hendrix and guitarist Jasen Rauch. Currently, the line-up has consisted of the core trio of the Armstrong brothers and Barnes.
After they recorded several demos displaying a style of alternative, hard, and Christian rock music, Red landed a development deal with their longtime producer Rob Graves which led to a record deal with Christian label Essential Records in 2004.
Their debut albums End of Silence (2006) and Innocence & Instinct (2009) were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album, and spawned the popular singles “Breathe Into Me” and “Death of Me”.
Red’s mainstream popularity grew and their third album, Until We Have Faces (2011), reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, which was followed by Release the Panic (2013), which peaked at No. 7.
After Of Beauty and Rage (2015), Red started work on their sixth album, Gone (2017), which was released in October 2017. Their recent seventh studio album, Declaration, was released on April 3, 2020.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
8. Jars of Clay
| Year | 1993–present |
| Genre | Christian alternative rock, pop-rock |
Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The members met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.
Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars, and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars.
Although the band has no permanent drummer or bass guitarist, Jeremy Lutito and Gabe Ruschival of Disappointed by Candy fill these roles for live concerts.
Past tour band members include Aaron Sands, Scott Savage, and Joe Porter. Jars of Clay’s style is a blend of alternative rock, folk, acoustic, and R&B.
The band’s name is derived from the New International Version’s translation of 2 Corinthians 4:7:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
This verse is paraphrased in their song “Four Seven”, which appears as a hidden track on the CD release of their self-titled album.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
9. Newsboys
| Year | 1985–present |
| Genre | Christian pop, pop-rock, CCM |
Newsboys (sometimes stylized as newsboys) are a Christian rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis.
Now based in Nashville, United States, the band has released 17 studio albums, 6 of which have been certified gold.
As of 2019, the band consists of lead vocalist Michael Tait (formerly of DC Talk), drummer and percussionist Duncan Phillips, keyboardist and bassist Jeff Frankenstein, and guitarist Jody Davis.
In addition to performing music, the band has appeared in the films God’s Not Dead, God’s Not Dead 2, and God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
10. Casting Crowns
| Year | 1993–present |
| Genre | Contemporary Christian, Christian rock |
Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall, who serves as the band’s lead vocalist, as part of a youth group at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida.
They later moved to Stockbridge, Georgia, and more members joined. Some members of the band currently work as ministers for Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia. The band has won a Grammy and a Dove Award.
Source (More on) – Wikipedia
