The birth of contemporary Christian music dates back to the late 1960s, but Christian rock came into rits own in the 1980s.
Billboard magazine started to post the Top 10 Christian rock songs, and some radio stations started to play Christian rock. Bands such as DC Talk, Jars of Clay, Audio Adrenaline and many others achieved commercial success. This list excludes bands that are primarily heavy metal or hardcore punk. Those bands appear in the list of Christian metal artists and list of Christian hardcore bands, respectively.
The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music defines contemporary Christian music (CCM) as "music that appeals to self-identified fans of contemporary Christian music on account of a perceived connection to what they regard as Christianity". Based on that definition, this list may include bands who work in the Christian music industry, as well as artists in the general market whose lyrics reflect their Christian faith (or where either the artists themselves and other sources identify members as performing Christian music). Some bands resist the "Christian rock" label, but are still identified under the label by outside sources.
List
0–9
12 Stones (hard rock, Christian rock) (2000–present) 2nd Chapter of Acts – (CCM) (1972–1988) 33Miles (CCM, pop rock) (2005–present) 38th Parallel – (alternative rock, rock, rap rock) (2001–2002) 39 Stripes – (alternative rock, hard rock) (2010–present) 4-4-1 – (rock, post-punk, alternative rock, pop) (1983–1988) 7eventh Time Down – (hard rock) (2004–present) The 77s – (rock) (1980–present)
A
Abandon – (Christian rock, alternative rock, pop) (2008–present) Abandon Kansas – (Christian rock, alternative rock) (2005–2015) Above the Golden State – (rock, CCM) (2007–2014) Ace Troubleshooter – (pop punk) (1996–2005) AD (rock) (1984–1988) Addison Road – (rock, CCM, alternative rock) (2002–2012) After Edmund – (alternative rock, art rock, rock) (2001–2015) After the Chase – (CCM, rock) (2003–present) After the Fire – (CCM, rock) (1974–1986, 2004–2015) The Afters – (pop, rock, alternative rock, CCM) (1999–present) Adam Again – (alternative rock, funk rock) (1982–2000) Alisa – (hard rock) (1983–present) All Star United – (rock, CCM) (1997–present) All Together Separate – (CCM, funk rock) (1998–2003) Allies – (hard rock, rock, CCM) (1985–1992) The Almost – (alternative rock) (2005–present) Altar Boys - (punk) (1982–1992) Anberlin – (alternative rock) (2002–2014, 2019–present) Anchor & Braille – (acoustic rock, electronica, folk) (2004–present) Anthem Lights – (pop rock, Christian rock, Christian pop, R&B) (2007–present) Anyday – (pop rock) (2009–present) As Lions – (alternative metal) (2016–present) Atomic Opera – (hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal) (1991–present) As Cities Burn – (indie rock, post-hardcore, progressive rock) (2002–2009, 2012–2016, 2017–present) Ashes Remain – (rock) (2001–present) Audio Adrenaline – (rock, alternative rock) (1989–2007, 2012–2017) August Burns Red - (Metalcore, Christian metal, progressive metalcore) (2003–present)
B
A Band Called David – (CCM) (1974–1988) BarlowGirl – (Christian rock, CCM, alternative rock, rock) (2000–2012) Barnabas – (hard rock, punk rock, heavy metal, tech metal) (1977–1986) Dave Barnes (2002–present) Barratt Band – (rock) (1980–1986) Basehead – (alternative rock, alternative hip hop) (1992–present) Beanbag – (rock) (1995–2002) The Benjamin Gate – (Christian rock) (1998–2003) Between the Trees – (emo, pop punk, indie rock) (2005–2010) Between Thieves – (power pop, punk rock, Southern rock, pop punk) (1990–2001) Big Daddy Weave – (rock, CCM) (2002–present) Big Dismal – (rock) (2003–present) Big Fil – (rock, punk rock) Big Tent Revival – (blues rock) (1991–2000, 2012–present) Bleach – (rock) (1995–2004, 2010–present) Blessthefall – (post-hardcore) (2003–present) Blind – (rock) (1999–2005) Blindside – (post-hardcore, rock) (1994–present) Bluetree – (rock, contemporary worship music) (2004–2017) Brave Saint Saturn – (astro-rock, rock) (1999–present) Lincoln Brewster – (rock, contemporary worship music) (1994–present) Bride – (hard rock, heavy metal, thrash metal) (1983–present) The Brothers Martin – (indie rock, electronica) (2006–present?) Building 429 – (rock) (1999–present) Burlap to Cashmere – (CCM, flamenco) (1994–present) By the Tree – (CCM) (1997–present)
C
Cadet (band) - (Christian alternative rock, garage rock, rockabilly) (2000–2004) Caedmon's Call – (folk rock, CCM) (1993–2010) CAIN – (CCM) Jeremy Camp – (rock) (2000–present) Steve Camp – (Christian rock) (1978–present) Candlefuse – (Christian alternative rock, hard rock) (1999–present) Capital Lights – (rock) (2002–2009, 2010–2012) Carman (singer) - (Christian rock) (1987–2001) Casting Crowns – (rock, CCM) (1999–present) Charizma – (rock, pop, hard rock, CCM) (1981–present) Children 18:3 – (punk rock) (1999–present) The Choir – (alternative rock) (1984–present) City Sleeps – (alternative rock, Christian rock) (2004–2013) The Classic Crime – (indie rock, emo, alternative CCM) (2004–present) Code of Ethics – (new wave, pop, Europop, industrial rock) (1991–2001, 2008–present) Paul Colman Trio – (rock) (1998–2004, 2009–present) Colony House – (indie rock) (2009–present) Common Children – (alternative rock) (1995–2002) Consider the Thief – (indie rock, post-hardcore, experimental rock) (2007–2009, 2012) Consumed by Fire - (Christian pop, southern rock, roots rock) (2010–present) Cool Hand Luke – (indie rock, alternative rock, rock, emo) (1998–2011, 2017–present) Copeland – (indie rock, indie pop, emo) (2000–2009, 2014–present) Crash Rickshaw – (indie rock, alternative rock, rock) (2001–present) Jimi Cravity – (Christian pop) (2012–present) Critical Mass – (modern rock, rock, post-grunge, rock) (1996–present) Christafari – (reggae, funk rock) (1989–present) Crumbächer – (new wave, rock, synthpop) (1983–1989) Rick Cua - (rock) (1980–Present)
D
Dakoda Motor Co. – (surf rock, alternative rock) (1991–1997, 2006–present) Daniel Amos – (alternative rock) (1974–present) Daniel Band – (hard rock, classic rock) (1979–present) David and the Giants – (rock) (1963–present) David Crowder Band (1995–2012) DC Talk – (rock, R&B, hip hop) (1987–present) Day of Fire (post-grunge) (2003–2010) DeGarmo and Key – (pop, rock) (1978–2010) Dead Artist Syndrome – (gothic rock) (1990–1995, 2001–2020) Dead Poetic – (hard rock, alternative rock) (1997–2007) Deas Vail – (alternative rock) (2003–2012) Decyfer Down – (nu metal, hard rock, post-grunge) (1999–present) DecembeRadio – (Southern rock) (2003–2012) Delirious? – (alternative rock, rock) (1992–2009) Demon Hunter – (christian metal, metalcore, alternative metal, groove metal, nu metal) (2000–present) Desperation Band – (CCM) (2002–2017) The Devil Wears Prada - (Christian metal) (early) (2005–present) Diante do Trono – (worship, pop, pop rock, CCM) (1997–present) Difference United – (indie pop, rock) (2006–present) Die Happy – (rock) (1990–1994) DigHayZoose – (funk, rock) (1990–1996) The Digital Age – (modern rock) (2012–present) Disciple – (hard rock, alternative metal, heavy metal, Southern metal)(the bestone) (1992–present) Disperse – (rock, garage rock) (1996–2004) Colton Dixon – (Christian rock) (2010–present) Dizmas – (rock, alternative rock, post-hardcore) (2002–2009) Dogs of Peace - (rock) (1996, 2016) downhere – (rock, alternative rock) (1999–2012) Dryve - (alternative rock, Christian rock) (1993–1998)
E
Eager – (rock) (1995–1998) Earthsuit – (rock, rap rock) (1995–2003) East West – (hardcore rock, hard rock, nu metal) (1993–2003) Echoing Angels – (rock) (1999–present) Eden's Bridge – (Celtic, folk rock, pop, progressive rock) (1993–present) The Electrics – (celtic rock, folk rock, Celtic) (1988–present) Elevation Worship – (Christian rock (2007–present) Eleventyseven – (power pop, electronica) (2002–2014) Embodyment – (hard rock, alternative metal, death metal) (1993–2004) Emery – (hard rock, post-hardcore, emocore) (2001–present) Éowyn – (alternative rock) (1999–present) Ever Stays Red – (indie pop, rock) (2002–2008) Everfound – (rock, alternative) (2005–present) Everlife – (pop rock, pop punk, power pop) (2001–2013) Everman – (rock) (1996–2004) Everyday Sunday – (rock, alternative rock, pop punk) (1997–2016)
F
FM Static – (rock, pop punk, alternative rock) (2003–present) Fair – (rock, alternative rock) (2005–2012 (hiatus)) Falling Up – (experimental rock, rock, hard rock) (2001–2016) Family Force 5 – (crunkcore, rock, rap rock, alternative rock) (2004–2018) Fee – (rock, worship) (2005–2010) Fighting Instinct – (rock) (2004–2008) Fine China - (indie rock, indie pop) (1997–present) Fireflight – (alternative rock, rock, hard rock) (1999–present) Five Iron Frenzy – (ska) (1995–2003, 2011–present) Flyleaf – (alternative rock, hard rock) (2002–2016, 2022–present) Fono – (alternative rock, rock) (1996–?) Fold Zandura – (alternative rock) (1995–1999) Foolish Things – (rock, alternative rock) (1997–2008) Forever Changed – (rock, punk rock, indie rock) (1999–2006) for King & Country – (rock, CCM) (2011–present) For Love Not Lisa (hard rock) (1990–1996) The Fray – (rock, pop) (2002–present) Peter Furler (2011–present) Further Seems Forever – (rock, emo, indie rock) (1998–2006, 2010–present)
G
Ghoti Hook – (pop punk) (1990–2002, 2009) Glowin' Moses – (pop rock, rock) (1999–2008) The Glorious Unseen – (rock, contemporary music) (2007–present) Jamie Grace – (CCM, folk) Grammatrain – (rock, post-grunge) (1994–1998, 2009–present) Gretchen – (alternative rock) (2000–present) Grey Holiday – (rock, indie rock, pop) (2003–2008) GRITS – (hip hop) (1995–present) Group 1 Crew – (hip hop) (2003–2017) Guardian – (rock, metal, CCM) (1982–present) Guerilla Rodeo – (pop punk) (2004–2005) Michael Gungor (2010–present)
H
Charlie Hall – (Christian rock) (1991–present) Halo – (rock) Harvest – (CCM, Jesus music, gospel) Hawk Nelson – (pop punk, rock, punk rock) HB – (hard rock, rock, metal) Mark Heard – (Christian rock, folk rock) Hearts Like Lions – (indie rock) Hearts of Saints – (worship, rock, CCM) Hillsong United – (worship, rock, CCM) Hillsong Worship (praise and worship) (1983–present) Hokus Pick – (Christian rock, CCM) Holy Soldier – (rock) Honey – (rock, alternative rock) Jimmy Hotz – (rock, progressive rock, art rock) House of Heroes – (rock) Hyper Static Union – (Christian rock)
I
I Am Terrified – (hard rock, metal) I Am They – (CCM, Christian rock, contemporary worship music) Icon for Hire – (hard rock) Idle Cure – (hard rock, arena rock) The Imperials – (CCM, Christian rock) The Insyderz – (Christian ska, punk) Ivoryline – (alternative rock, rock, emo)
J
Jacob's Trouble – (rock, pop rock) (1989–1998) JAG – (rock) Jars of Clay – (rock, pop rock, alternative rock, acoustic rock) Jason Truby – (rock, hard rock) Jason and the G-Men - (rock) Jerusalem – (rock, metal) Jesus Culture – (progressive rock, rock) John Schlitt – (rock) Johnny Q. Public – (alternative rock) Jonah33 – (metal, alternative metal, hard rock) (2002–2008, 2014–present) Joshua (rock) Joy Electric – (synthpop) (1994–present) The Juliana Theory – (emo, indie rock) Justifide – (rock)
K
Phil Keaggy – (CCM, progressive rock) Mat Kearney – (rock, folk, CCM, hip hop) (2003–present) Kerry Livgren – (rock, hard rock, progressive rock, folk rock) Kids in the Way – (alternative rock, post-grunge, Christian rock) King's X – (hard rock, progressive metal) Michael Knott – (alternative rock) (1986–present) The Kry – (rock) Kutless – (rock, alternative rock, worship music)
L
LVL – (industrial rock, industrial metal, rock) (1996–present) Lecrae – (Christian hip hop) (2004–present) Leeland – (rock, progressive rock, CCM) (2000–present) Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart (rock, CCM) (1982–1992)