The World's Best Christian Hard Rock Bands

P.O.D. (Payable on Death) was formed in 1992 in San Ysidro, California by Marcos Curiel, Noah Bernardo (Wuv) and Wuv's cousin, Sonny Sandoval. Mark Daniels (Traa) joined in 1993.

Throughout the 90s, P.O.D. sold more than 40,000 copies of their three homemade EPs. Atlantic Records signed the band in 1998. Marcos left in 2003 and was replaced with Jason Truby. In 2006, Marcos rejoined the band. Later, Jason left and P.O.D. left Atlantic.

Discography

• Murdered Love, 2012
• When Angels And Serpents Dance, 2008
• Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years, 2006
• Testify, 2006
• The Warriors EP, Vol. 2, 2005
• Payable On Death, 2003
• Satellite, 2001
• The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, 1999
• The Warriors EP, 1998
• Brown, 1996
• Snuff the Punk, 1994

Essential Songs

• "Breathe Babylon"
• "Let the Music Do the Talking"
• "Youth of the Nation"

Band Members

Sonny Sandoval: Vocals
Marcos Curiel: Guitar
Wuv Bernardo: Drums
Traa Daniels: Bass

12 Stones was formed in 2000 in Mandeville, Louisiana (a small suburb North of New Orleans). They were signed to Wind-Up Records in 2002 and have released three albums since then. In 2003 Paul McCoy was featured on the Evanescence song "Bring Me To Life" and won a GRAMMY for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Discography

• Beneath the Scars, 2012
• The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, 2010
• Anthem For The Underdog, 2007
• Potter's Field, 2004
• 12 Stones, 2002

Essential Songs

• "World's Collide"
• "Fade Away"
• "We Are One"

Band Members

Paul McCoy: Vocals
Eric Weaver: Guitar
Aaron Gainer: Drums
Will Reed: Bass

Originally known as Allysonhymn (pronounced "all-eyes-on-him), Decyfer Down formed in 1999 as an acoustic group with two members—drummer Josh Oliver and guitarist Brandon Mills.

2002 brought a lot of changes to the band. They added members, changed their name to Decyfer Down and switched to a rock sound. SRE Recordings signed the group in 2006 and their debut came out that summer.

Discography

• Scarecrow, 2013
• Crash, 2009
• End Of Grey, 2006

Essential Songs

• "I'll Breathe For You"
• "The Life"
• "Fight Like This"

Band Members

TJ Harris: Vocals, Guitar
Brandon Mills: Guitar
Josh Oliver: Drums
Chris Clonts: Guitar

Flyleaf was formed in Texas in 2000. In 2004, the band released their debut EP on Octone Records. The full-length CD, titled, released that one year later with Howard Benson at the helm as producer.

Discography

• Between the Stars, 2014
• New Horizons, 2012 (last album with Lacey)
• Remember To Live EP, 2010
• Memento Mori, 2009
• Much Like Falling EP, 2007
• Music As A Weapon EP, 2007
• Connect Sets EP, 2006
• Flyleaf, 2005
• Flyleaf EP, 2010

Essential Songs

• "Again"
• "Breathe Today"
• "I'm So Sick"

Band Members

Kristen May: Vocals
Sameer Bhattacharya: Guitar
Jared Hartmann: Guitar
Pat Seals: Bass
James Culpepper: Drums

Fireflight hit the Christian music scene in 2006 after getting signed by Flicker Records. Led by Dawn Michele, who has been compared to Joan Jett and The Pretenders’ Chrissy Hynde, the band has proven that they definitely have what it takes to be one of the best.

In 2015, the release of Innova revealed a new side of the band. While fans will still hear the rock they've come to know and love, there are now elements of pop and electronic thrown in, giving Fireflight an updated sound. 

Discography

• Innova, 2015
• NOW, 2012
• For Those Who Wait, 2010
• Unbreakable, 2008
• The Healing Of Harms, 2006

Essential Songs

• "Brand New Day"
• "Core Of My Addiction"
• "Fire in My Eyes"

Band Members

Dawn Michele: Vocals
Glenn Drennen: Guitar
Adam McMillion: Drums
Wendy Drennen: Bass

RED was formed in 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee, when Michael Barnes met brothers Anthony and Randy Armstrong. The addition of drummer Andrew Hendrix and second guitarist Jasen Rauchy officially made a band, and RED was born.

After the group signed with Essential Records, Hendrix left and Hayden Lamb was picked as the replacement drummer. Lamb was injured in a serious wreck in 2007 and officially left the band in 2008.

Discography

• Of Beauty and Rage, 2015
• Until We Have Faces, 2011
• Innocence & Instinct Deluxe, 2009
• Innocence & Instinct, 2009
• End of Silence Live, 2007
• End of Silence, 2006

Essential Songs

• "Never Be The Same"
• "Ordinary World"
• "As You Go"

Band Members

Michael Barnes: Vocals
Anthony Armstrong: Guitar
Joe Rickard: Drums
Randy Armstrong: Bass

Kevin Young was in middle school when the first thoughts of forming a band entered his mind. At 13, he and drummer Tim Barrett formed Disciple, adding guitarist Brad Noah in December 1992. Over the next 8 years, they released 4 more albums, adding bassist Joey Fife in '03 to become a quartet.

They went back to the studio in early '04 to record Rise Up and got the attention of A&R men at major labels across the country. They eventually signed with SRE. Since then, the lineup and the record labels have changed, but the great music remains the same!

Discography

• O God Save Us All, 2012
• Horseshoes & Handgrenades, 2010
• Southern Hospitality, 2008
• Scars Remain, 2006
• Rise Up, 2005 
• Back Again, 2003
• By God, 2000
• This Might Sting A Little, 1999
• My Daddy Can Whip Your Daddy, 1997
• What Was I Thinking? 1995

Essential Songs

• "Amazing Grace Blues"
• "Can't Breathe"
• "Crawl Away"

Band Members

Kevin Young: Vocals
Josiah Prince: Guitar
Andrew Stanton: Guitar
Joey West: Drums

Hailing from Hartsville, South Carolina, Sent By Ravens is one of those great bands that delivers lyrics that come from their hearts rather than a "success formula."

Discography

• Mean What You Say, 2012
• Our Graceful Words, 2010
• The Effects Of Fashion And Prayer EP, 2008
• Sent By Ravens, 2007

Essential Songs

• "Philadelphia"
• "Mean What You Say"
• "Best in Me"

Band Members

Zach Riner: Vocals
JJ Leonard: Guitar
Andy O'Neal: Guitar
Jon Arena: Bass
Dane Anderson: Drums

Skillet was formed in Memphis, TN, by John Cooper, Ken Steorts, and Trey McClurkin in 1996. John's wife Korey joined in 2001, Ben Kasica replaced Ken, Lori Peters replaced Trey and the band signed with Ardent Records.

In 2004, Lava Records picked the band up and released them to the mainstream.

Discography

• Rise, 2013
• Awake, August 2009
• Comatose Comes Alive, 2008
• Comatose, 2006
• Collide, 2003
• Alien Youth, 2001
• Ardent Worship, 2000
• Invincible, 2000
• Hey You, I Love Your Soul, 1998
• Skillet, 1996

Essential Songs

• "Awake And Alive"
• "Hero (The Legion Of Doom Remix)"
• "Lucy"

Band Members

John Cooper: Vocals, Bass
Korey Cooper: Keyboard, Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Synthesizer
Jen Ledger: Drums, Vocals
Seth Morrison: Guitar

Originally formed in 1982 in Orange County, California as Roxx Regime by brothers Michael and Robert Sweet, Oz Fox and Tim Gaines, Stryper helped put Christian Hard Rock/Metal on the map.

A nine-year hiatus (1992-2000) found the band members pursuing music apart, but the Yellow and Black came back and are going as strong as ever.

Discography:

• Live at the Whiskey, 2014
• No More Hell to Pay, 2013
• The Covering, 2011
• Murder By Pride, 2009
• The Roxx Regime Demos, 2007
• Reborn, 2005
• 7 Weeks: Live in America 2003, 2004
• Seven: The Best of Stryper, 2003
• Can't Stop The Rock: The Stryper Collection 1984-1991, 1991
• Against The Law, 1990
• In God We Trust, 1988
• To Hell With The Devil, 1986
• Soldiers Under Command, 1985
• The Yellow And Black Attack, 1984

Essential Songs

• "Honestly"
• "Lady"
• "You Know What To Do"

Band Members

Michael Sweet: Vocals, Guitar
Oz Fox: Lead Guitar
Robert Sweet: Drums
Tim Gaines: Bass

Originally formed in 1997 in Toronto, Thousand Foot Krutch started out playing parties, proms and any other places they could be heard. After recording a demo that made the rounds, the band signed with Tooth & Nail in 2003.

Discography

• Oxygen: Inhale, 2014
• The End Is Where We Begin, 2012
• Welcome to the Masquerade: Fan Edition, 2011
• Live at the Masquerade, 2011
• Welcome to the Masquerade, 2009
• The Flame in All of Us, 2007
• The Art of Breaking, 2005
• Set It Off, 2004
• Phenomenon, 2003

Essential Songs

• "Look Away"
• "New Drug"
• "My Own Enemy"

Band Members

Trevor McNevan: Vocals
Steve Augustine: Drums
Joel Bruyere: Bass

The new kids on the Christian hard rock block have a real Cinderella story. Their road manager met some of Skillet's band members and gave them a CD. Once John Cooper heard it, he knew he had a hit band on his hands.

An introduction to Atlantic Records came next and the band was snatched up. After a successful EP release, the band's first full-length album hit stores in June 2013 with guest vocals from John Cooper and Flyleaf's Lacey Sturm.

Discography

• We As Human, June 2013
• We As Human EP, 2011

Essential Songs

• "We Fall Apart"
• "Double Life"
• "Sever"

Band Members

Justin Cordle: Vocals
Adam Osborne: Drums
Jake Jones: Guitar
Justin Forshaw: Guitar
Dave Draggoo: Bass