Top Christian Alt-Rock Spotlight
Photo Credit: Ana Grave
Few things can put the thrill in your blood like a rock band.
The energy, the cohesion, the pedal to the floor and head tossed back in abandon.
On the hunt for a band similar to Switchfoot or like Skillet but having trouble finding them?
Want to expand into new sounds?
If you are looking for your next favorite faith-driven Rock, Alt-Rock, Punk Rock, Heavy Rock, or Indie Rock band, your search is over!
In this article you will find:
Our top Christian Rock bands (we think they’ll be yours too!)
Recommended album to start with for each
Our favorite lines from each songwriter
Example of a heavier and softer songs
How their work impacted us as musicians
Top 8 Christian Rock Bands
We grew up on rock bands. We were the generation of Guitar Hero and Rockband (anecdotally, I began learning guitar because I thought I was really good at the Wii guitar . . . it’s a little different).
U2 and Audio Adrenaline. Zeppelin and DC Talk. Coldplay and All American Rejects.
Well before we expanded over to Folk and Indie-Acoustic, Rock music was our go-to. So we began looking for the groups that were sharing and figuring out their relationship with Jesus via Rock.
We’ve given you the bands that penned the fight songs of faith and angsty anthems that we’ve resonated with. Some we grew up with, others we’ve just met. We’ve prepared for you a batch of hard-hitting groups that’ll go the distance with you.
Not listed in order:
Switchfoot
Colony House
The Classic Crime
Relient K
Gable Price and Friends
Skillet
Here’s the playlist to accompany your perusal of these pearls of Rockdom:
(1) Switchfoot - Border-walkers and Bar-setters
Ask me to show you a band who has been as consistently excellent, culturally relevant, and musically enjoyable and I will show you Switchfoot.
They’ve been at it for 25 years. SoCal surfers at heart, the band (led by Jon Foreman, highlighted in our article here) craft powerful music of connection, longing and hope.
If you are looking for summer rock, these are your dudes. If you are looking for wise lyrics woven into funky lines and rock drums, these are your guys.
Something that I love about Switchfoot is how uniquely angled their songwriting is. Everybody loves love songs, right? Well, with Switchfoot you will not find relationship song after relationship song—they write about capital-L “Love”. Rock-philosophers at heart, you find anthems on equanimity in chaos, redemption in wreckage, and belonging in exile.
Their most recent record, interrobang, is a bold consideration of our current cultural moment.
Do yourself a favor and go to a Switchfoot concert when they pass through a town near you—they will not disappoint.
Recommended Starter Album: Nothing Is Sound // Hello Hurricane
Favorite Lyrics: “Let Your Love Be Strong”, “Where I Belong”, “beloved”
Impact on us as musicians: A shared love for Switchfoot was one of the first commonalities Abby and I shared. They walk the line between cultural circles, sprinkling truth, hope, and wisdom as they go. They have been unafraid to allow each record be what it wants to be. Similarly, we aim to craft songs that are like a light in the dark, drawing many folks into a shared conversation around hope and longing.
Recent, heavier single “youth of the young” bringing the band back to its earlier sound.
My favorite Switchfoot song - “Faust, Midas and Myself” - mysterious, slower vibe and story.
(2) Colony House - Rockscape Adventurers
Buckle up, plug in Colony House, and let ‘er rip.
Colony House are masters of morphing. They manage to stay sonically consistent while have an incredibly diverse palette of songs.
That perfect, driving guitar tone so characteristic of Indie Rock. Sometimes echoey and atmospheric, often thumping and throbbing. This is a group of anthem crafters.
As their name suggests, Colony House’s records are music of those searching for home in the exile of real life. Their songs are for the aching heart holding out for hope. Sometimes they even branch into overtones of Queen (such as in “You and I”).
We came across them a few years ago and have found that they have that rare ability characteristic of truly great bands: they build albums that make you want to listen through from the first to last track.
Interestingly, the core of the band is comprised of Caleb Chapman (vocals) and Will Chapman, the children of acclaimed singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman.
Recommended Starter Album: When I Was Younger
Favorite Lyrics: “Cannot Do This Alone”, “Trying”, “Learning How to Love”
Impact on us as musicians: Colony House came at a key spot in our formation as a band, and reminded us that there are few things that thrill us as much as rock music. They were the musical renaissance of loving rock for us.
Contemplative cool jam “Learning How to Love”, on Audiotree Live.
Experimental record “O Ya” reminiscent of Beastie Boys.
(3) The Classic Crime - Gritty Seattle Rock
As they say on their band site, you’ve discovered “the 173rd greatest Seattle band of all time”.
When I began following Jesus in high school, TCC was a pivotal group for me. I had a lot of junk in my life that Jesus wanted to remove and redeem. Their music is confessional, raw and scrappy. It was exactly what I needed to get through round after round of fighting sin.
These guys don’t hold back much. Their music borders on unfiltered, and sometimes even bends over into a little bit of Screamo and Heavy Metal.
Frontman Matt MacDonald also has a very fun side project with his wife, under the moniker “Vocal Few”. You’ll find Matt’s same vocal energy in the softer clothing of Folk-Pop.
Need a ladder to get out of a hole? The Classic Crime can be that.
Recommended Starter Album: The Silver Cord
Favorite Lyrics: “Just A Man”, “The Happy Nihilist”, “Dead Rose”
Impact on us as musicians: This is one of my favorite heavier bands. TCC emphasized to me how much you can communicate musically via the energy level of a record. I also sometimes struggle to write autobiographically, something Matt MacDonald does incredibly well. He has spurred our writing to be identifiable with other people. After all, the best songs come from stories which we can all resonate with.
Top-down, arms out the window solo drive jam “Salt In The Snow”.
Rockstar testimony “Not Done With You Yet”.
(4) Relient K - Punk Rock Boys to Mature Rockers
Among my friends who grew up in youth group culture, a favorite question of mine is “new Relient K or old Relient K?”
Beginning as the angsty Punk band for Christian teens, Relient K has gone through an impressive metamorphosis. Replete with rock-outs about lost love and hopes for restoration, Relient K has grown well.
My personal favorite album is forget And not Slow Down. This marked a sonic departure for the band—moving from youth music to proper Punk/Alt-Rock. This album is arguably in my top-5 most listened to records. Frontman Matt Thiessen penned the album after a long and dear relationship ended. It is a story of processing, searching, raging, and resting.
In a world where brokenness and departures are too much of the fabric of our experience, I have found this to be an incredible emotional blank canvas to process my own aches.
Matt Thiessen also has an exceptional side project, Matt Thiessen and the Earthquakes. Their album Wind Up Bird is a masterpiece of vibrant, acoustic songcraft from beginning to end!
Recommended Starter Album: Forget And Not Slow Down
Favorite Lyrics: “Runnin”, “This Is The End”/"(If You Want It)”, “Look On Up””, “Local Construction”
Impact on us as musicians: Relient K was the soundtrack of Abby’s middle and high school. Secretly a punk-rocker herself at heart herself, their hype, lyrical enthusiasm, and singability have been strong influential elements on our own songwriting.
“Sahara” - a spicy punk rocker.
Buckle up for 11 minutes of epic - “Deathbed” story song from their fifth studio album. Have tissues nearby.
(5) Gable Price and Friends - New Dudes on the Block
My jaw dropped when I came across these guys. Deft lyricism, stunning soundscapes, and boys-will-be-boys energy levels.
Hailing from Redding, CA the quartet (supported by one-time band-member and producer David Funk) specializes in throwing it down for the Lord.
Their writing is spicy and convicting, their melodies are soaring, and their execution is on point.
Even better—as you would hope, Gable is an incredibly kind guy! As I was learning home recording, I learned that GP&F had done a good bit of vocal recording in his van (not the most bougie setting). I DM’d him on Instagram asking for tips—not only did he respond, but he asked me to send some audio files so he could give pointers! A really nice gent.
And what a stache.
Another fun element is their openness about their production process. You can find lead guitarist Adam Elizarraraz playing through their songs, with a full list of gear, for those interested in learning from his impressive tone-crafting.
These guys are at the very outset of the journey (1 LP and 2 EP’s released), but I am very excited to be along for the ride.
Recommended Starter Album: The Boxes Humans Made (watch it live on YouTube)
Favorite Lyrics: “Heretic”, “Someday (Regrow)”, “Not Safe”
Impact on us as musicians: These guys have been a recent discovery, but landed HIGH on our Spotify Wrapped. Why? Because—similar to other bands mentioned before—these guys have put powerful lyrics in the packaging of big sounds. As a band, we are a duo at heart. However, we believe a lot of our songs demand big production. Seeing gents bring their songs to life in an epic manner has been inspirational.
“Demons” - bumping live version of this throwdown anthem of hope.
“Heretic” - a live, atmospheric slow rock that will gently crack you open. These are diamond lyrics.
If you’ve liked the bands so far above, check out our Alt-Rock jam, “Timeless”!
(6) Skillet - Metal and Meta-Hope
Let’s round out with a shout.
Skillet has been at the heart of Christian Rock since their inception. From heavy hitting Metal moods to radio-ready Rock hooks, Skillet can cover a lot of ground.
The band began with a stronger streak of Screamo (as evident on their early record Collide), but has continued to craft its sound. They pair male and female vocals, violin and distorted guitar.
Lyrically Skillet writes battle records. Excellent workout music and an excellent soundtrack for getting out of a rut.
Recommended Starter Album: Comatose
Favorite Lyrics: “Cycle Down”, “Say Goodbye”
Impact on us as musicians: Skillet puts Power-Pop songs directly adjacent to Metal meltdowns. It is really encouraging to see a band that is so closely associated with a specific genre feeling the freedom to still express themselves in a musically diverse way!
Keep the music rolling
You now have hours of head-banging goodness in front of you. Who will you share your new jams with?
Here’s why we–as artists–write these articles: to give you a chance to sit with these crafters and creators, and enter their conversation!
If you like these bands music, we think you might like our song “Timeless” as well. It’d be an honor to have you join the adventure of Wind and Sail!
Keep leaning into new music — some of these artists are Indie-adjacent, enjoy our Indie Spotlight article!
Join the email list below and you can be “in the know” about releases, reviews, and shows around you! We are crafting music ranging from Indie-Folk to Alt-Rock, so hop on the boat!
Until next time, rock out to great music, and invite people into your headspace!