100 Best Modern Rock Bands

Author:
Ansel Pereira
Updated date:
Sep 3, 2021 5:02 PM EDT

Although a number of formats have emerged in the realms of rock music, one of the most popular rock formats to gain widespread success is modern rock. While the many shades of modern rock manifest primarily in the alternative genre, over the years diverse influences have shaped the sound in a contrasting manner.

The list below showcases an epic collection of modern rock bands from different decades. If you are a fan of this music format, you will have a lot to say. Feel free with your views, opinions, and band suggestions in the comments section.

Top 10 Best Modern Rock Bands

Linkin Park
Foo Fighters
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Nirvana
Arctic Monkeys
System of a Down
Radiohead
Green Day
Shinedown
Incubus

What Is Modern Rock?

Modern rock—which is also known as alternative radio in music circles—is a rock format that showcases a wide range of musical styles in alternative genres. The popularity of alternative music played at college radio stations and commercial radio stations propelled this music format in mainstream. Often the term “modern rock” is used generically to differentiate specific music styles from classic rock.

While classic modern rock tradition showcased rock acts from a wide genre of influences, the current format is a diverse confluence of alternative music, grunge, punk rock, and indie rock. The characteristic modern rock style is a riff-based, guitar-driven sound with heavy and melodic interplay of drums, bass, and keyboards. A number of bands and artists associated with modern rock have had considerable chart-topping success in mainstream. Soft melodic passages interspersed with a sophisticated heavy rhythm section augment the signature identity of bands associated with this tradition.

#11—20

11. My Chemical Romance

12. Imagine Dragons

13. Avenged Sevenfold

14. Soundgarden

15. 3 Doors Down

16. Lamb of God

17. Papa Roach

18. Three Days Grace

19. Dirty Honey

20. Queens of the Stone Age

How New Modern Rock Formats Gained Mainstream Popularity

A number of new rock formats that have had mainstream success owe it to radio airplay. Radio stations such as KROQ-F, XETRA-FM, WLIR, KQAK, and WFNX, played a pivotal role in propelling modern rock formats towards mainstream success in the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s. A number of these radio stations promoted rock music in a big way. A great number of alternative acts of the ‘90s, and alternative metal bands of the 2000s gained prominence with repeated airplay on radio stations.

In the year 1988 Billboard magazine introduced the Modern Rock Tracks a music chart that ranked the most played rock songs on college radio stations and commercial radio stations. Over the years this format has transitioned to Alternative Airplay. Because of segmented radio airplay and online streaming, a number of non-mainstream acts have been able to achieve considerable success in multiple rock formats. While modern rock radio stations may not have received due credit for popularizing new rock formats, the fact remains that these radio stations single-handedly changed the blueprint in the alternative music industry.

#21—40

21. The 1975

22. Pearl Jam

23. The White Stripes

24. Snow Patrol

25. Muse

26. Arcade Fire

27. The Killers

28. Slipknot

29. Twenty One Pilots

30. Of Monsters and Men

31. Panic! at the Disco

32. Nine Inch Nails

33. Black Stone Cherry

34. Evanesence

35. Green Day

36. Thirty Seconds to Mars

37. Yungblud

38. Korn

39. The Black Keys

40. Matchbox 20

How Local Radio Stations Helped Unsigned Rock Bands Find a Foothold

The multiple music formats played at radio stations was a major boost for alternative music. A number of unsigned musical rock acts gained a cult following with airplay on college radio stations. Among the many alternative bands of the ‘90s and 2000s, only a small number of modern rock bands were actually able to strike recording deals with major record labels. A large number of bands promoted their music independently at local concerts and gigs.

Although certain bands found success promoting their songs on music streaming services, a great number of emerging alternative rock acts, local bands, and unsigned bands, found their foothold in the music industry due to the help of small commercial radio stations and college radio stations. Alongside commercial singles of established bands, these radio stations started playing multiple format songs of unsigned bands and upcoming bands in the neighborhood. A number of unsigned rock bands earned a reputation in the music industry with their songs achieving success on radio stations.

#41—60

41. The Strokes

42. Disturbed

43. Limp Bizkit

44. The Neighbourhood

45. Greta Van Fleet

46. Cage the Elephant

47. Pop Evil

48. Weezer

49. Fall Out Boy

50. R.E.M.

51. Creed

52. Third Eye Blind

53. Stone Temple Pilots

54. Kings of Leon

55. Pixies

56. All That Remains

57. Stained

58. Coldplay

59. The Offspring

60. Buckcherry

Modern Rock in Different Decades

Although the classic modern rock format in the ‘80s comprised of a number of new wave acts, the ‘90s witnessed alternative and grunge emerge big in mainstream. With alternative airplay reaching its pinnacle in the 2000s, a number of post-grunge, nu metal, rap-rock and alternative metal bands became the signature identity in modern rock formats. Aside from alternative bands, a number of pop punk bands, post punk bands, and indie rock bands started being associated with the active rock formats in the 2010s.

The indie-driven sound has become the present-day flavor in a number of new radio formats around the world. Some of the new rock bands are known for their hard-edged melodic breakdowns and dynamic tempo shifts. With every decade new formats in rock music have emerged through diversified airplay on radio stations. The format of modern rock charts has evolved significantly, thanks to radio airplay and video streaming services across the world. Although new formats in rock music showcase a highly diversified sound from mainstream and non-mainstream genres, the true essence of these formats is embroiled in the heart of classic alternative.

#61—80

61. Skillet

62. Rise Against

63. Audioslave

64. Puddle of Mudd

65. Barenaked Ladies

66. Godsmack

67. Killswitch Engage

68. Goo Goo Dolls

69. A Perfect Circle

70. Portugal. The Man

71. Royal Blood

72. Nickelback

73. Bastille

74. Saliva

75. Lifehouse

76. Silversun Pickups

77. Awolnation

78. Fuel

79. AFI

80. Rammstein

#81—100

81. Highly Suspect

82. The Pretty Reckless

83. Jane’s Addiction

84. Young the Giant

85. Bring Me the Horizon

86. P.O.D.

87. Hoobastank

88. Death Cab for Cutie

89. Five Finger Death Punch

90. Rage Against the Machine

91. Paramore

92. Chevelle

93. Finger Eleven

94. Theory of a Deadman

95. Oasis

96. Seether

97. Stone Sour

98. Deftones

99. Nightwish

100. In This Moment

Other Notable Modern Rock Bands

New Found Glory
Japandroids
Volbeat
Breaking Benjamin
Atlas Genius
Story of the Year
Foals
Rival Sons
The Revivalists
Vampire Weekend
Daughtry
311
Fun
Sonic Youth
Grouplove
Eve 6
Live
X Ambassadors
Silverchair
All Time Low
Neon Trees
Primitive Radio Gods
Nothing but Thieves
12 Stones
Tool
Chumbawamba
Sum 41
Alabama Shakes
Lit
Wolfmother
Bush
The Cranberries
Jet
Black Pistol Fire
Anberlin
Coal Chamber
Semisonic
Blacktop Mojo
Jimmy Eat World
Phantom Planet
10 Years
Sugar Ray
Crazy Town
The Smashing Pumpkins
Dishwalla
Velvet Revolver
Asking Alexandria
Rancid
Thrice
Flyleaf

Alter Bridge
The Wrecks
Sevendust
Collective Soul
Kaiser Chiefs
Hinder
Disciple
Train
Mudvayne
The All-American Rejects
Simple Plan
Fever 333
Good Charlotte
The Fray
Suede
Our Lady Peace
Marcy Playground
Red
Walk the Moon
American Head Charge
Yellowcard
The Raconteurs
Bullet for My Valentine
Vertical Horizon
Keane
The Ataris
Hawthorne Heights
Local H
Filter
TV on the Radio
Kaleo
White Zombie
Sleater-Kinney
Tonic
Parquet Courts
The Dandy Warhols
Everclear
The Struts
Bloc Party
The Fratellis
Dirty Heads
Cane Hill
Blue October
Ill Nino
Hed PE
A Day to Remember
The Calling
Placebo
Smash Mouth
Franz Ferdinand

The Stone Roses
Mushroomhead
Supergrass
Otep
Type O Negative
Remy Zero
The Distillers
Alice in Chains
Primer 55
Bones UK
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
No Doubt
Letters to Cleo
Static-X
Lostprophets
The Crash Kings
Better Than Ezra
Public Image Limited
Stitched Up Heart
Eagles of Death Metal
The Used
Alien Ant Farm
Beck
Saving Abel
Deerhunter
Alkaline Trio
Nine Days
Cracker
Spirit Box
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Breeders
Halestorm
My Bloody Valentine
Stereophonics
One Minute Silence
Unwritten Law
The Kooks
Falw
Nada Surf
Switchfoot
Cleopatrick
Wilco
Ministry
The Union Underground
Counting Crows
Superchunk
White Reaper
Alt-J
Taking Back Sunday
Seven Mary Three

The Cure
Crossfade
Interpol
Superchick
Life of Agony
The National
Default
The New Pornographers
Starset
Adema
They Might Be Giants
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Nonpoint
Thousand Foot Krutch
Mumford & Sons
Tame Impala
Drowning Pool
Snot
The War on Drugs
Blur
Kittie
Jars of Clay
Cake
The Donnas
Fear Factory
Against Me!
Taproot
Helmet
The Libertines
Kongos
Candlebox
Smile Empty Soul
Trapt
Demon Hunter
Hole
Primus
The F-Ups
Band-Maid
Soul Asylum
Inhaler
Flaw
New Years Day
Kutless
Powerman 5000
Florence and the Machine
The Shins
Spineshank
O.A.R.
The Strumbellas
Gin Blossoms