Some people may think “rock is dead,” but the genre is actually thriving more than ever.
Throughout the decades, rock and roll has taken on a fascinating evolution; while the adrenaline and epicness of icons like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Rolling Stones have been passed onto today’s modern bands, many of those acts are also bringing in exciting technical and creative flair into the rock world. When it comes to rock and roll in 2023, rock is the most diverse and exciting it has ever been.
Without further ado, here are the 10 bands that are keeping rock and roll alive.
Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl‘s post-Nirvana band the Foo Fighters has cemented themselves as one of the greatest acts in rock and roll history. Throughout their career, the Foo Fighters have displayed an incredible array of technical and stylistic flair, making them one of the most dynamic-sounding rock bands working today. Their 11th studio album But Here We Are, the band’s first record since the passing of Taylor Hawkins, comes out this Friday.
Ghost
That’s right folks – love ’em or hate ’em – Ghost has done a lot to keep the theatricality and excitement of rock alive. For close to 20 years, the band has captivated audiences around the world; when it comes to live shows, there are few concerts that achieve the grandiosity and presentation of a Ghost performance. We are excited to see what else the band bring us in the years to come.
Shinedown
Throughout their music, Shinedown displays a stunning array of moods; some of their songs are riveting thrashing bangers, whereas others are gentle and somber. With the release of 2008’s The Sound of Madness, Shinedown catapulted themselves into the world of mainstream rock, and they’ve been going hard ever since.
Boygenius
Frankly, you could include Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker all on this list separately from their supergroup Boygenius. Though the band has only released two albums, the music of Boygenius is nothing short of moving, intimate, and kick ass. Bridgers, Dacus, and Baker have extraordinary chemistry with one another, and each uses their strengths to create musical experiences that are exciting and enchanting.
Health
Do you know who else makes enchanting music, along with incredibly haunting tunes? Health. The electronic-rock act is easily one of the most fascinating bands working today; known for collaborating with a variety of artists, Health is quite prolific in the different blends of rock and electronic music they make. Also, they are amazing to see live.
Black Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides deserves a lot more love, for they are a compelling force of glam rock and metal. Like KISS before them, Black Veil Brides crafts music that is overwhelming with feeling; throughout their pulse-pounding performances, the band delivers an array of emotional experiences, providing an energy that has the power to get audiences jumping, moshing, and dancing. It’s great to see them still going strong today and expanding upon their glam artistry.
Nova Twins
The English rock band known as Nova Twins is one of the most exhilarating bands you’ll hear today. Their brand of rock and roll features an eclectic range of styles and sounds, bringing together elements of punk, rap, and even nu-metal at times. Their 2022 album Supernova is an absolute rush from beginning to end and is truly one of the most unique and adventurous albums in modern rock.
The Mars Volta
When it comes to progressive rock, we have to shout out The Mars Volta. Having reunited in 2019, the band is one of the most sonically and creatively fascinating acts working today. Blending rock, jazz, punk, metal, and other styles of music into their material, there are few bands that provide a sense of awe like The Mars Volta.
Alter Bridge
Another hard rock band that should be on your radar is Alter Bridge. At times combining elements of metal and grunge into their music, Alter Bridge makes some of the most hard-hitting tunes in modern rock. Also worth noting, their song “Metalingus” used to be the entrance song for WWE superstar Edge.
Halestorm
Of course, you had to know Halestorm would be on this list. For over 25 years, Lzzy Hale and company have been offering audiences nothing but pulse-pounding rock and roll. With a riveting energy to their music that is reminiscent of Joan Jett and AC/DC, Halestorm continues to amaze rock audiences young and old to this day.