10 Modern Rock Bands
By Martine Ehrenclou
Sometimes you just need to rock. Even during the pandemic when you might be drawn to soothing sounds to take the edge off frazzled nerves, something must be said for the power-punch of rock music’s total escape. There’s nothing like great rock/rock and roll and even the harder side of blues/rock to sweep you into heavy drums, searing vocals and guitar leads.
Especially if you crank it.
And we all need that now during these troubled times. Each of these 10 modern rock bands are hand-picked, the songs hand-picked as well. A few you might know about, some you probably don’t. Every single one of them is unique and highly talented. These are honest choices.
Listen to them loud. In your car, on your home stereo or with headphones and enjoy the quality of the music. This isn’t head-banging music, at least not in my estimation. This is just great rock and roll by talented artists/bands. Each one has their own sound, their own swagger and shake. Some might be a little blues-infused, others not so much.
This is real music with real musicians, not artists who create sounds on their computers and run their vocals through programs that make them sound like they’re not. A dose of realness is necessary now.
If you find some you love, please buy their music—download or purchase a CD. In these tragic times for musicians who aren’t touring because of COVID-19, they deserve more than a fraction of a cent from a streaming service.
Enjoy. Place your comments below in the comment section. If you know of other great rock bands, place your comment below.
For the article ’12 Modern Rock bands You Need To Know About in 2021′ see here.
South of Eden
“The Talk” is the title track from South of Eden’s new EP, The Talk out August 21, 2020. The quote on the band’s website says it all, “We’re a band that writes, records, and plays like the pioneers of rock before us. We aren’t looking to bring anything back, but instead, to remind people what rock n’ roll means. No rules. This music represents what we believe is real, raw music. No click tracks and triggers or copy and paste bullshit. Just a bunch of hippies in the room.”
Formerly named Black Coffee, South of Eden members grew up in Columbus, OH, originally from the country of Jordan. The band includes Ehab Omran (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Justin Young (lead guitar, vocals), Tom McCullough (drums) and Nick Frantianne (bass.)
Website
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The Black Moods
Based in Arizona, the band delivers a modern interpretation of rock and roll, a timeless sound of electric guitars, anthemic hooks and percussive stomp. They play raw, amplified rock and roll. The band’s sophomore record Sunshine, dropped May 8th, 2020 on the Steelhorse Entertainment/The Fuel imprint. The group is a mighty power trio made up of frontman/guitarist Josh Kennedy, drummer Chico Diaz and bassist Jordan Hoffman.
The Black Moods began building their audience the old-school way–by hitting the road, touring heavily, promoting albums like their 2012 self-titled debut and 2016’s Medicine with gigs across the country. By the time their song “Bella Donna” hit the radio airwaves in the summer of 2018, the song became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. They recorded their new album Sunshine with Grammy Award-winning producer Johnny “K” Karkazis, out May 8th, 2020.
Website
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Blacktop Mojo
From Palestine, Texas, modern rock band Blacktop Mojo is a blend of grunge, classic rock and Texas metal and was formed in 2012 by vocalist Matt James and drummer Nathan Gillis. Blacktop Mojo’s fiery blend of heavy grunge grooves, classic rock guitar riffs, and Southern Metal shredding, falls somewhere between Soundgarden and Lynyrd Skynyrd. After their debut album “I Am” in 2014 and a few years cutting their teeth in dive bars, dancehalls, and honky tonks, the band decided to go all in. In 2017 they teamed up with famed Muscle Shoals Sound producer Jimmy Johnson (The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Seger) for their sophomore outing entitled, “Burn The Ships” at Sound Emporium in Nashville. During the recording, the guys took the leap and quit their day jobs, moving into a small house together in Palestine, Texas where they all still live today. The house created an unbreakable fellowship between the band and a culture of constant creativity. Their latest effort Static, was released May 2020.
Band Members are Matt James on vocals, Nathan Gillis on drums, Ryan Kiefer on lead guitar, Matt Curtis on bass, Chuck Wepfer on guitar.
Website
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Black Stone Cherry
The Edmonton, Kentucky-based rock n’ roll quartet Black Stone Cherry was raised on musical forefathers such as Cream, Led Zeppelin, Muddy Waters, and the Faces, among other 1970s staples, and, now, with its 7th upcoming album The Human Condition out October 30, 2020, where the grooves feel organic, the riffs are mountainous, the performances are urgent and the hooks shine. Sonically, The Human Condition is one of BSC’s most visceral and hooky releases. Guitarist/vocalist Ben Wells explains, “With this one, we cranked up the amps, the drums are in your face, and there are some really heavy riffs. After 19 years and 7 albums, we wanted to prove that we still kick ass. This album feels like a rebirth.”
For 17 years, Black Stone Cherry has put forth a new vicious breed of rock n’ roll, injecting youthful vitality and a myriad of fresh new influences into the beloved American rock tradition. Black Stone Cherry has also rocked 12,000-cap arena shows, topped the UK charts, and shared the stage with a diverse roster of superstars, including Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Mötorhead, and ZZ Top. Band members are Chris Robertson on vocals/guitar, Ben Wells guitar/vocals, Jon Lawhon bass/vocals, John Fred Young on drums.
Website
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Black Pistol Fire
The Canadian-bred, Austin-based rock duo—Kevin McKeowan (guitar/lead vocals) and Eric Owen (drums/bass synth)–is equally revered across the world for incendiary live shows at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Voodoo Music & Arts Festival, Sasquatch, Riot Fest, Governor’s Ball and Austin City Limits, which NPR tagged “onstage, the pair rip it up, playing a blend of gutbucket blues-rock and punk.” While renowned Seattle station KEXP added, “Black Pistol Fire’s sweaty Southern garage rock is capable of incorporating both bluesy tracks and jam-band jangles, and they vacillate well between wild guitar solos and drastic shifts in time-signatures.”
Black Pistol Fire will return Early 2021 with their sixth studio album on Black Hill Records. The group has finished the new album with co-producerand engineer Jacob Sciba (Gary Clark Jr, Gov’t Mule, Warren Haynes) The album brings a mix of their untamed signature sound–melding classic southern rock and garage punk—and follows in the footsteps of the group’s last album Deadbeat Graffiti described by the Austin Chronicle as “Torrential fuzz and hot-lightning riffs.”
Website
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Stone Horses
With a modern rock groove, Stone Horses is the consummate outsider rock band from the mid-Atlantic region of the US. Never quite fitting into “heavy rock”, alternative or blues genres they draw from to create their music, their self-titled EP, their sophomore effort, is a perfect blend of dark melodies, big choruses and witty lyrics. The band consists of singer John Allen, drummer Jason Heiser, Ted Merrill on gitar, Rick Reynolds on bass. They have toured with Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Greta Van Fleet, Rival Sons and more. Their new EP Good Ol’ Days was released July 31, 2020 via Broken World Records.
Website
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Shadow & The Thrill
Shadow & The Thrill is a modern blues infused, groove laden melodic rock band from Los Angeles, CA. Their debut album, Sugarbowl was released August 14, 2020 via Deko Entertainment. The two musicians behind the band are Grammy nominated Tony Cardenas-Montana (Great White) and Brent James Arcement a sought-after touring and session drummer, producer. Tony on vocals, guitar and bass and Matt on drums, B3, keys and percussion, this is a melodic band with top-tier musicianship.
Website
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Dirty Honey
Guitarist John Notto likes to call the sound of his band, Dirty Honey, “New Fashioned Rock ‘n’ Roll.” You’d be hard-pressed to find a better description. The Los Angeles quartet is indeed a rock ‘n’ roll band, straight up and with no apologies or explanations and a fan base that includes Guns N’ Roses, Slash & the Conspirators, and The Who, all of whom have tapped Dirty Honey to open for them. The five songs on the group’s self-titled debut EP are filled with everything that’s real rock fans love — meaty melodies, explosive dynamics, tight, gritty rock vocals and heavy guitar riffs. The band consists of singer Marc Labelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and drummer Corey Coverstone.
The band tracked with producer Nick Didia (Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine) at the helm. Dirty Honey is a huge blast of hard rock of the Led Zeppelin/Aerosmith/AC/DC variety with loud guitars and big drums. One quick spin and you’ll understand why Dirty Honey has been spotted opening for rock legends like The Who and Guns N’ Roses.
Website
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Bad Touch
Formed in 2010, modern rock and roll outfit Bad Touch is known for their no-nonsense rock and roll and feel-good rock music. From the UK, the band has extensively toured the UK and Europe and played major festivals. Their latest and fourth studio album “Kiss The Sky”, out March 13, 2020 is a no-nonsense rock and roll album with one helluva lead singer, Stevie Westwood, at the helm. For this album, Bad Touch have stripped everything back and looked at what the essence of what makes a great album at the core–great songs. They’ve stuck to what they do best, which is writing catchy, good rock music.
The band is Stevie Westwood (vocals) Rob Glendinning (guitar) Daniel Seekings (guitar) Michael bailey (bass) and George Drewry (drums.)
Website
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Sons of Silver
From Los Angeles, CA Sons of Silver is a rock n’ roll bad that quietly attracted an impassioned fan base worldwide, with extensive touring in North America and Europe under their previous name, Pete RG. The group’s collaborative songwriting style, signature sound and collective years of experience, makes Sons of Silver such a standout phenom in the alt rock scene. In addition to vocalist Peter Argyropoulos, original Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen (who was recently inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame) and Candlebox bassist Adam Kury, provide the backbeat while former Skillet guitarist Kevin Haaland and keyboardist and esteemed engineer Brina Kabler round out the band’s signature sound.Their EP Doomsday Noises is out now.
Website
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In/Vertigo
Hard rock band In/Vertigo hails from Calgary, Canada and released their EP Sex, Love and Chaos July, 2020 via Rockshot Records. Formed in 2016, the quartet consists of Reed Alton on vocals, Shaddy Elsaghir on guitar, Duncan McCartney on bass, and Keaton Byfield on drums. A quintessential rock n’ roll act, the band aim their EP at the “music world who unapologetically thirsts for classic/hard rock.”
Website
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Sons of Texas should be included on this list as well. Amazing live band from McAllen, TX. Check them out!!
Wow…. YOU ARE SO RIGHT! Sons ROCKS!
There’s a young band I dig that’s worth looking into. They’re called Starcrawler.
Yes! Starcrawler is one of the best I’ve heard lately!
– Blood Ceremony (flute-tinged witch rock)
– Jess and the Ancient Ones (psychedelic rock)
– Lucifer (doom rock)
– Thundermother (classic hard rock)
– Twin Temple (rock ‘n’ roll)
This post is so desperately in need of bands with women in them—you really need to add Blood Ceremony, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Lucifer, Thundermother, and Twin Temple to it, at least. Not to mention that those five bands happen to be the best rock bands of all time.
Autumn,
You are so right. Thank you for the list.
How about some love for Maria Brinks & Taylor☝️
Amazing list! I’ve been craving some fresh mainstream Rock Music, and this list has given me some cool new bands to go listen to. I love how all of these artists are a perfect blend of classic and modern rock, and each one of them has such a unique voice. Thanks a ton for this list! :)
Check out Darlia and the pale white they make really good music on the side of rock that’s not covered in this article and the blue stones and Himalayas For more rock. And the pretty viscous are a good band too
Luna Cruise rocks too. Well, their first at least. Second doesn’t work well for me but it’s personal taste. Kinda Doorsy. Lemon Twigs are classic but maybe a bit too much. Think Simon and Garfunkel kinda hard. Will Wood is the most epic current musician imo, with and without The Tapeworms in the name. But he ain’t rock. I don’t know what he is. But he is. The best discription so far might be chaotic neutotic essence of life that skeletons can dance to. Both dead and alive. He rocks and is possibly the most original muscician I have ever heard
Another band that should make the list – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CemBfTR2ig&list=RDMM2CemBfTR2ig&start_radio=1
Time Jugglers – Mind License.
They rock!
I’ve looked at several top rock band lists and consistently see the absence of Starcrawler, I can’t understand why unless it’s the fact they started 2-3 years ago, they have great music and a high tempo Ozzy-ish stage show, quickly moving up my list of favorite bands
40 open is a pretty sick up coming band
Another band with a female lead singer is When Rivers Meet a blues rock band, well worth checking out
Martin,
Agree about When Rivers Meet. Check out our website. We’ve featured them several times.
Ain’t it sad that we must all search the dark web just to find something worth listening to! Any body listening to WOLFMOTHER!
Luke,
Yes we have been. This is an older article you are responding to. There’s another way of looking at searching the web for music. We are lucky that we have so much great music at our disposal and so easily can find it via the Internet. 25 years ago, this was not possible. Thanks for your comment.
Highly Suspect is deserving on this list
Bro Greta van fleet deserves to be on this list too
This is a list of mediocre performers and GVF is beyond that. No need to squeeze them to that hit the strings and shout whatever only line up. By the way, The Warning appears to be the other rock band worth listening to in terms of quality and progression compared to the seventies.
Check out spiders, a swedish rock band
Cleopatrick and Reignwolf are amazing!
Greats Van Fleet should be added to this list as well
Great list. As a mid-50’s rocker I’ve been lamenting the lack of quality tunes on “Rock” radio. I’ve heard a little Black Pistol Fire but likely because of Can Con regulations on Canadian radio. You just renewed faith that Rock isn’t dead. Thank you.
Cam,
Glad you enjoyed. So glad. Rock definitely isn’t dead. Thanks for commenting.
So very glad to see Blacktop Mojo on the list. I dig the shit our of those guys have been for a couple years now. Seen them live at local bar here in Oh, they totally kicked ass. Highly recommend seeing them if you havent yet. Have a great day all.
another band is Ice Nine Kills, they are REALLY good, yet completely overlooked, check them out on yt or spotify
Crown Lands are awesome my current favourite. Amazing musicians.
Howlin May Queen is the top new British Classic Rock band , so far, and Simon Hurts is a pure genius as a musician ,composer and producer to me .
Don’t forget the Stone Temple Barristas, Black Kidney Stones, Everybody Must Get Stones, The Gem Stones, Stonington Warriors, Stone This!, The Cliffs of Cliffy…
There are tons of Rock n Roll players out their in the world their just surpressed because the name, Rock N Roll means your parents or Grandparents kind of music to today’s youth. But under ground bands like Sadistic Injections or DragonWyck or Myth not Man, have seriously good easy to find jams mostly free to download and play.
Hi, I’ve recently ran across these cats from Tampa FL with a really unique sound.
They are called BLACK SKY REBELS.
this is a link to one rippin song called
‘The Big show’ rock on…
https://soundcloud.com/user-648527856/one-big-show-feat-john-seda-on-guitars-produced-mix-and-mastered-by-jonn-seda?si=ebe163127f8e40dd9a6037835458864a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Hello, great bands here… check out this new band from St. Louis, MO USA “Crystal Lady” especially their newer stuff from 2020, 2021, 2022…. Real Rock/Grunge, some of it is hard too… great musicians.
https://CrystalLadyBand.com/