Bach. Anything after that's pretty cheesy...

I'm a former Christian, if that counts.

DC Talk - the album Jesus Freak is peak Christian Rock, but the earlier, hokey rap stuff was fun, too.

Five Iron Frenzy - ska band that I absolutely adored as a teen. Saw them live at a reunion tour a few years ago (as an atheist) and had a great time.

Audio Adrenaline - more Christian Rock, just a good all around band.

Relient K - really fun and melodic punk/alternative. Went more rock than punk over time, but always solid quality. They made one of the better Christmas albums on offer, too.

And just for fun, try singing Amazing Grace to the tune of Gilligan's Island!

Five Iron Frenzy. Christian ska band.

It's not technically a Christian band but Creed has a couple banger songs that are very clearly about God/religion.

If a song slaps a song slaps. I don't care if it slaps while it talkes about something I don't personally believe in. I still listen to all kinds of hardcore rap and I have never done any drugs harder than shrooms or shot anybody.

Is Skillet a Christian band? They've got a couple songs I like.

Monster, Hero...

Sister Christian by Night Ranger. 😉

"Spirit In The Sky" -by Norman Greenbaum (himself Jewish)

I used to get down with some Collective Soul.

I always respected that they refused to identify as a Christian rock band. From what I recall their response was something like "We're a rock band, that happens to be Christian."

Did someone say 80s?

Kyrie, Mister Mister

https://youtu.be/9NDjt4FzFWY

August burns red
The devil wears prada
Underoath
Silent planet
Texas in july
Wolves at the gate
Memphis may fire (some lyrics are cringey though)

P.O.D. - Satellite and earlier albums.

Seeking the Wise still makes it onto my rock playlists.

Black gospel music has often been the only Christian-oriented music that really did it for me. A lot of blues, soul, etc was created by folks who got their start in black gospel music, and used what they learned there in secular genres. Hugely influential in so many different types of music.

MXPX started out as a Christian punk band, but the members grew out of the religion and kept making music. —Punk Rawk Show, I’m Ok/You’re Ok, Chick Magnet, Move to Bremerton. All bangers.

Different vibe, but Pedro the Lion, same deal- started out Christian, then rethought his world view. Slowcore/90s emo. — Of Up and Coming Monarchs, Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives, Big Trucks, Rapture, Backwoods Nation.

If you're into heavier stuff, Christian metal is generally really fucking good.

As is the theme of the thread, a lot of these bands don't consider themselves "Christian bands", but hey.

August Burns Red - pretty popular, their music has a wide variety of influences in terms of sound but every album but their very first is very solid and consistent imo. Their drums and breakdowns kick ass; listen to "Defender" and "Bloodletter".

Devil Wears Prada - also relatively popular, their style changed a little bit in the more recent years but there are songs on almost every album of theirs that I enjoy. "Sassafras" is a good older song, "Salt" is a good new one.

Silent Planet - probably the most thought out and intentional lyrics you'll find in metal. A majority of their songs include footnotes to every line, indicating what historical event, biblical passage, or other artist's work they're referencing. "Panic Room" and "Northern Fires" are great examples of their sound and message.

Pedro the Lion (like Priests And Paramedics and A Simple Plan), the Sixpence None The Richer album This Beautiful Mess particularly Love, Salvation, the Fear of Death, some of Rich Mullins like much of A Liturgy, a Legacy, & a Ragamuffin Band.

Starflyer 59!!

Gregorian chant can be very relaxing in the right moment.

I'm less of a former Christian and more of a thinks-outside-the-box Christian, but I think Mat Kearney is pretty solid regardless of what you believe. Sufjan Stevens is awesome too, but a bit of an aquired taste.

I'm somewhere between an Atheist and a pagan. Gregorian chanting is always cool and "Dies irae" is rad.

YouTube

Amazing Grace is always a good one. The story behind it helps with the impact, IMO; it was written by a former slave trader who had an epiphany and realized just how irredeemably evil he was, and was doing his best to turn it around.

I'm also a big enjoyer of Simple Gifts. It's a Shaker song and I find it very soothing.

Learned about the band Jars of Clay when they were on MTV as a kid and thought they were pretty neat. Bought a couple albums ad a student. Still listen to them sometimes

I like Flood (more rock), Sad Clown (more chill), and Boy on a String (in between)

Slayer, Demon Hunter, Celldweller.

Carol of the Bells

Miserere mei, Deus is one of the most beautiful vocal pieces I've ever heard. That descant soprano part is insane.

Not christian music per se, but I love Andre Antunes' metal renditions of evangelical preacher speeches. For example:

The Jericho Walls

I Demand with Kenneth Copeland

Unda di Blood

Bonus: Alex Jones and Rage Against The Vaccine

Doom 2016

Jesus is My Friend by Sonseed is such a banger!

https://youtu.be/7-NOZU2iPA8

Skillet has made some cool stuff, Future of Forestry has made some good Christmas music, and I guess Owl City counts as a Christian band now

Extol's "Burial" is one of the greatest metal albums of all time, IMO

Antestor is another killer Christian metal band.

Honestly some straight up hymns are amazing. The Icelandic Hear Me Smith of Heaven and Russian Do Not Reject Me In My Old Age are my favourites