Hard rock acts with a Christian message became quite common in the new millennium, as chart-toppers such as Creed and P.O.D. helped pave the way for newer bands such as Chevelle. Comprising three brothers, Sam Loeffler (drums), Pete Loeffler (vocals/…

Although they are very much their own band, Staind are often linked to Limp Bizkit, whose singer Fred Durst was instrumental in aiding the band's career. Early on, Durst suggested that lead singer Aaron Lewis integrate solo acoustic touches into the …

US alt-rock band formed in 2000 by Ben Burnley (vocals/guitar), Aaron Fink (guitar), Mark James Klepaski (bass), and Jeremy Hummel (drums). Fink and Klepaski were both previously members of alt-metal band Lifer, while Fink had attended high school wi…

While heavy metal band Disturbed displays all the expected aggression and angst of its peers, it has achieved a wildly successful, chart-busting popularity, bolstered by a melodic complexity and frontman Dave Draiman's persuasive swagger. Formed in C…

Hard rockheavy metal band Crossfade is based in Columbia SC where its members reside The group came together in the late 90s with the merging of singerguitarist Ed Sloan with bassistbackup singer Mitch James and drummer Brian Geiger as the power trio…

This nu-metal outfit was formed in Peoria, Illinois, USA in 1996 by Gurrg (b. Greg Tribbett; guitar), Spag (b. Matthew McDonough; drums), Kud (b. Chad Gray; vocals), with Ryknow (b. Ryan Martinie; bass) added to the line-up two years later. Always co…

These Vacaville, CA boys first got together in high school, influenced by the likes of Rage Against the Machine and Faith No More, they constructed their own rap-metal hybrid. Papa Roach was no overnight success; they toured relentlessly, building up…

Those who mourn MIA grunge rockers Alice In Chains may find relief in some of AIC's late-'90s musical offspring, especially Godsmack (named after an Alice In Chains song). Leader Sully Erna has a voice that's a dead ringer for that of Layne Staley, a…

The members of Three Days Grace began bashing punk chords when they were in their teens carving a derivative yet energetic sound that fueled their live performances Three Days Grace was formed in Norwood Ontario Canada in 1997 by Adam Gontier vocals …

Originating from Los Gatos, California, USA, this nu-metal outfit was formed by Chris Brown (b. 1981, Los Gatos, California, USA; vocals/guitar) and Peter Charell (b. 1982, California, USA; bass) in 1997, when they began playing hard rock covers in h…

Heavy metal was in danger of losing its hold on the mainstream by the early 1990s, but Korn helped jolt the genre back to life again. Combining rage-purging, rapped/shouted vocals and explosively heavy riffs, these rap-metal pioneers spawned a slew o…

Founded in the late 1990s by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan and guitar tech Billy Howerdel, A Perfect Circle takes the former group's brooding sonic template and lightens the heavy, prog-rock load with more melodic arrangements and varied instrum…

Melodic hard rockers Shinedown hail from Jacksonville Florida and feature vocalist Brent Smith guitarist Jasin Todd bassist Brad Stewart and drummer Barry Kerch Snapped up by Atlantic Records during the early 00s flurry of post-Creed and Nickelback s…

System of a Down may be seen as part and parcel of the nu-metal explosion of the late-'90s, but their style is less akin to the likes of Limp Bizkit and Korn than to vintage thrash from the '80s, spiced with a touch of hardcore punk. The band's sound…

Like Velvet Revolver (but with a more political bent), Audioslave appeared in the mid-2000s as a post-grunge supergroup pounding out stripped-down heavy rock. The band is spearheaded by Chris Cornell, whose wailing vocals formerly graced archetypal '…

Hailed on their appearance in 2000 as the new hope of nu-metal, Michigan, USA's Taproot spent a couple of years as a college band while building a reputation as a powerful live draw. The quartet (vocalist Stephen Richards, guitarist Michael DeWolf, b…

Not since the days of Kiss have any rockers completely hidden their faces as thoroughly from the public as Slipknot has. Formed in 1996, each member of this nine-man Iowa group hides behind a mask … la Insane Clown Posse. Appealing to the Korn/Limp B…

Smile Empty Soul was a heavy alternative trio formed while its three members were still in Santa Clarita CA high schools Led by singerguitarist Sean Danielson the band also included drummer Derek Gledhill and bassist Ryan Martin After honing their so…

This Memphis, Tennessee, USA-based hard rock act was formed in 1996 by Josey Scott (vocals), Chris D'abaldo (guitar), Wayne Swinny (guitar), Dave Novotny (bass), and Paul Crosby (drums). The quintet, all of whom were veterans of the Memphis music sce…

Too mainstream to be labelled nu-metal and too modern-sounding to be allied with grunge, Kansas City, USA-based Puddle Of Mudd share elements of both genres and have gained a measure of success as a result. The original line-up, formed in 1993 around…