Praise Rock
tagStarted 1997Peak 2006-2016Last big hit still active
Located in 2 routes
Upbeat, celebratory worship rock built for energetic congregational singing: driving backbeats, ringing major-key guitars, hand-clap momentum and exuberant, repeatable choruses of adoration. Brighter and punchier than reflective worship ballads, engineered to lift a room into joyful, hands-raised praise with anthemic, fist-pumping payoff sections.
History
Grew from the praise-and-worship movement as labels like Integrity Music and worship-rock bands amplified Sunday singalongs into upbeat rock. Lincoln Brewster, Israel Houghton's New Breed and Passion-aligned worship leaders shaped its celebratory, guitar-forward energy across the 2000s and 2010s, distinguishing high-tempo praise anthems from the quieter, intimate worship-ballad tradition.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today_Is_the_Day_(Lincoln_Brewster_album)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Amazing_Grace
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Build_Your_Kingdom_Here
- https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/ISRAELHOUGHTON.asp