We’ve explored so many music genres already—pop took the stage, alternative had its moment to shine, electronic made a brief appearance, but now it’s time to make way for the big boss. Most of you probably know some hard rock/classic rock bands. No, they’re not the screaming folks you hear in the metal genre, but more like the crazy guitar riffs and low, growling vocals of AC/DC, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. The hard rock artists listed here are not as well-known, but, like many other bands, they have a broad fan-base of dedicated listeners. So let’s get to it.

Taylor Momsen, the actress from Gossip Girl and the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, brought together the band, The Pretty Reckless, in 2009. Their album Light Me Up debuted in 2010, featuring the tracks “My Medicine” and “Make Me Wanna Die,” which topped the UK charts upon release and was definitely the most notable song on their album. Their tour supporting the album, the Light Me Up Tour, began in 2010 and concluded in March 2012. Four days after their first tour ended, they went off on their second, the Medicine Tour, where they opened for Marilyn Mansen and Evanescence. The Pretty Reckless have been described as many things — alternative rock, hard rock, and indie rock — but their crazed riffs and epic drum beats combined with Momsen’s low, smooth voice all add up to one thing; good music. Not all of their songs are especially clean — listeners must forewarned before playing any of their music. Also, be prepared for some references to Hell as well as Satan. If you are into musical explorations of the underworld, though, or just want a good song to rock out too, try these songs out: “Zombie,” “Heaven Knows,” and “Miss Nothing.”

Breaking Benjamin, formed and currently fronted by Benjamin Burnley, this band started out in 1998. They were originally called Plan 9 before Burnley reclaimed their previous and current name (from earlier in 1998) by ending a show saying, “Thank you, we’re Breaking Benjamin,” while opening for Lifer. They released their first full-length album, Saturate, in 2002 after a self-titled EP that was a hit among listeners. They released a few follow-up albums, including We Are Not Alone in 2004, Phobia in 2006, and Dear Agony in 2009. In 2010, Breaking Benjamin called an indefinite hiatus, since Burnley was continuously getting ill. In 2011, two of the band members were fired, and following this there was a legal dispute about a new version of a song that had been released. There was not much from Breaking Benjamin in 2012, except for word that the band was still together. (The same band member who gave this information left the band a few months later due to creative differences.) Breaking Benjamin is very hard rock, maybe even borderline metal in some songs. If you like Skillet, Hollywood Undead, or Papa Roach, try listening to these songs: “I Will Not Bow,” “Diary of Jane,” and “So Cold.”

The third band on the list is probably more known than the other two groups, with around three hundred thousand followers on Spotify. Formed in 1995 by Amy Lee and Ben Moody, Evanescence is definitely classified as hard rock. They released their first full length album in 2003 (Fallen) with tracks such as “Bring Me to Life,” “Going Under,” and “My Immortal.” After Fallen, they released several more albums, including Anywhere but Home in 2004 , The Open Door in 2006, and a self-titled album in 2011. They called a hiatus in 2012 and have remained inactive since. This band really does border a rather emo/gothic style; in any case, it’s worth it to listen to them for Amy Lee’s amazing vocal talents. They are good in small doses (especially for those of you who don’t listen to hard rock often and like a taste every once in a while) because it is very easy to get overwhelmed by their loud electric guitar and strong drumbeats. If you like Flyleaf, Thirty Seconds to Mars, or Good Charlotte, listen to these songs: “Bring Me to Life,” “Going Under,” and “Lithium.”

The final band on our list, Papa Roach, was formed in 1993. By far the most hard rock band examined in this article, check them out only if you’re in the mood for a really hardcore rock-meets-metal-meets-punk song. They released their first album, Infest, in 2000, featuring the song “Last Resort.” After their first album, they released many more (including Lovehatetragedy, The Paramour Sessions, and The Connection).  Their most recent album was The Connection in 2012, and by this point they had strayed from their earlier punk and rap influences to extremely hard rock, leaning into metal. If you want a song that’s very dramatic and fast paced to pump you up and get you motivated, try these songs: “Last Resort,” “Where Did the Angels Go,” and “Forever.”