The War On Drugs - American Indie Rock Band

The War On Drugs is an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed in 2005 by Adam Granduciel (lead vocals, guitar) and Kurt Vile (guitar, vocals). Since its formation, the band's line-up has also included drummer Charlie Hall, keyboardist Robbie Bennett and bassist David Hartley. The War on Drugs have released four studio albums: Wagonwheel Blues (2008), Slave Ambient (2011), Lost in the Dream (2014) and A Deeper Understanding (2017).

Early Years

The War on Drugs started out as an experiment between Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile. After playing in a few other bands together, they decided to form a band of their own. Granduciel had been writing songs and playing guitar since he was a teenager, while Vile had a background in punk rock and garage rock. Together, they created a sound that blended elements of classic rock, folk, blues and psychedelia into something new.

Breakthrough

In 2011, The War on Drugs released their second studio album Slave Ambient. The record saw them take a more ambitious approach to their sound, incorporating more synthesizers and drum machines. The album was released to critical acclaim and gained them a larger audience. This was followed by their third album Lost in the Dream, which was released in 2014 to even greater success. With its blend of classic rock influences and dreamy atmosphere, the album became a cult favorite.

Recent Work

The War on Drugs returned to the studio in 2016 to record their fourth album A Deeper Understanding. The album saw them further refine their sound and take a more psychedelic approach. The result was an expansive and ambitious record that earned them some of their best reviews yet. The album went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2018. They have since released two EP's: Thinking of A Place (2017) and An Ocean In Between the Waves (2018).