The War on Drugs

The War on Drugs are an American rock band formed in Philadelphia in the mid-2000s, built around the songwriting and production of Adam Granduciel. Their sound blends heartland and indie rock with the atmospheric layering of krautrock and ambient music, pairing driving rhythms with synthesizers, pedal steel, and washes of guitar that recall Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty filtered through a hazy, textured production style.

The band's early years included a brief overlap with Kurt Vile, who left to pursue his solo career, after which Granduciel steadily shaped the group's identity across albums such as «Slave Ambient», «Lost in the Dream», «A Deeper Understanding», and «I Don't Live Here Anymore». «Lost in the Dream» in particular brought wide critical acclaim for its combination of personal songwriting and expansive, meticulously produced arrangements.

Songs like «Red Eyes», «Under the Pressure», and «Thinking of a Place» showcase the band's signature approach: long, immersive builds, warm analog textures, and a sense of open-road nostalgia. Over time the group has become one of the defining acts of the 2010s American indie-rock revival of classic rock traditions, earning a Grammy Award along the way and touring extensively as both a headliner and a festival act.