The War on Drugs

The War on Drugs formed in Philadelphia in 2005, led by Adam Granduciel whose layered production approach merges the driving rhythms of heartland rock with the textural depth of shoegaze and Krautrock. Granduciel builds his guitar tone around Fender Telecasters and Jazzmasters run through multiple delay and reverb pedals, creating a shimmering, wide-screen sound that fills space without overwhelming the mix. His approach to effects is additive — subtle layers of modulation, delay, and harmonic feedback stack to produce a wall of sound that feels organic rather than processed. Lost in the Dream and A Deeper Understanding refined this formula into critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning records. The band's live sound requires multiple guitarists and keyboard players to replicate the studio arrangements, with effects pedals doing much of the textural work.