The War on Drugs are an American rock band formed in Philadelphia in 2005 around singer-guitarist Adam Granduciel, blending heartland rock with ambient and shoegaze haze. Lost in the Dream (2014) is the near-universal entry point, and A Deeper Understanding (2017) took home the Grammy for Best Rock Album. Explore The War on Drugs vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The War on Drugs formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2005, founded by Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile, who left early to focus on his solo career. Granduciel has since led the band as its principal songwriter, vocalist, and sonic architect. The band built its reputation gradually before achieving widespread acclaim in the 2010s, becoming one of the most respected American rock acts of the decade.
The War on Drugs blend heartland rock, indie rock, and ambient and shoegaze textures into a lush, expansive sound often compared to classic-rock touchstones filtered through modern production. Granduciel's layered guitars, hazy atmospheres, and yearning vocals define the band's immersive, road-worn aesthetic, exemplified by the acclaimed Lost in the Dream.
The band's albums have appeared in numerous colored-vinyl variants and special editions, with Lost in the Dream and A Deeper Understanding popular collector titles. Secretly Canadian and Atlantic pressings circulate widely among indie rock collectors.
Listeners new to The War on Drugs almost always start with Lost in the Dream (2014). For related listening, see and .
