Interpol

Paul Banks / Carlos Dengler–era gloom rock; Obstacle 1 is the debut-era single.

Formed 1997. Bright Lights and Antics (2004) defined a look and mix: black suits, delayed dual guitars, high-register bass, dry vocal. Obstacle 1 (2002) is the structural sample—tight verse, open chorus, Dengler’s melodic bass. They sit with The Strokes/Yeah Yeah Yeahs on the NYC revival map but aim colder and more mid-tempo than garage peers.