Formed in 2002 by former members of Don Caballero and Helmet, Battles carved out a unique sound that incorporated glam rock, prog, minimal techno, and IDM, all of it driven by the powerhouse drumming of John Stanier. After releasing a pair of instrumental EPs, the group hooked up with vocalist/composer Tyondai Braxton, and broke through with the eclectic 2007 album Mirrored. Three years later, Braxton would leave the group, forcing Battles to reinvent themselves again on 2011's Gloss Drop, with vocalists like Gary Numan and Matias Aguayo bolstering their knotty, danceable sound.