History Music / Battles

* {{Bookends}}: ''Mirrored'' begins with "Race: In" and ends with "Race: Out", which briefly quotes "Race: In".

* {{Scatting}}: The band doesn't put much focus on lyrics, using vocals as just another instrument, so wordless vocals of various types come up a lot. Quite notable is the guest appearance of Yamantaka Eye of Boredoms chanting nonsense throughout "Sundome".

Battles are an American experimental MathRock group formed in 2002 by drummer John Stanier (formerly of Music/{{Helmet}}), bassist/guitarist/miscellaneous effects man David Konopka (formerly of Lynx) and guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (formerly of Don Cabellero), along with vocalist and guitarist Tyondai Braxton, who left after their first album. Originally a quartet, and then a trio for most of the 2010s, the band is now the duo of Stanier and Williams after Konopka left in 2018.

!!Tropes:

* BookEnds: ''Mirrored'' begins with "Race: In" and ends with "Race: Out", which briefly quotes "Race: In".

* ThreeChordsAndTheTruth: While their music is very complex, the influence of minimalism and electronica on their music allow them to do quite a lot with even fewer chords. "Ice Cream" is built on a simple repetition of two chords, and "Atlas" almost entirely consists of ''one'' (although a second one comes in briefly midway through.)

The Battles are an experimental MathRock group formed in 2002 by drummer John Stanier (formerly of Music/{{Helmet}}), bassist/guitarist/miscellaneous effects man David Konopka (formerly of Lynx) and guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (formerly of Don Cabellero), along with vocalist and guitarist Tyondai Braxton, who left after their first album.

Noted for being very technically skilled, relying heavily on electronic effects and looping and, contrary to a lot of indie/experimental bands, for not shying away from using songs featuring a lot of vocals...even if the vocals are so strange and altered that they can sound like a smurf singing. Comparisons were frequently drawn between their debut album ''Mirrored'' and [[Franchise/AlvinAndTheChipmunks the Chipmunks]] in this regard.

Their song "Atlas", from their debut album, has popped up everywhere, being used in many, many commercials (but, ironically, usually without the singing), perhaps most famously in ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet''; their song "Ice Cream", from their second album, is following a similar path, including the vocals part!

Originally a quartet, and then a trio for most of the 2010s, the band is now the duo of Stanier and Williams after Konopka left in 2018.

Discography:

!!Examples:

The Battles are an experimental rock group formed in 2002 by drummer John Stanier (formerly of Music/{{Helmet}}), bassist/guitarist/miscellaneous effects man David Konopka (formerly of Lynx) and guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (formerly of Don Cabellero), along with vocalist and guitarist Tyondai Braxton, who left after their first album.

NeedsWikiMagicLove

* "Tras" (single, 2004)

* ''B EP'' (EP, 2004); these two EPs were later rereleased as a unit

* ''[[{{Spoonerism}} Dross Glop]]'' (an collection of remixes of the songs on ''Gloss Drop'' by various electronic artists, originally released as 4 EPs in 2012)

Their song "Atlas", from their debut album, has popped up everywhere, being used in many, many commercials (but, ironically, usually without the singing), perhaps most famously in LittleBigPlanet; their song "Ice Cream", from their second album, is following a similar path, including the vocals part!

A experimental rock group formed in 2002 by drummer John Stanier (formerly of Music/{{Helmet}}), bassist/guitarist/miscellaneous effects man David Konopka (formerly of Lynx) and guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (formerly of Don Cabellero), along with vocalist and guitarist Tyondai Braxton, who left after their first album.

* TextlessAlbumCover: The cover to ''Gloss Drop'' contains nothing but an unidentifiable lump of pink ooze. (It's actually a sculpture by Dave Konopka.)

** The cover of their third album, ''La Di Da Di'' has a similar cover by Konopka, of a bizarre, surreal breakfast arrangement.

* Instrumentals: Here and there for most of the band's career, then taken up to 11 with ''La Di Da Di'', their first set without any vocals on it at all.

* SelfDeprecation: John, their drummer, has said he doesn;t consider himself as very talented.

* SelfDeprication: John, their drummer, has said he doesn;t consider himself as very talented.

A experimental rock group formed in 2002 by drummer John Stanier (formerly of Helmet), bassist/guitarist/miscellaneous effects man David Konopka (formerly of Lynx) and guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (formerly of Don Cabellero), along with vocalist and guitarist Tyondai Braxton, who left after their first album.

* SignatureSong: "Atlas".

A experimental rock group formed in 2002, with former band members from Helmet, Lynx and Don Cabellero. Noted for being very technical and, contrary to a lot of indie/experimental bands, for not shying away from using songs featuring a lot of vocals... even if the vocals are so strange and altered that they can sound like a smurf singing.

Their song Atlas, from their debut album, has popped around everywhere, being used in many, many commercials (but, ironically, usually without the singing), perhaps most famously in LittleBigPlanet; their song Ice Cream, from their second album is following a similar path, including the vocals part!