The Strokes are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998. The core lineup consists of vocalist Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. With their concise songs, interlocking guitars, dry production, and deliberately disheveled image, the band became one of the defining acts of the early 2000s garage rock revival.
The group developed its identity in Manhattan clubs while drawing on the sharp guitar interplay of 1970s New York rock, the economical attack of punk, and the detached cool of post-punk. Their first major release, the EP *The Modern Age*, appeared in 2001 through Rough Trade. Its strong reception, particularly in the British music press, created significant industry interest and led to the band signing with RCA Records.
The Strokes' debut album, *Is This It*, was released later in 2001. Built around short, memorable tracks such as "Last Nite," "Someday," "Hard to Explain," and "New York City Cops," the album presented a stripped-down alternative to the polished pop and nu metal that dominated much of mainstream rock at the time. Its economical arrangements, Casablancas' conversational vocals, and Valensi and Hammond Jr.'s tightly interwoven guitars made the record a critical and commercial breakthrough. The album's minimalist black-and-white artwork and low-budget, performance-focused videos reinforced the band's carefully controlled aesthetic.
The Strokes took a more expansive approach on *First Impressions of Earth*, released in 2006. The album included the lengthy and intense "Juicebox," the melodic "You Only Live Once," and the politically charged "Ize of the World." Its broader production and darker tone divided some listeners, but it demonstrated an ambition that would become increasingly important to the band's later work.
After a period of reduced activity and individual projects, the group returned with *Angles* in 2011 and *Comedown Machine* in 2013. Both albums moved beyond the rigid guitar formula of the early records, incorporating synthesizers, studio effects, and more varied vocal and rhythmic arrangements. In 2016, the band issued the EP *Future Present Past*, led by "Oblivius," while Casablancas and the other members continued to pursue separate musical projects.
The Strokes returned to full-length recording with *The New Abnormal* in 2020. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album combined electronic textures, spacious arrangements, and reflective songwriting with the band's familiar melodic instincts. It was widely regarded as a late-career renewal and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.
Their seventh studio album, *Reality Awaits*, was released on July 24, 2026, again with Rick Rubin as producer. The record continued the band's willingness to challenge expectations rather than recreate the sound of *Is This It*. Across more than two decades, The Strokes have remained influential not simply because of their early revivalist style, but because they turned a compact guitar-rock vocabulary into a durable and adaptable artistic identity.