Throughout the last few years we’ve seen a severe commercial decline in a genre that once dominated the charts. Just a few decades ago huge classic rock bands like AC/DC as well as grunge acts like Nirvana took over the culture. In today’s age society is built upon by pop singles being pushed heavily by social media presence.
Coming from someone who enjoys just about any genre, it’s been incredibly refreshing to see independent rock bands begin to rise against the same basic ten songs that flood the charts for an entire year and offer zero variety to the average listener. The critical success of bands like Geese and Wet Leg definitely provide good insight as to what the future of rock music has in store.
Rock had a huge resurgence last year thanks to the success of Grammy Award winning band, Wet Leg’s album “Moisturizer” as well as the critically acclaimed experimental rock masterpiece “Getting Killed” by New York’s newest rock sensation Geese.
Wet Leg is composed of original duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, along with new band members Henry Holmes, Josh Mobaraki, and Ellis Durand. Wet Leg dropped their sophomore album “Moisturizer” last summer. This album followed up their highly celebrated self-titled debut that earned them their first Grammy. With the pressure of having all this hype, Wet Leg had to deliver on their next album, and they did just that.
“Moisturizer” serves as a great reminder of what makes the rock genre fun. Album opener “CPR” begins with laid back production mixed with breathy whisper vocals from Teasdale, all before breaking into bombastic drums banging over strategically placed guitar strums.
The album’s first single “Catch These Fists” is made up of Wet Leg’s signature silly question based lyrics with punchy drums and blazing bass lines all throughout the song.
Every song feels tailored perfectly for what “Moisturizer” is trying to be. It’s never too serious or complicated. Teasdale’s vocals work well against the bass lines all throughout the record.
“Moisturiser” emphasizes everything that people love about Wet Leg. Too many bands in the rock space take themselves too seriously. Wet Leg brings a refreshing take to the genre. It’s lighthearted fun while still remaining unique and engaging. This fun take on the genre has proven to be successful as “Moisturizer” landed Wet Leg Grammy Award nominations in multiple categories for the 2026 Grammys.
Geese is the latest product of the indie hype craze. Made up of band mates Cameron Winter, Emily Green, Dominic DiGesu, and Max Bassin, they broke into mainstream success following their 2025 experimental rock album “Getting Killed.” “Getting Killed” came after the moderate success of previous Geese albums like “Projector” as well as 2023’s “3D Country.” If “Projector” & “3D Country” brought in new ideas of experimental rock, “Getting Killed” delivers those ideas into a sense of completion. It feels like everything that Geese has worked for since the band started was meant for this exact moment.
One of my favorites off of “Getting Killed,” “Trinidad” makes listeners sit through what can only be described as the greatest headache you’ll ever encounter. Winter’s moments of crooning, falsetto, and straight up screaming, all while being accompanied by harsh guitars and heavy drums make for an incredible opening to this already excellent album. It’s a song truly meant for live performances. Every element is perfectly crafted for fans in the pit to go crazy for.
The album’s titular song “Getting Killed” also proves to be a stand out on the album. Immediately after pressing play you’re met with loud production and what sounds like a bunch of voices all at once shouting for your attention. Winter’s voice in particular as the song moves further creates a perfect juxtaposition against the production.
While some might come to the conclusion that the sound is “overstimulating,” I along with many critics have been able to see the value of a sound so unique. Notable newspapers and magazines like Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and New York Times have listed “Getting Killed” as a top ten album of last year.
While not every song is chaotic, this album thrives on unpredictably. “Getting Killed” is not an album that most will get upon first listen. I remember listening to songs a dozen or more times until I really got a feel for what Geese intended each song to be. While this album isn’t just talked about as a great album of last year, I think we’re seeing the making of a genre defining classic. A near perfect album showcasing all the best things about the rock genre.
Unpredictably is something that the rock genre has been missing for quite some time. It’s extremely cool to see Geese show that it’s okay to do something so far out of what’s deemed “normal.”
Geese’s impact has even become prominent in the local area. The Geese hype train had made its way over to the Omaha area, especially throughout the last few weeks. Local Omaha record store Homer’s had “Getting Killed” as their best seller for three straight weeks in a row.
It’s not just the local area that’s felt Geese’s energy. The band has been a huge hit for independent record stores nationwide. The album charted on Billboard’s Indie Store Album Sales Chart for several weeks reaching a peak of number one, dethroning huge chart success stories, like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter.
Many who share a love for the rock genre have been waiting for a band to push the boundaries of the genre. It’s clear that this is exactly what the people have been wanting. The success of “Getting Killed” provides an insight into how experimental pieces of music can prove to be not only well liked but well valued as well. This new sound is exactly what the rock genre has needed for quite some time.
With such unique elements being brought to the genre by not limited to just Wet Leg and Geese, it is safe to say that genre is far from dead and has been revitalized greatly throughout the last year.