American Werewolves

American Werewolves formed in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, taking their name from a classic horror film. Their debut album, 1968, came out in 2001 and included the title track that became a staple of their live sets. The band's lineup featured Nick Graves on vocals and guitar, Chris Suarez on lead guitar, Frankie Smith on bass, and Kurt Douglas on drums.

They followed up with albums like Black Death in 2003 and Night Terror in 2005, leaning into darker themes that sometimes got them into trouble with radio stations. Songs like "A Kiss For The Dying" and "Destroy All Monsters" carried that same heavy, theatrical feel. The band had some legal issues with a former label over royalties, and there were reports of substance problems among members, but they kept recording through the 2000s.

Their sound mixed garage rock energy with a kind of horror-movie atmosphere, never quite breaking into the mainstream but building a dedicated following. They put out The Wolf Within in 2007 before fading from regular activity. You can still hear their influence in bands that like their rock with a side of the macabre.