The Year Of Our Lord

The Year of Our Lord formed in Los Angeles in 1994, with Joey Cape on vocals and guitar, Mike Park on bass and vocals, and Dave Mello on drums. Their sound came from the city's punk and hardcore scenes, but they pulled in folk and psychedelic elements too, making something that didn't fit neatly into one box.

In 1997, the song 'Manchild in the Promised Land' became their breakout single. Its haunted, introspective feel connected with listeners, and it's still one of their most recognized tracks alongside 'The Divine Poison' and 'Porcelain.' They put out albums steadily through the late '90s and early 2000s, like 'Strangled at Birth' in 1996 and 'Year of the Black Rainbow' in 1998.

Their lyrics could be raw and direct, which sometimes drew criticism. But they kept at it, building a following that appreciated the lack of polish. They never became a mainstream name, but their records found people who wanted something with more grit than what was on the radio.