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Post-Punk Bands

After punk came bands that swapped safety pins for synths, and pogoing for brooding. Can you name these post-punk pioneers?
Bands are listed in alphabetical order.
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NateVoD
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Last updated: December 4, 2025
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First submittedSeptember 24, 2025
Times taken113
Average score52.2%
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Answer
Bela Lugosi’s Dead
English band known for their dark image and gloomy sound, also considered pioneers of gothic rock.
Bauhaus
Release the Bats
Nick Cave’s feral pre–Bad Seeds band, infamous for chaotic, gothic noise-rock.
The Birthday Party
Script of the Bridge
Manchester cult heroes known for epic, echo-soaked guitars, whose atmospheric sound helped pave the way for shoegaze.
The Chameleons
Heaven or Las Vegas
Scottish trio weaving dreamy, ethereal soundscapes with Elizabeth Fraser’s otherworldly vocals.
Cocteau Twins
Just Like Heaven
Robert Smith’s band, goth icons with jangly pop sensibilities and a look defined by smeared lipstick and wild hair.
The Cure
The Killing Moon
Liverpool band whose moody, echo-soaked guitars contrast with their whimsical name; "Ocean Rain" is their masterpiece.
Echo & the Bunnymen
This Nation’s Saving Grace
Mark E. Smith’s abrasive, literate ensemble, notorious for line-up chaos and relentless output; "Hex Enduction Hour" is a classic.
The Fall
Damaged Goods
Leeds post-punk with sharp political lyrics and jagged funk guitar; debut "Entertainment!" is essential.
Gang of Four
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Pioneering post-punks from Manchester, known for Ian Curtis’s intense vocals and dark, moody sound.
Joy Division
Just Like Honey
Scottish noise-pop pioneers blending feedback-laden guitars with sweet melodies; "Psychocandy" was their landmark debut.
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Love Like Blood
London post-punks merging industrial sounds with heavy riffs, influencing metal and goth alike; "Eighties" is a signature song.
Killing Joke
Shot by Both Sides
Art-punk band formed by Howard Devoto after leaving the Buzzcocks; known for angular guitars & influential album "Real Life."
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Song or Album
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Answer
That's When I Reached For My Revolver
Jagged, experimental post-punk from Boston that influenced Pixies, Sonic Youth, and the indie underground.
Mission of Burma
She Is Beyond Good and Evil
Radical Bristol band fusing punk, funk & free jazz into explosive political anthems. Debut album "Y" is a landmark of the genre.
The Pop Group
Metal Box
Johnny Rotten's band after leaving the Sex Pistols, driven by Jah Wobble’s thunderous dub bass.
Public Image Ltd
Hong Kong Garden
Goth-tinged London post-punk band fronted by a striking female vocalist; "Spellbound" is another standout track.
Siousxie and the Banshees
I Wanna Destroy You
Cambridge outfit led by Robyn Hitchcock; their quirky, psychedelic music influenced indie rock & jangle pop.
The Soft Boys
Jeopardy
Brooding UK cult heroes led by Adrian Borland. “Shock of Daylight” and "From the Lions Mouth" are standout albums.
The Sound
Golden Brown
Cult UK band known for gritty basslines, prominent keyboards & songs mixing menace with wit. "Peaches" is another hit.
The Stranglers
Filth
New York noisemakers whose crushing intensity, repetition, and bleak soundscapes paved the way for industrial and post-rock.
Swans
Marquee Moon
NYC art-punks known for their intricate guitar interplay and Tom Verlaine's poetic lyrics; part of CBGB's early scene.
Television
Outdoor Miner
London art-punks known for minimalist, precise arrangements; debut "Pink Flag" set the template for countless post-punk acts.
Wire
Making Plans for Nigel
Wry Swindon art-poppers mixing angular riffs with clever social commentary; “Drums and Wires” is a defining album.
XTC
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