Synthwave Rock

tagStarted c. 2011Peak 2015-2021Last big hit active through synthwave-metal and retro-rock scenes

Located in 1 route

Electronic / Dance → Synthwave / Retrowave / Vaporwave

Synthwave Rock blends retro synth production with rock or metal energy: live or programmed drums, distorted guitars, power-chord riffs, anthemic choruses, and cinematic arpeggios. It sits between darksynth, AOR revival, electro-rock, and soundtrack metal. The style is built for stage impact, with bigger drops and more physical attack than standard retrowave.

History

The branch grew as synthwave audiences overlapped with metal, hard rock, and video-game soundtrack fans. Carpenter Brut, Dance With the Dead, LeBrock, The Midnight, Gunship, Scandroid, Celldweller, The Anix, Essenger, Fury Weekend, Magic Sword, and Meteor pushed the sound toward guitars, vocals, and live-band drama. Festival bills and tours with metal-adjacent acts made this one of the most visible paths for synthwave outside purely electronic scenes.

Defining artists

Carpenter BrutSpotify YouTube
Dance With the DeadSpotify YouTube
LeBrockSpotify YouTube
The MidnightSpotify YouTube
GunshipSpotify YouTube
ScandroidSpotify YouTube

Show 6 more

CelldwellerSpotify YouTube
The AnixSpotify YouTube
EssengerSpotify YouTube
Fury WeekendSpotify YouTube
Magic SwordSpotify YouTube
MeteorSpotify YouTube

Essential listening

Turbo Killer(2015) — Carpenter BrutSpotify YouTube
Robeast(2013) — Dance With the DeadSpotify YouTube
Runaway(2016) — LeBrockSpotify YouTube
Days of Thunder(2014) — The MidnightSpotify YouTube
Tech Noir(2015) — GunshipSpotify YouTube
Neo-Tokyo(2016) — ScandroidSpotify YouTube

Show 6 more

End of an Empire(2015) — CelldwellerSpotify YouTube
This Machine(2018) — The AnixSpotify YouTube
After Dark(2019) — EssengerSpotify YouTube
Knightriders(2017) — Fury WeekendSpotify YouTube
In the Face of Evil(2013) — Magic SwordSpotify YouTube
Defender(2015) — MeteorSpotify YouTube

← Explore Electronic / Dance

Sources

Bandcamp Daily NewRetroWave profile
Blood Music/darksynth coverage
synthwave-metal touring and release discographies
NewRetroWave release pages