What is Rock Band?
Rock Band is a series of rhythm games developed by Harmonix, principally for home video game consoles.
Based on their previous development work from the Guitar Hero series, the main Rock Band games have players use game controllers modeled after musical instruments and microphones to perform the lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drums, and vocal parts of numerous licensed songs across a wide range of genres though mostly focusing on rock music by matching scrolling musical notes patterns shown on screen.
Best Rock Bands In South Africa
The bands below are the best of all the rock bands in the country right now. What particularly put all of them on this top list is not only their songs but also performances, delivery, fan base, merchandise sales, reviews, and listenership ratings.
Virtually all of these bands have done international gigs independently and with some international bands. They have also collaborated with many local bands, toured across so many cities and regions globally, and performed at major festivals.
Here are the best 10 rock bands to listen to right now.
1. Agro
Agro is a Johannesburg-based heavy metal band that has been active since the year 1994.
The music band was formed by three best friends Phillip du Toit (Bass player), Grant Merricks (Drummer), and Shane Pennicott (Lead/Rhythm Guitar/principal songwriter). Other early members are David Kietzmann (Rhythm) and Cliff Crabb(Vocals), who is still with the band.
2. Seether
Seether, founded in Pretoria, Gauteng, in 1999, was formerly known as “Saron Gas.” However, after its relocation to the United States, the band changed its band name so that people would not mix up its stage name with the deadly chemical sarin gas.
This idea was put forward by the American record label Wind-up Records, who discovered the band and subsequently gave them a record deal to begin releasing music in North America.
3. Mind Assault
Mind Assault holds the record as the first band to use Afrikaans regularly in extreme metal while also infusing English into their music. The band’s decision on its language use was triggered by a re-emerging consciousness among young Afrikaans people through alternative sub-cultures.
At that time, bands such as Kobus! and Fokofpolisiekar were not left out. It was something that started after a thorough observation of their cultural heritage. Mind Assault was formed in 2003 in Cape Town, but they started making appearances in 2004.
4. Spectral Realm
Spectral Realm was formed as a full 6-piece band by Lord Onyr in June/July 2010, initially as a solo project.
He began nursing the idea of starting his band in 2006 after he was overwhelmed by the performances of notable bands such as Dissection, Thyrane, Opeth, Death, Children of Bodom, and Old Man’s Child.
Spectral Realm is unique because its music has some sort of special blend of thrash metal, symphonic black metal, and even melodic death metal with a dark yet enthralling presence on stage. The band’s name was inspired by the afterlife.
5. Sacrifist
Sacrifist is a South African rock band formed in 1993 by Andre Liebenberg, Sammy F. Simegi, Paul Verster, and Michael Kiefer. The band and the materials they wrote were greatly influenced by prominent bands such as In Flames, Children Of Bodom, Dark Tranquillity, At The Gates, and Slayer.
Sacrifist’s first album, “The Tides Have Turned,” was recorded in 1995, but it was released a few years later.
Their second album was released in 1999, after which Sammy F. Simegi, Michael Kiefer, and Paul Verster collectively brought back the band to its original sound and heaviness in 2002. Being one of the longest-running metal bands in South African history ever, Sacrifist has done well for themselves.
6. Fokofpolisiekar
Fokofpolisiekar band is also known as FPK or Polisiekar due to the obscenity in the name. The Afrikaans alternative rock band was established by a group of friends from Cape Town in April 2003. This group of five friends had one thing in common – a passion for art and music.
Not long after Fokofpolisiekar came into existence, these gentlemen five friends decided to produce an EP in their way to stand out from other bands in the local music scene and to promote the Afrikaans culture.
The band’s works reflected strong symbolism of the Fokofpolisiekar lifestyle and their perspective on everyday life and insight into the band’s personal lives.
7. The Parlotones
One of the most talented rock bands in South Africa, the Parlotones have been making waves since it was formed in the year 1998.
The indigenous indie rock band’s early sound was rooted in Britpop, but it began to incorporate a wider range of musical genres as time progressed. It was Kahn Morbee who started the move for the formation of the band after he failed to start a band in high school.
He was introduced to his former high schoolmate Neil Pauw at the University of Johannesburg, and shortly after, they realized that they had a lot in common, music-wise.
From there, the duo decided to start a band. Paul Hodgson later joined the group after he and Kahn were sent off to the library for playing their guitars inside.