A very wise friend of mine once said, “Don’t ever be afraid to admit to your influences.” When you’re a young artist, you always want to be different, and can often times find yourself doing interviews in which you proclaim your band or your music seem unlike anything anyone else has ever heard. The truth is, comparisons to your peers (and more popular artists) are complimentary, and your influences inform who you are.

I began my professional music career during one of the greatest movements in American rock ‘n’ roll: 1992-1999. From grunge to nu-metal to rap rock and the birth of emo, I saw bands like Nirvana and Green Day become household names. Music that didn’t sound like it belonged on the radio helped inform what made it to the radio in years to come. As an artist, I always found it inspiring to discover a band that no one really knew, or stumble across music that wasn’t on the commercial radar. Thus, allow me to present my list of the five best rock bands you’ve never heard…but should. Immediately.

Editor’s Note: Zac Diebels, the author of this piece and the one-man production juggernaut that is Automatic Static, has a track from his new album for you to download and listen to while you check the list. It’s called “Clique,” and you can grab it here.

1. Barkmarket
This band is a cross between Soundgarden’s heavy groove and twang and that big tone you’d get from an album like Sepultura’s Roots, and much like Soundgarden, Barkmarket often relied on odd time signatures. Dave Sardy, Barkmarket’s singer/guitarist, is now one the biggest record producers in the business, having started out as the right hand man and engineer to famous record producer Rick Rubin. Sardy has probably one of the best guitar tones I have ever heard. It simply cannot be replicated. My favorite record by Barkmarket is definitely L Ron. It’s classic Barkmarket, and for anyone searching for them on iTunes, this will unfortunately be the only album you will find. You maybe able to find their four other records online or used, but most of them are out of print…like most of the bands on this list, I presume.

2. Far
The next band is a tremendous group from my hometown of Sacramento called Far. This band was most influential to my old band, Simon Says, and many others in the heavy/emo type of sound. I can recall vivid live shows of these four talented gentlemen slamming out riffs that would change my outlook on music forever. Far toured for years around the western United States before getting signed in 1996 to Epic imprint Immortal Records, home to Korn and Incubus. Their first album, Tin Cans With Strings To You, was produced by Brad Wood, who had previously produced indie favorites Sunny Day Real Estate. The record put Far on the map as a band that was clearly ahead of their time. Their second album, Water And Solutions, was produced by Barkmarket’s D. Sardy. To this day it remains a fan favorite. In late 2009, the band had reformed and guitarist Shaun Lopez, now a successful producer in LA, put together a new album and signed to Vagrant Records. I can say with all honesty this band changed my life, and were mentors to many Sacramento bands.

3. The Refused
Simply put, The Refused were a band that was clearly ahead of their time. The album The Shape Of Punk To Come is as perfect as its title implies. Every post-hardcore, Alternative Press-reading, combed-over-bangs kid is trying to sound like this vocalist. I’d even venture to say that every skinny jean-wearing 18-year-old screaming his guts out in that high pitch distorted rant wishes they were the singer of The Refused, yet I doubt they’ve ever heard of them. This band was not D-tuned and did not use any double bass or “speed metal” techniques. They were an alternative rock band, but a precursor to today’s post-hardcore sound. The Shape Of Punk To Come was released by Epitaph records, a punk label, in 1998. The band broke up shortly afterwards. If there are any hardcore kids out there that need inspiration or want to know their roots, go get it.

4. The Revolution Smile
This band was the next evolution for Far’s Shaun Lopez. The former Far guitarist started writing and singing on his own after Far broke up in the late ’90s, and his band was another testament to the huge guitar tone and amazing songs he was able to create. Impressed by their sound, Fred Durst signed the band to his Geffen subsidiary, Flawless Records. Again, Lopez recruited D. Sardy to produce. Their major label debut, Above The Noise, was a fantastic creation of Foo Fighters-esque grit and hooks, but what sets them apart is their ability to connect the kick, snare and top string of the guitar. Songs like “Ride Of Los Angeles,” “The Gift” and “Bonethrower” are just a few examples of the sound that made The Rev Smile so unique. Again, it’s not a coincidence that the combination of Shaun Lopez and D. Sardy were in the mix. Any project these two are attached to—together or individually—is worth checking out.

5. Death From Above 1979
This band consists of only a bass player and a drummer, with the latter singing and the former cranking out a distorted and unique-sounding tone. What I find so great about this band—like many bands on this list—is that at least one member is a producer that collaborates with other producers to create such great and unique music. JFK, the bassist for DFA 1979, is also one-half of the group MSTRKRFT, a production team that has remixed everyone from Kylie Minogue and Katy Perry to Bloc Party and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Recently reunited, DFA 1979 has a punk rock sound and attitude, but the hooks that the drummer/singer is able to come up with give them a weird yet cool sense of melody. I learned later that the first and only album released by DFA 1979 was produced by Al-P, who is the other half of MSTRKRFT. Funny huh? I think one of my favorite things about this band is their simplicity. If there had been a guitar, a keyboard or any other instrument involved, it would not be the same. Definitely a constant listen whenever I want something heavy, unique and loud. Make sure to check out their remix record, produced (not so surprisingly) by MSTRKRFT.

All of the great artists listed in this group are unique and emphasize a common theme. There is always a counterpoint that record sales do not equal talent or great records. I would argue that for every great genre or band that did well, there was a lesser known band that paved the way. Please feel free to check out my band, Automatic Static, where I play drums, guitar, sing and also produce. My new album, Friends & Lovers, is currently available online everywhere through Gas Can Music. The only other member of my group is my best friend Matt Franks (Frank White). I also produce and have a studio in Sacramento called Tree House Studios. Hope you enjoyed my list and will develop a list of your own.

Words by Zachary Diebels.