The inspired combination resulted in even more inspired music, hot-wiring a frenetic blues/trash-rock heritage in the vein of earlier Australian legends with similar overseas inspirations, with Liddiard's often extreme vocals the killer touch. A self-released EP and series of performances around Melbourne gained the Drones swift attention, eventually resulting in a label offer from Spooky for their full-length debut in 2002, Here Come the Lies. Further touring led to some initial overseas appearances; however, while the group's second album was recorded in 2003 for Spooky, the Drones wanted to look for another label to release it, resulting in some delay while the band raised the money to buy back the tapes.
The sophomore album was eventually released in 2005 as the brilliantly titled Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By, which, as the group's first full international release (thanks to the All Tomorrow's Parties label), gained the group even more exposure, matched by a series of energetic tours. Strybosch was in the meantime replaced by new drummer Mike Noga, and the end of 2005 found the Drones planning an even more extensive series of dates worldwide. That same year saw the release of The Miller's Daughter, followed quickly by Gala Mill, the latter of which was nominated for the 2006 Australian Music Prize. Havillah, the band's fifth studio long-player, dropped in 2008, with the J Award-nominated I See Seaweed arriving in 2013. Feelin Kind of Free, the group's seventh full-length outing, followed in March 2016. Drummer Mike Noga died on August 27, 2020, at the age of 42. ~ Ned Raggett, Rovi