Across two decades and seven albums, The Budos Band have steadily defined and refined a style that resists easy classification. Emerging from Staten Island and shaped by the analogue ethos of Daptone Records, they operate at the intersection of afrobeat, deep funk, psych-rock, and doom-laced soul. The result is a sound that’s not retro for the sake of nostalgia, but one that uses the language of the past to create something pointedly atmospheric and enduring.

“Nightraid,” from their latest release Budos VII, is a clear example of their current focus. The track opens with a fuzzed-out guitar riff, slow and menacing, setting the tone. The brass hits hard and sparingly, while the rhythm section stays tight and locked. Every element serves the atmosphere: dark, lean, and driving.

While the band’s roots lie in groove-driven forms like Afro-soul and 1970s funk, their recent output suggests a growing interest in weight and texture over rhythmic complexity. That shift shows a band aware of its strengths and unafraid to explore the space between genres. “Nightraid” embodies that maturity.

Stream, listen to and get your copy of Budos VII HERE