First BATTLES re-imagined rock, creating innovative, ear-warping soundscapes with body-jerking beats. Now, “this phenomenal live band” (NME) have re-imagined themselves – and BATTLES Version 2.0 will put the Oh.My.God into BIG DAY OUT 2012. The New York trio – guitar and keys men Ian Williams and Dave Konopka, with anchoring force John Stanier on drums – dropped highly anticipated second album Gloss Drop in 2011, their instrumental math-rock complexity matching wits with sublime guest vocalists (Gary Numan, anyone?). While much has changed, one thing remains the same: BATTLES are “a thrilling live proposition” (The Fly). See them capture chaos in a bottle at BIG DAY OUT 2012.