Freakbeat is a term sometimes used by record enthusiasts to describe the music of certain harder-driving British rock bands, often those with a mod following during the Swinging London period of the mid to late 1960s. Though it is most often used to describe many lesser known British bands of the era, such as The Creation and The Action, it can also apply to some of the more famous acts, such as The Who or Small Faces. It is sometimes seen as the British counterpart to the garage and psychedelic rock of American groups, such as The Seeds. Freakbeat music was typically created by four and five piece bands. Elements of the freakbeat style include strong direct drum beats, loud and frenzied guitar riffs, and effects such as fuzztone. The term is also sometimes used to refer to bands from Continental Europe during the era.