...Is Your Friend - Drain New Album
Getting to Know the Band
Drain is the kind of band with raw hardcore energy that mixes beach, sweat, convergence, and impact, straight out of Santa Cruz, California, a band that since 2014 has embraced crossover thrash with the vigor of those who don’t apologize for loving to dive into the mosh.
With the four members: Sammy Ciaramitaro (vocals), Cody Chavez (guitar), AJ Hoenings (Bass) and Tim Flegal (drums), firmly planting their feet at the intersection of hardcore, thrash, and that almost beach party vibe that is, in a way, their trademark.
They had already delivered two strong albums (California Cursed released in 2020 and Living Proof released in 2023) before reaching the new chapter with …Is Your Friend. What pleases me is that the band never seemed to want to overcomplicate things or turn into metal with an ear turned to art. On the contrary: there’s something straightforward, festive, a communion of raised fists, headbanging, and a sly grin in the corner of the mouth, even when the subject gets deeper.
The Arrival of …Is Your Friend
Putting on …Is Your Friend, I was hit by a wave that mixes adrenaline and comfort, it sounds contradictory, but this record manages to give me both at once. The opening with 'Stealing Happiness From Tomorrow' already shows that the band decided to take a deep breath, stretch ideas, but without losing focus. The album easily moves between the fastest thrash and the most heartfelt hardcore.
It’s a short record, ten tracks, with no room for long indulgence: each song seems to want to go straight to the point. But don’t be fooled: straight to the point here doesn’t mean simple or shallow. There are layers of tension, tempo changes, moments of reflection, and a production that feels captured live or at least with the vitality of something live.
What Works and Why It Matters to Me
Right from the first songs, I’m swept away by riffs that feel like whiplashes, drums that crack like punches, and vocals that mix urgency with camaraderie. 'Living In A Memory' and 'Scared Of Everything And Nothing' are examples of the balance between pure aggression and a sense of message. This mix of fury and we’re in this together made me feel that the band isn’t just firing shots at the world, they’re extending a hand to whoever wants to join in. The album’s philosophy seems to be: this is the sound for all of us who still believe hardcore can unite instead of divide.
It’s not just about breaking everything or screaming against the system. There are lines of vulnerability: anxiety, loss, joy, camaraderie. For instance, 'Darkest Days' carries a greater emotional weight, with Sammy Ciaramitaro opening up about personal trauma.
These lyrics give the album depth and make the mosh not just one of fun, but also one of identification. I felt it myself while listening to the album: heads banging, fists in the air, but thinking this is how I feel.
The production, the instruments, the timing, it feels like the band chose to be sharp, tense, with no unnecessary tricks. The bass, drums, and guitar fit together precisely, allowing the emotional impact to come through without distraction.
My Conclusion: The Album as an Experience
Listening to …Is Your Friend, I felt as if I were being invited to an underground show with flashing lights, sweat dripping and at the same time, it served as emotional comfort for the heart. It’s music to punch the air and to remember we’re not alone. It’s brutal without being cold, fun without being silly, hardcore with soul.
If I were to sum it up in one sentence: this album is the hug that hardcore should always give, raised fists, nervous smiles, hair flying, and a message that says: we’re in this together. For those who enjoy thrash mixed with old-school hardcore but also appreciate lyrics that escape caricature and deliver humanity, this work by Drain delivers effectively. I leave the listening session wanting to play the record again, to call friends to listen, to go to the show with an open heart.
