DRAIN’s Newest Album Proves They are Your Friend.

By Joseph Neira

 

Santa Cruz-based hardcore band DRAIN continue to push their aggressive, yet positive, sound on their third studio album …Is Your Friend. Being one of the bands on the forefront of this recent popularity of hardcore music, DRAIN stands out from the scene due to their thrashy riffs, frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro’s growly vocals, and the unkillable energy in their songs and live performances. The band also boasts a huge amount of positivity, colorfulness, and cheerfulness. The band embodies all of these traits in this new album.

 

The album opens up with “Stealing Happiness From Tomorrow”. Beginning with their thrash inspired riffs, Sammy starts to sing about the abundance of love he has. “Life is not a contest, but I’ve already won / In a world so cold, what did I do to feel so loved?”. With how upbeat these lyrics are, it just brings a smile to your face. “Nothing But Love” discusses how some people in Sammy’s life have been jealous of the band’s success, but he maintains a positive attitude and wishes them the best. “There’s room for all of us to win / There’s room for everyone / There’s room for all of us to win / I got nothing but love”. These songs depict their positive side, but “…Is Your Friend” also dives a bit deeper into Sammy’s mental health and feelings. 

 

“Scared of Everything and Nothing” discusses Sammy’s lingering anxieties that follow him to this day, “Those old fears start to slowly fade away / But there’s always something new to take its place”. Sammy also seemingly discusses how the popularity of DRAIN also comes with some new problems to his mental health, “Where do you go when you’ve finally got everything you want? / Your hopes and dreams become reality, but that feeling’s never gone / Somehow, I still need so much more / Will I ever find the peace of mind that I’ve been searching for?”. 

 

Sammy also sings about overcoming negative experiences with “Darkest Days”. After mentioning his childhood experience of the death of his best friend, Sammy sings “The more I think, the more it’s true / And now the darkest days are finally through”. This is very admirable of Sammy and the band to discuss their mental health and sad moments in this album, but still leave the listener with a positive outlook. 

 

The shredding guitar riffs and fast drums add to the experience greatly. For songs that are more positive, they add an upbeat energy. While on songs that discuss more negative topics, they can add to the chaotic situation and emphasize the heaviness of what is being sung. 

 

This DRAIN album proves that the band is your friend. They cheer you up with positive times, support you through negative times, and fill you with an upbeat energy that makes you want to get completely injured in a mosh pit. …Is Your Friend shows that the traits that make DRAIN what it is are still there, in all of its hardcore glory. In the words of the album’s closer “Until Next Time…”, “Until next time / Take care, be well / DRAIN is your friend”.