Drain (punk band)

Drain is an American hardcore punk band formed in Santa Cruz, California in 2014. Beginning without any set musical style, the 2015 hiring of Sammy Ciaramitaro (vocals) and Cody Chavez (guitar, formerly bass) led the band to embracing the influence of hardcore and thrash metal. They have released two demos, three EPs and two full length albums. The New York Times credited them as one of the driving forces of American hardcore's "Rennaissance" in the 2020s.[1]

Drain
OriginSanta Cruz, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2014–present
Labels
SpinoffsGulch
Members
  • Sammy Ciaramitaro
  • Tim Flegal
  • Cody Chavez
  • Mike Durrett
Past members
  • Aric Gibson
  • Patrick Delaney
  • Josh Nunes
  • Parker McClellan
  • Justin Rhode
  • Mike Durrett
Websitedrain831.com

History

Drain was formed in 2014, by drummer Tim Flegal and a number of other students at the University of California, Santa Cruz who played a variety of different music styles. This lineup had fractured by 2015, leading to Sammy Ciaramitaro and Cody Chavez joining the band on vocals and bass, respectively. This introduction led to the band's sound becoming increasingly indebted to hardcore punk. Soon after, Chavez instead became the band's guitarist.[2] In 2016, they released their debut EP Over Thinking, which was followed the next year by the Time Enough at Last EP.[3] The band performed at Sound and Fury festival 2019, which caught the attention of Revelation Records, who soon signed the band.[4] On February 10, 2020 they announced their debut full-length album California Cursed, and released the single "Sick One".[5] The album was subsequently released on April 10, 2020.[6] On June 19, 2021, the band performed at a guerrilla-style show which around 2000 people attended in San Jose alongside Sunami, Gulch, Scowl, Xibalba and Maya Over Eyes.[7] On August 25, 2021, they released the single "Watch You Burn".[8] At the beginning of 2023, they toured Australia supporting Comeback Kid.[9] On February 7, 2023, they announced the release of their second album Living Proof and released the single "Evil Finds Light".[10] The following day the released a music video for the single.[11] From May 25 to June 24, they headlined a US tour.[12] Between August 3 and 19, they headlined a European tour.[13]

Musical style

Critics have categorized Drain's music as hardcore punk[14][15] and crossover thrash,[16][17] frequently incorporating elements of punk rock and thrash metal.[18] Bandcamp Daily writer David Anthony called the band "surf-thrash".[19] The band makes use of a more fun and upbeat sound than many of their contemporaries, Kerrang! credited this to vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro and his "non-threatening look and his Golden Retriever energy".[20]

Tom Breiham of Stereogum called their music "old-school California fight music, with a generous whiff of ’80s thrash-metal".[5] Alternative Press writer Huw Baines called it "a mosh-primed mix of hardcore bounce and crossover thrash chaos".[21] Exclaim! writer Connor Atkinson said that "the band's sound is both old and new—the tough street grit of New York hardcore paired with the tasteful gloss of '80s thrash metal".[22]

They have cited influences including Black Flag, Blast,[23] Dark Angel, Exhorder, Slayer, Vio-lence and Testament.[24]

Members
  • Tim Flegal – drums (2014–present)
  • Sammy Ciaramitaro – vocals (2015–present)
  • Cody Chavez – guitar (2016–present), bass (2016)
  • AJ Hoenings – bass (2022–present)

Former

  • Aric Gibson – bass (2014–2016)
  • Patrick Delaney – guitar (2014–2016)
  • Josh Nunes – guitar (2014–2016)
  • Parker McClellan – guitar (2016–2017)
  • Justin Rhode – bass (2016–2020)
  • Mike "Dirt" Durrett – bass (2020–2022)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

EPs

  • Over Thinking (2016)
  • Time Enough at Last (2017)
  • Watch You Burn (2021)

Demos

  • Demo '15 (2015)
  • Swan Songs (2015)

References
  1. Caramanica, Joe. "A Renaissance in American Hardcore Music". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  2. Weir, Mat. "How Drain Became Santa Cruz's Fastest-Rising Hardcore-Punk Band of All-time". Good Times. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  3. "DRAIN SHARE ANOTHER NEW JAM – LISTEN TO "FTS (KYS)", WATCH NEW VIDEO AND CATCH THE BAND ON THE ROAD". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  4. Monger, James Christopher. "Biography DRAIN". AllMusic. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  5. Breiham, Tom. "Drain – "Sick One"". Stereogum. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  6. Baines, Huw. "Bay Watch: Drain". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  7. Breiham, Tom. "Thousands Of People Came To See Gulch & Drain Play A Guerrilla Show This Weekend, And The Footage Is Nuts". Stereogum. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  8. Breiham, Tom. "Drain – "Watch You Burn"". Stereogum. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  9. "Sammy Ciaramitaro – Drain 'Living Proof That Hardcore Is For Anyone'". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  10. Enis, Eli. "HEAR DRAIN'S BOUNCY NEW HARDCORE BANGER "EVIL FINDS LIGHT"". Revolver. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  11. "DRAIN // Announce New Album & Share New Single". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  12. Kennelty, Greg. "DRAIN Announces Headlining North American Tour". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  13. "Drain announce UK/European Summer run". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  14. Shiels, Harry. "Drain – Living Proof Album Review". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  15. Breiham, Tom. "Stream Drain's Debut Album California Cursed". Stereogum. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  16. Houlden, Sam. "DRAIN Living Proof (2023)". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  17. Shadows, Em. "Sh*t That Comes Out Today – May 5, 2023". MetalSucks. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  18. Andrews, Chris. "Old-school hardcore band DRAIN prove they can do no wrong doing whatever they want". Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  19. Anthony, David. "Inside the Impenetrable Cult of Gulch, Hardcore's Most Beloved New Band". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  20. Enis, Eli. "The 10 greatest vocalists in hardcore right now". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  21. Baines, Huw. "How Drain are inviting people to join the pit with Living Proof". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  22. Atkinson, Connor. "Drain California Cursed". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  23. Weir, Mat. "Drain Grabs Hardcore World's Attention with Debut 'California Cursed'". Good Times. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  24. Law, Sam. "Drain: "It's about a good group of friends saying, 'We can do this sh*t. We can make something bigger!'"". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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