Santa Cruz band, DRAIN, will release a new album titled "Living Proof" through Epitaph on May 5th.
NorCal hardcore trio Drain are back with a new single and music video, "FTS (KYS)" ahead of their freshly announced Epitaph debut album, Living Proof. Rhythmic percussion fills are overtaken by speedy chugging power chords palm-muted for roaring riffs. Ending with a brutal breakdown, the thrash heavy song scores the cinematic storyline of the Riley Lattanza directed music video where all three Drain members are tracked and killed by men in suits. RIP
Frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro shared:
Read the lyrics to this song before you make an assumption on what it's about. This song and this band are all about bettering yourself and the world around you. Sometimes it takes drastic measures to be the person you want to be and I hope this song can give someone the push they might be needing to make that jump.
I didn't become straight edge until I was 22, which is a lot later than most of my peers, and I had always wanted to write a song about my journey to sobriety from my standpoint as someone who did in fact indulge in a lifestyle of excess. I know that if I was in that situation, there has to be others that are just like me and I really wanted to write something for those kids.
We had a lot of fun writing this song because we got to experiment with different song structures, wild drum and riffing patterns, and we got to go full "crazy train" with the percussion instruments!
Living Proof is the band’s Epitaph Records debut and follow up to their 2020 breakout release, California Cursed. The new album is a testament to the hard work and heartfelt ethos that’s at the center of DRAIN’s good-time psyche. There are a couple surprises on the album. Rapper Shakewell appears on the track, “Intermission”. There’s also a cover of “Good, Good Things,” a nearly four-decade old melodic punk carol by the Descendents: slam-pit forebearers to DRAIN if there ever were any. “It’s crazy because the song’s been out like forty years, but lyrically it’s a DRAIN song!” exclaims vocalist Sam Ciaramitaro. “It just hits on everything that I love, that I’m about.”
What Sammy’s about is plenty wholesome. “I hope with this record that when someone hears it, it gives them hope,” beams. “If we were able to get through the tough times, anyone can. I can’t wait to play these songs and hear a room full of people singing back to us. We’re what the title says, the Living Proof.”
Produced by longtime friend and multi-instrumentalist Taylor Young (God’s Hate, Suicide Silence), then mixed by John Markson (Drug Church, Koyo), this is hardcore for everybody. “As the band gets bigger, I try and keep that feeling alive,” says the smiling singer. “Every night I set up the merch and run it until it’s time to play. I want to be the guy that everyone says hello to. I want to thank every single kid that comes out for being there.”