Drain (punk band)
{{Short description|American hardcore punk band}}
{{for|other bands with the same name |Drain STH|Drain (noise rock band)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = Drain
| image = 2023 Pol’and’Rock - Drain (01).jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = Drain performing at Pol'and'Rock Festival in 2023
| alias =
| origin = Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Hardcore punk|crossover thrash}}
| discography =
| years_active = 2014–present
| label = {{hlist|Epitaph|Revelation|{{nowrap|Wide Eyed Noise}}}}
| spinoffs = Gulch, Dead Heat
| spinoff_of =
| current_members =
- Sammy Ciaramitaro
- Tim Flegal
- Cody Chavez
| past_members =
- Aric Gibson
- Patrick Delaney
- Josh Nunes
- Parker McClellan
- Justin Rhode
- Mike Durrett
- AJ Hoenings
- Sam Jameson
| website = {{URL|https://drain831.com/}}
| module =
| module2 =
| module3 =
}}
Drain is an American hardcore punk band formed in Santa Cruz, California in 2014. Beginning without a set musical style, the 2015 hiring of vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro and bassist-turned-guitarist Cody Chavez led the band to embrace a crossover thrash sound. They have released two demos, three EPs and two full length albums. The New York Times credited Drain as a driving force of American hardcore's "renaissance" in the early 2020s.{{cite web |last1=Caramanica |first1=Joe |title=A Renaissance in American Hardcore Music |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/arts/music/popcast-hardcore-punk.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=August 28, 2023}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Weir |first1=Mat |title=How Drain Became Santa Cruz’s Fastest-Rising Hardcore-Punk Band of All-time |url=https://www.goodtimes.sc/how-drain-became-santa-cruzs-fastest-rising-hardcore-punk-band-of-all-time/ |website=Good Times |access-date=September 7, 2023}} In 2016, they released their debut EP Over Thinking, which was followed the next year by the Time Enough at Last EP.{{cite web |title=DRAIN SHARE ANOTHER NEW JAM – LISTEN TO "FTS (KYS)", WATCH NEW VIDEO AND CATCH THE BAND ON THE ROAD |url=https://idioteq.com/drain-share-another-new-jam-listen-to-fts-kys-and-catch-the-band-on-the-road/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}} The band performed at Sound and Fury festival 2019, which caught the attention of Revelation Records, who soon signed the band.{{cite web |last1=Monger |first1=James Christopher |title=Biography DRAIN |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/drain-mn0004368167/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=September 9, 2023}} On February 10, 2020 they announced their debut full-length album California Cursed, and released the single "Sick One".{{cite web |last1=Breiham |first1=Tom |title=Drain – "Sick One" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2073179/drain-sick-one/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=September 7, 2023}} The album was subsequently released on April 10, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Baines |first1=Huw |title=Bay Watch: Drain |url=https://www.kerrang.com/bay-watch-drain-hardcore-punk-california-cursed-santa-cruz |website=Kerrang! |access-date=September 7, 2023}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Breiham |first1=Tom |title=Thousands Of People Came To See Gulch & Drain Play A Guerrilla Show This Weekend, And The Footage Is Nuts |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2151782/thousands-of-people-came-to-see-gulch-drain-play-a-guerrilla-show-this-weekend-and-the-footage-is-nuts/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=August 26, 2023}} On August 25, 2021, they released the single "Watch You Burn".{{cite web |last1=Breiham |first1=Tom |title=Drain – "Watch You Burn" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2158614/drain-watch-you-burn/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=September 9, 2023}} At the beginning of 2023, they toured Australia supporting Comeback Kid.{{cite web |title=Sammy Ciaramitaro – Drain ‘Living Proof That Hardcore Is For Anyone’ |url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2023/05/10/sammy-ciaramitaro-drain-living-proof-that-hardcore-is-for-anyone/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}} On February 7, 2023, they announced the release of their second album Living Proof and released the single "Evil Finds Light".{{cite web |last1=Enis |first1=Eli |title=HEAR DRAIN'S BOUNCY NEW HARDCORE BANGER "EVIL FINDS LIGHT" |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-drains-bouncy-new-hardcore-banger-evil-finds-light |website=Revolver |access-date=September 9, 2023}} The following day the released a music video for the single.{{cite web |title=DRAIN // Announce New Album & Share New Single |url=https://www.hysteriamag.com/drain-announce-new-album-share-new-single/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}} From May 25 to June 24, they headlined a US tour.{{cite web |last1=Kennelty |first1=Greg |title=DRAIN Announces Headlining North American Tour |url=https://metalinjection.net/tour-dates/drain-announces-headlining-north-american-tour |access-date=September 9, 2023}} Between August 3 and 19, they headlined a European tour.{{cite web |title=Drain announce UK/European Summer run |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/38480/drain-announce-ukeuropean-summer-run/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}}
Musical style
Critics have categorized Drain's music as hardcore punk,{{cite web |last1=Shiels |first1=Harry |title=Drain – Living Proof Album Review |url=https://www.noizze.co.uk/drain-living-proof-album-review/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Breiham |first1=Tom |title=Stream Drain’s Debut Album California Cursed |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2079935/stream-drains-debut-album-california-cursed/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=September 9, 2023}} crossover thrash{{cite web |last1=Houlden |first1=Sam |title=DRAIN Living Proof (2023) |url=https://www.punknews.org/review/17873/drain-living-proof |access-date=September 9, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Shadows |first1=Em |title=Sh*t That Comes Out Today – May 5, 2023 |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/05/05/sht-that-comes-out-today-may-5-2023/ |website=MetalSucks |access-date=September 9, 2023}} and metalcore;{{Cite web |last=Enis |first=Eli |date=30 August 2021 |title=BEYOND CODE ORANGE AND KNOCKED LOOSE: 10 RISING METALLIC HARDCORE BANDS YOU NEED TO KNOW |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/beyond-code-orange-and-knocked-loose-10-rising-metallic-hardcore-bands-you-need-know#dying-wish |access-date=17 July 2024 |website=Revolver |publisher=Project M Group LLC}}{{Cite web |last=Deville |first=Chris |date=16 January 2024 |title=Drain Shout Out Grateful Dead, Spin Doctors, & Future For Amoeba’s What’s In My Bag? |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2247949/drain-shout-out-grateful-dead-spin-doctors-future-for-amoebas-whats-in-my-bag/news/ |website=Stereogum |publisher=Stereogum |quote=Santa Cruz metallic hardcore heroes Drain cracked our list of 2023’s best albums with Living Proof.}} they frequently blend elements of punk rock and thrash metal.{{cite web |last1=Andrews |first1=Chris |title=Old-school hardcore band DRAIN prove they can do no wrong doing whatever they want |url=https://www.buzzmag.co.uk/drain-living-proof-album-review-hardcore-punk-hip-hop/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}} Tom Breiham of Stereogum described their style as "old-school California fight music, with a generous whiff of ’80s thrash-metal". Exclaim! writer Connor Atkinson, meanwhile, opined 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".{{cite web |last1=Atkinson |first1=Connor |title=Drain California Cursed |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/2020-04-10-drain-california_cursed |access-date=September 9, 2023 |website=Exclaim!}} Bandcamp Daily writer David Anthony deemed the band "surf-thrash".{{cite web |last1=Anthony |first1=David |title=Inside the Impenetrable Cult of Gulch, Hardcore’s Most Beloved New Band |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/gulch-impenetrable-cerebral-fortress-interview |website=Bandcamp Daily |access-date=September 9, 2023}} The band have cited several 1980s thrash acts as influences: Dark Angel, Exhorder, Slayer, Vio-lence and Testament.{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Sam |title=Drain: "It’s about a good group of friends saying, ‘We can do this sh*t. We can make something bigger!’" |url=https://www.kerrang.com/drain-hardcore-sammy-ciaramitaro-santa-cruz-california-living-proof-interview-cover-story |website=Kerrang! |access-date=September 9, 2023}} Other influences include California hardcore groups such as Black Flag and Blast.{{cite web |last1=Weir |first1=Mat |title=Drain Grabs Hardcore World’s Attention with Debut ‘California Cursed’ |url=https://www.goodtimes.sc/drain-grabs-hardcore-world-attention-debut-california-cursed/ |access-date=September 9, 2023 |website=Good Times}} Drain embraces a more positive and upbeat image than many of their hardcore contemporaries, with Kerrang! attributing this to vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro's "non-threatening look and...Golden Retriever energy".{{cite web |last1=Enis |first1=Eli |title=The 10 greatest vocalists in hardcore right now |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-10-greatest-hardcore-frontmen-and-women-right-now |website=Kerrang! |access-date=September 9, 2023}}
Members
2023 Pol’and’Rock - Drain (22).jpg|Tim Flegal
2023 Pol’and’Rock - Drain (07).jpg|Sammy Ciaramitaro
2023 Pol’and’Rock - Drain (31).jpg|Cody Chavez
- Tim Flegal – drums (2014–present)
- Sammy Ciaramitaro – vocals (2015–present)
- Cody Chavez – guitars (2016–present), bass (2016)
Former
- Aric Gibson – bass (2014–2016)
- Patrick Delaney – guitars (2014–2016)
- Josh Nunes – guitars (2014–2016)
- Parker McClellan – guitars (2016–2017)
- Justin Rhode – bass (2016–2020)
- Mike "Dirt" Durrett – bass (2020–2022)
- AJ Hoenings – bass (2022)
- Sam Jameson – bass (2023–2025)
Timeline
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at:09/29/2018
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Discography
Albums
- California Cursed (2020)
- Living Proof (2023)
EPs
- Over Thinking (2016)
- Time Enough at Last (2017)
- Watch You Burn (2021)
Demos
- Demo '15 (2015)
- Swan Songs (2015)
Singles
- Watch You Burn (2021)
{{Commons category|Drain - Pol’and’Rock Festival 2023|Drain at Pol’and’Rock Festival 2023}}