Just Before The Drop: #13
Featuring: Our Last Night (again), Sum 41, PVARIS, and more. Check out the newest issue of your weekly, curated modern punk & hardcore music recommendations.
Welcome back, JBTD crew! 💣
We’re a crew already? Hell yeah, let’s roll with that. You know the deal – new week, new drop, and a fresh batch of modern punk and hardcore HITS. We’re a bit late this week tho, since this really ugly virus beat us down. But we’re alive and whether you're stuck at your desk, sweating it out at the gym, or just vibing on your couch – we’ve got the perfect soundtrack. Have fun!
Lukas & Adi ✊
Ember
by Lost in Separation | picked by Adi
Lost In Separation are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, and they're making their second appearance here at Just Before The Drop. Back in February, we were hyped about their single Black Mirror, and today we’re getting another dose of melodic metalcore in the vein of Fit For A King.
The Texas metalcore scene keeps evolving - and it’s moving in the right direction. Ember is one of the slower, more atmospheric tracks in LiS’s catalog, but don’t worry - just after the 2-minute mark, you’ll get hit with a proper breakdown that’s bound to shake the ground when they hit the stage near you. Go spin Ember - it's still hot!
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
NPC
by Our Last Night | selected by Adi
It’s our responsibility to stay informed
By all the celebrities that we adore
Convincing me to buy some shit I can’t afford
I maxed out all my cards but have a sick credit score
Trevor Wentworth has a real knack for writing lyrics that feel simple on the surface but cut deep. NPC is a sharp reflection of our digital age - a track that takes aim at modern life, screen addiction, and dopamine-fueled distraction. Lines like Stuck in our programming, A danger to society, Glued to the TV, Addicted to dopamine, We're all just NPCs hit hard and might just get you to stop and think — how much of your time is spent staring at a screen?
The only downside? Right now NPC lives exclusively on those screens - we’re still waiting for a proper full-length from the New Hampshire post-hardcore crew, their first in over three years. P.S. If you’re playing this track for someone outside the metal circle… maybe hit stop before the 2:20 mark.
Shiver
by Sheridan | picked by Lukas
This one… oh man. Shiver was the very first track I added to this week's list - and after a dozen replays and a few moments of actual chills, I can confidently say: it’s my absolute number one. No contest. This is the kind of track that stops you and makes you like: wait, what the fck was that?
Sheridan was totally new to me before this. Turns out they’re a band formed by two brothers (yep, that chemistry makes way more sense now), hailing from the sun-baked corners of Australia - a country that’s been ridiculously stacked with metalcore talent in the last decades. To us it’s a bit of default now that when you heare this kind of sounds you first think about the land of kangaroos. Right?
Shiver is raw, anthemic, and emotionally packed. It balances clean verses with these screamed ones, decorated by deathcore-ish parts punching through at the end of each line - crazy good aesthetic move. The production is sharp without being over-polished - you can still feel the edge, the tension, the need behind every word. The overall structure is wild and unpredictable, shifting from fast, high-energy bursts to over-dragged acoustic moments… and then, out of nowhere, a touch of electronics lands like a cherry on top. It’s super complex - and I love it.
Guess what? Sheridan’s just getting started. They’ve got a full-length album on the way, and if this single is the temperature check - things are about to boil over. Keep them on your radar now so you can brag later.
Fantasy
by Scowl | picked by Adi
The second album from the Santa Cruz crew just dropped - and it should fly off the shelves like fresh-out-the-oven bread. You might’ve already seen us mention this band before here at Just Before The Drop - they were first pulled into the spotlight thanks to none other than Fred Durst - but chances are you haven’t spun Are We All Angels yet. That’s because it only came out a few dozen hours ago.
Fix that ASAP. Kat Moss’s vocals will cast a spell on you, and the bouncy, grungy guitars will sweep you into a road trip across the States - fitting, since the band’s already announced they’ll be hitting every part of the US they possibly can with this release. And trust me, once you’ve seen them live, there’ll be a few lines that’ll stick in your head for a long, long time.
From Fantasy, here’s a pair that hit extra hard:
Don’t let anybody else hear, 'cause everybody else here’s afraid.
… and …
Couldn’t really quite explain, replace the pain with fantasy - it’s out there.
Landmines (Spotify Sessions)
by SUM 41 | selected by Lukas
In May 2023, Sum 41 announced their decision to disband after 27 years together, stating that their upcoming album, Heaven :x: Hell would be their final release. The band expressed gratitude to their fans and shared plans for a worldwide farewell tour to celebrate their career. The "Tour of the Setting Sum" commenced in early 2024 and concluded with their final performance at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on January 30, 2025.
As one of their latest activities band did a sessions for Spotify, recording two tracks: Landmines and Sleep Now in The Fire. Acoustic rendition of Landmines offers a touching farewell from the band as they conclude their nearly three-decade-long career. This stripped-down version allows Deryck Whibley's vocals to take center stage, revealing a raw vulnerability that underscores the song's themes of emotional exhaustion and reflection. The acoustic arrangement brings a new depth to the track, highlighting the band's ability to convey powerful emotions through simplicity.
It might be the last time we get to hear them ... or is it? Me and Adi have a feeling they’ll be back in a few years with something fresh and totally unexpected. Just a hunch - but hey, what do you think?
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
AlgoRYTHM
by Dragged Under | picked by Adi
We don’t wanna be too soft, or too heavy. In our own way, we serve up a mix of metal, hardcore, and candy.
That’s how vocalist Anthony Cappocchi sums up what Dragged Under is all about. And honestly? Nailed it. The band’s been carving out their place on the American scene for the past six years, and they’ve done it their way - loud, sharp, and without compromise.
Their latest single pushes back hard against the algorithm-driven world of music discovery. It’s a protest track - not against a system, but against a mindset: one where artists create music not to say something real or express themselves, but just to catch the next wave and score points with the Spotify gods.
And yeah, speaking of that… Dragged Under just passed 200k monthly listeners on Spotify. So sure, you can rage against the punk-industrial machine - but you can’t deny they’re rising fast.
face.
by Static Dress | picked by Adi
There’s a wave of nostalgia blowing in from Leeds! Out of nowhere, the crew from West Yorkshire just dropped a brand new single - and it’s a straight throwback to those iconic post-hardcore anthems from 20 years ago. And honestly? The timing couldn’t be better. This April, they’re heading out on a U.S. tour, hitting everywhere from NYC to Chicago to Salt Lake City.
Lyrically, the track dives back into the chaos of love and relationships, using a car crash as a metaphor for a toxic romance spiraling into a nightmare. And trust us - it’d be a total horror show if you didn’t at least give them a listen.
Inner Sanctum
by Annisokay | picked by Lukas
Just around the release of their new EP Abyss Pt. II, Annisokay returns with a crushing new single - Inner Sanctum. The German metalcore crew made us wait a minute since Pt. I dropped back in 2023, kicking off this whole Abyss concept. But now, part two is finally here - and it feels like the complete picture is coming into focus. Maybe even a full-length in disguise?
Just like on previous tracks like Get Your Shit Together, with Inner Sanctum band leans into their signature tension-building approach - starting low and slowly stacking layers, both vocally and instrumentally. Inner Sanctum blends delicate clean vocal moments with heavy growls and downtempo sections that hit hard. You’ll catch some electronic bridges tucked in there too, adding extra texture.
It’s a pretty weighty track overall - no blast beats or breakneck pace, but it’s built with purpose. Tight, calculated, and unmistakably Annisokay, with a fresh edge that keeps things exciting right through the final note.
And if you’re looking for something with a bit more punch and rebound, make sure to check out Never Enough. This one’s in a league of its own - the tempo shifts, the composition, the energy - it stands out big time from the rest of the release. Either way, whether it’s this or Inner Sanctum, the full EP is absolutely worth your time. Don’t sleep on it.
My House
by PVARIS | picked by Lukas
Alright, I’m wrapping things up on a lighter tones this week - and with these last two tracks, I hope you’ll feel as comfy and dialed-in as ever… maybe even more. First up, we’ve got the re-recorded version of My House by PVRIS…
PVRIS is marking the 10th anniversary of their debut album White Noise with a reimagined version of their breakout track, My House featuring Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox. This collaboration brings a fresh intensity to the song, blending LaPlante's powerful vocals with Lynn Gunn's haunting delivery, creating a dynamic that feels both nostalgic and new. I love that the culminating moment is not overblown with heaviness and LaPlante adjusted her vocal abilities to the overall grove of the track.
The re-release isn't just a nod to the past; it's a statement on the evolution of the alternative scene and the role of women within it. Gunn and LaPlante have both spoken about the significance of this collaboration, highlighting their shared experiences in a male-dominated industry and the importance of representation.
The Line
by VS / U | picked by Lukas
Hailing from Sweden, alternative rock band VS/U is set to release their second studio album this spring - and they're teasing it with The Line, the fourth single off the upcoming record. While the track itself leans into a subdued, nostalgic tone, don’t let it fool you - their broader catalog hits hard with a fresh and powerful take on the genre.
The Line builds slowly with subtle vocals and delicate acoustic guitar work, eventually giving way to rough, string-scratched textures that add a haunting edge. It’s one of those tracks that lingers - memorable, raw, and emotionally rich.
Definitely worth checking out the rest of their recent releases too. Could be the perfect breather from the heavy hitters we’ve been piling on lately.
And finally, the full playlist! 🤘
You can play it along, or just save within your Spotify account. Be safe, Lukas & Adi.