Just Before The Drop: #16
Featuring: The Ataris, Silverstein, New Found Glory and more. Check out the newest issue of your weekly, curated modern punk & hardcore music recommendations.
Hi!
Some weeks are chill (previous one was that, 😎 right?). This ain’t one of them. We’re kicking things off loud and fast - with catchy, riff-fueled pop-punk energy that refuses to sit still. From there, it only gets heavier. This issue leans into chaos, distortion, and the kind of intensity that makes you feel alive again. No apologies, no soft landings. Ready? Let’s drop some good shit!
Lukas & Adi 🤘🤘
Car Song
by The Ataris | picked by Adi
The Ataris hold a special place in my heart, so the backstory behind this track hits even harder. Kris Roe wrote the song as a tribute to his father, William, who was a huge fan of the band and supported him on many levels. In 2014, William passed away due to complications from a lifelong struggle with alcoholism. Roe found a way to keep his memory close: his father's ashes were used in the production of the vinyl pressing for the song Car Song, and part of the proceeds from its sale will go to Shatterproof - a nonprofit organization helping people with addiction.
Still not enough? To record the track and shoot the music video, Kris Roe sold his Volvo, which… was actually the car driven by Brian White in the final season of Breaking Bad. Roe had bought it a few years ago from a friend who worked on the show's set. The car even had original signatures from Bryan Cranston and the production crew. Roe sold it to producer Bob Hoag in exchange for studio time to record Car Song.
Pretty intense story, huh? The Ataris haven’t released a full-length studio album since 2007, but this track is meant to be the spark that finally brings their sixth LP to life!
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
100%
by New Found Glory | picked by Lukas
Pop-punk stalwarts New Found Glory have returned with a bang, releasing their new single 100% on April 30, 2025, marking their first new material in two years. The track coincides with their recent signing to Pure Noise Records, a label renowned for its roster of influential punk and hardcore bands, including Knocked Loose and The Story So Far.
100% is a concise, high-energy anthem that encapsulates the band's enduring spirit. With its punchy tempo, sharp guitar riffs, and uplifting lyrics, the song harkens back to the band's early 2000s era, reminiscent of their Sticks and Stones days. It's a testament to their ability to evolve while staying true to their roots.
Fans have noted the track's nostalgic feel, with some highlighting its solid production and fun vibe. The band themselves have expressed that 100% is meant to inspire listeners facing unexpected challenges, reinforcing their message of resilience and positivity... Waiting for a new album, huh?
Negative Space
by Silverstein | selected by Lukas
Canadian post-hardcore veterans Silverstein have unveiled Negative Space a dynamic new single released a moment ago. This track serves as the second offering from their forthcoming album, Pink Moon set to drop on September 12 (no so soon, he?) via UNFD. Pink Moon is the companion piece to their previous album, Antibloom (we wrote about this one within the 7th issue), and showcases a darker, more cinematic approach to their sound.
Negative Space, kept with worked-out convention, well-known from the previous LP is a three-minute whirlwind that oscillates between aggressive riffs and melodic hooks, embodying the band's signature blend of intensity and emotion. Starting fast, entering with growls of Shane, circling around the slowed-down melodic chorus. With simple bridge fulfilled with a breakdown, with no huge break-trough, simple construction. All we might expect from Canadians…
Guitarist Paul describes the track as "off-balance," noting its slightly accelerated tempo and contrasting tones that keep listeners engaged. Frontman Shane adds that the song has it all - tons of energy, raw power, a big hook, and a massively heavy breakdown. Well, debatable tbh, but you can still judge it by your own. Give it a try, that’s for sure!
Over You
by Prospective | selected by Lukas
Prospective isn’t new to the game - they’ve been sharpening their sound since 2013, steadily building a loyal following across the European metalcore scene. Based out of Bologna, Italy, the band blends modern djent elements with melodic and progressive metalcore. Their lineup features dual vocals (clean and unclean), syncopated guitars, and tight, dynamic arrangements.
Over You dropped in February 2025, is the next (after three other songs before) taste of new material since their 2023 full-length Reasons to Leave. Compared to the more polished, melodic elements of that album, this new track hits heavier. It’s rawer. Grittier. Less polished shine - more emotional weight. It feels like a midpoint between the massive breakdowns their previous albums.
Vocally, the back-and-forth is sharp as ever. The track is anchored in that classic Prospective duality: blistering riffage undercut with clean vocal melancholy. Lyrically, Over You digs into grief, detachment, and emotional exhaustion - but without leaning into cliché.
Dead End
by Her Last Sight, The Curse Within | picked by Lukas
Her Last Sight, the Tel Aviv-based metalcore outfit, has teamed up with The Curse Within for their latest single, Dead End, released on May 2, 2025.
Dead End stands out as a fusion of early 2000s metalcore nostalgia and modern production. The track features a dynamic interplay between clean and unclean vocals, intricate guitar work, and a rhythm section that drives the song's intensity. Fans have noted its throwback vibe, reminiscent of bands like Bleeding Through, while still maintaining a fresh and contemporary sound.
This single is a precursor to Her Last Sight's upcoming album, Seasons // Summer, set to release on August 1, 2025. Listen, my first impression was that I’m hearing Winston from Parkway Drive… 😛
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
Confounder
by Heaven Shall Burn | selected by Adi
The German metalcore scene is still going strong, thanks in part to veterans like Heaven Shall Burn. This June, they’re dropping their milestone full-length album Heimat. As always, expect a fierce mix of metalcore, melodic death metal, and deathcore.
But Heimat aims to be more than just a record about "homeland" in the traditional sense.
The album explores a much broader meaning of the term - a homeland for many different people, as well as a spiritual home and something that shapes and drives our thoughts and actions
says guitarist and co-founder Maik Weichert.
Feeble-Minded
by Designing Creation | written by Lukas
Here’s one I didn’t see coming. Designing Creation, a lesser-known but razor-sharp metalcore band out of the US, just dropped Feeble-Minded, and it’s a beast. Gritty, dissonant, and brutally well-paced, this track wastes no time pulling you into its bleak, chaotic world.
The band first caught some underground attention with Lineage (2021), but Feeble-Minded feels like an entirely new level of maturity. It’s dense without being messy - layering crushing breakdowns with eerie atmosphere, and it lands somewhere between deathcore intensity and metalcore precision. There's a cold clarity to the production that makes every punch hit harder.
Neo Paris
by Rise of The Northstar | picked by Adi
ROTN is one of those bands you either love - or feel conflicted about. But one thing’s for sure: they’re bold as hell. Unapologetically blending metalcore with rap, hardcore, and Japanese pop culture, these guys never play it safe. After their breakout debut Welcame in 2014, they dropped two more albums - and now they’re gearing up for the next.
Once again, it’s loud, it’s raw, and this time… it’s also kind of a travelogue. Despite their deep obsession with Japanese culture, they haven’t forgotten their roots. Here's how the band describes modern-day Paris, the city they grew up in:
You better deal, deal with this
The way you see my city is glitched
Between light and shade something is born
Where the city is huge the man is alone
A dome above my head, my home, I'm gone
With the weight of the world stuck on my own
Headshot (Headshot) takes the place of the French kiss
Will this track ever be accepted as a Parisian anthem? Hmm, doubtful. But in certain circles - it’s already a certified banger.
Voice of the Nomads
by Moscow Death Brigade | written by Adi
If by some miracle you haven’t heard of MDB yet - I kinda envy you. That first encounter can seriously mess with your head in the best way. Their lethal mix of punk rock, hip-hop, and electronic chaos makes it physically impossible not to move your feet when their biggest tracks drop.
Lyrically, they’re loud about racism, sexism, and homophobia - but the band resists being labeled as strictly political. Coming from Moscow, that’s probably a smart move. Still, facts are facts: we’re once again getting a hook that lodges in your brain, driven by wild, rapid-fire bars straight from the Russian underground. Imagine smashing Beastie Boys into Transplants, tossing in some anti-fascist grit, and letting it all loose in a DIY warehouse show.
But hey, don’t just take my word for it - MDB is the kind of band you need to experience with your own ears. Start with Voice Of The Nomads and make sure to dig into their back catalog on Spotify. You’ll thank me later.
Ballyhoo
by Green Day | picked by Adi
Let’s finish it a bit lighter … One of the most iconic bands in American punk rock - who only recently broke through to the mainstream - just got their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And without missing a beat, they’ve dropped a brand-new single. Ballyhoo comes from the deluxe edition of their latest LP, Saviors.
The track is one of six bonus songs featured on the expanded version of the Californians’ most recent album, set to release on May 23. Not that fans need a reminder - this one’s already marked on the calendar.
And finally, the full playlist! 🤘
You can play it along, or just save within your Spotify account. Be safe, Lukas & Adi.