Just Before The Drop: #17
Featuring: Parkway Drive, Avril Lavigne, Three Days Grace and more. Check out the newest issue of your weekly, curated modern punk & hardcore music recommendations
Hi Friends!
Just before the new week kicks in, and as this one’s about to clock out, it’s time to fire up the counter. We’re back with your next dose of fresh chaos and melodic pills. Like Adi said: this week’s drop is all about keeping the energy constant, taking you from savage bangers to balsamic, soul-healing tunes. No matter where you are, there’s something here to amp you up or cool you down. Let’s get this ride started.
Let’s go! Lukas & Adi. 🤘🤘
Sacred
by Parkway Drive | picked by Lukas
Parkway Drive is back! After a three-year hiatus, band returns with their latest single, Sacred.
In 2022, the band announced a break to focus on their mental health, canceling a planned North American tour. They emphasized the need to reflect on their personal well-being and friendships, assuring fans they were "here to stay".
Sacred hits hard - think Aussies roots, more Atlas (and the previous ones) than the symphonic and poetic flavor of Ire. It’s melodic, fast, and straight to the point. The track kicks off with that classic Parkway tension-builder - those circling, rapid riffs set the pace right out of the gate. The chorus? Tailor-made for festival crowds, with those big, choral-along vocal lines and soaring, overdriven guitar solos in the mix. The bridge is a highlight: noise feedback, deathcore-ish breakdown, and a filthy, raw solo. It’s just killer stuff - seriously, it even gives me Wild Eyes flashbacks.
Naturally, Parkway Drive are kicking off a whole new visual and symbolic era with this release. You can see it all over the new video - runes everywhere, fresh outfits, the whole vibe. Classic PD: always leveling up their visuals, and honestly, it looks sick.
Can’t wait for more, it’s so good. You must check it too!
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
Young & Dumb
by Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan | picked by Lukas
Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan have joined forces for a nostalgic pop-punk anthem titled Young & Dumb released on May 9, 2025. This collaboration marks a reunion of two iconic Canadian artists who first toured together in 2003 during Lavigne's Try to Shut Me Up tour.
Young & Dumb serves as a tribute to their shared history and enduring friendship. The song, co-written by Lavigne, Simple Plan members, and producer John Feldmann, reflects on their early days in the music industry, capturing the essence of youthful dreams and the bonds formed through music.
This release coincides with the second leg of Lavigne's Greatest Hits Tour where Simple Plan joins as a supporting act. The collaboration replaces the previous joint performance piece, Fake as Hell with All Time Low, during live shows.
Young & Dumb has been already well-received by fans, resonating as a heartfelt time capsule that balances the weight of memory with the thrill of the present. It's a testament to the lasting impact of early 2000s pop-punk and the enduring connections forged through music. It’s also good to see long-time favorite artists together, in shape, with new and hot music.
Good one for summer parties? 🤔
Jinx
by One Step Closer | picket by Adi
Sexy. That’s the word that comes to mind when I try to describe the latest drop from the straight edge crew out of Pennsylvania. Back in 2021, BrooklynVegan called them “one of the most exciting bands in modern hardcore”, and honestly, they weren’t lying. The guys list Title Fight, blink-182, and Bane as their main inspirations - and that’s pretty much the perfect combo to sum up what you can expect from their sound.
Last year, May, they dropped their second killer album, All You Embrace, and it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. So if you’ve somehow missed out on them until now, it’s time to catch up - no excuses!
Hand That Feeds
by Halsey, Evanescence | selected by Adi
In less than a month, Ballerina: A John Wick Story (directed by Len Wiseman) hits theaters, but today we’re already getting a taste of the soundtrack - where rock diva Amy Lee of Evanescence teams up with pop star (and sometimes rock collaborator) Halsey.
Even if you’ve never stepped foot in the John Wick universe, you need to check out this collaboration. The hype for this powerhouse duet was minimal - they announced it just three days before dropping the new track. Halsey has talked plenty about her love for Evanescence, and now we get to hear that excitement turned into a dark, haunting track with two powerhouse female vocals that might just convince a few rock fans to hit the cinema, too.
Hatred
by Paleface Swiss | selected by Lukas
Swiss deathcore outfit Paleface Swiss has unleashed a ferocious new single, Hatred serving as the lead track from their third studio album, Cursed, released on January 3, 2025 . This song marks a significant evolution in the band's sound, blending elements of deathcore, nu-metal, and beatdown into a cohesive and aggressive anthem.
Hatred opens with the haunting, scary intro Un Pobre Niño Murió a reimagined lullaby that sets a chilling tone before diving into a relentless barrage of heavy riffs and rapid-fire vocals. Frontman Marc Zellweger delivers a performance that oscillates between guttural screams and rap-infused cadences, channeling raw emotion and frustration. The track's lyrical content reflects on the overwhelming negativity present in today's digital age, with Zelli stating:
Every time you open your phone, it's just a flood of negativity... Hatred is us venting our frustration about the things we can't change.
Fast, heavy and rough as f**k, but you must check it. And if you’re a fan of old-good Slipknot there might be something similar to find here.
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
iris
by mgk, Julia Wolf | written by Lukas
I must share with you this story. It’s something… at least for me. So!
A couple of years ago, I watched a Mac Pro review by Jonathan Morrison. This one was different - out from the typical hardware breakdowns. So instead of just running benchmarks, he invited some insanely talented and well-known music producers to put the machine through its paces in a real, high-pressure creative session. The highlight? You get a 15-minute production of an incredible track called Immortale. And here’s the kicker - it’s sung by Julia Wolf, a young, talented singer from Long Island who just started working with these guys.
From that moment, I was totally hooked. Julia’s voice is just something else - soft, delicate, and at the same time, totally unique. I immediately started checking her other tracks and, dude trust me, she’s got a bunch of hits that are absolutely worth your time. Ever since then, I’ve kept an eye on everything she’s dropped. Only quality, super memorable stuff - seriously, I can’t recommend her enough.
So you can imagine my reaction when I saw her collab with MGK - another artist I’ve been following for years. That alone was enough to get me hyped. But then I realized they teamed up to cover Iris, that timeless banger by Goo Goo Dolls, and honestly? My excitement went through the roof.
I’m not about to break down how this track was put together - because honestly, this one hits different. A lot of you probably have your own connection to this absolute classic. Sure, it’s an interpretation, and you can totally hear that signature MGK edge - gritty, punchy, and raw. But at the same time, it stays super true to the original, capturing all the emotion that made Iris so iconic in the first place. And when you throw Julia’s voice into it, it takes on a whole new vibe - fresh, unique, and honestly, just fascinating. I’m very attracted to this version, and you should be too.
Another Miracle
by Of Mice & Man | picked by Lukas
No warning - Of Mice & Men just drop Another Miracle. The track not to warm you up or ease. As always, and with the band’s style it launches full-force, guitars ripping, drums pummeling, and Aaron Pauley’s vocals flipping between desperation and hope, all in one breath.
It’s classic Of Mice & Men, closer to the tracks we know from Defy, but with an added sense of urgency. Not trying to save the world, but making the chaos feel a little more electric - and maybe even a little more bearable. Another Miracle isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about finding a spark, however small, when you need it most. So yeah, turn it up, see what hits, and maybe let yourself get caught up in the momentum.
Apologies
by Three Days Grace | picked by Adi
Last fall, fans of TDG got the news they’d been dreaming about for years: Adam Gontier is back on vocals after an 11-year break from the band. But that raised the big question - what about Matt Walst, who’s been fronting TDG in Gontier’s absence and even left his old band, My Darkest Days, to do so? Well, the guys decided to team up, and now TDG is officially rocking with two vocalists. We’ll get the full taste of this experiment in August when their eighth album drops - the first ever with this lineup. But we’re already getting a preview with the new single of the same name.
A lot of the time in the studio, it just comes naturally. Who’s gonna sing what and where. It’s been a lot of fun. We have each other’s backs and we cheer each other on when we do a good take. It’s pretty cool to be part of.
Matt Walst makes it clear: working with Gontier is going great. We can’t wait for the new album - and for the tour these guys just kicked off!
Naked
by Dead by April | picked by Adi
The Swedes are back! After dropping The Affliction in 2024, they’re hitting us with another single - easily one of their most interesting releases in a while. The band has gone through a few lineup changes over the years, but it looks like things have finally settled and they’re ready to push further into the world of electronic alternative metal - a sound that’s won them tons of fans far beyond Europe. Fans are already drawing the right comparisons: that melodic chorus instantly brings back vibes from their 2017 era, Worlds Collide.
In The Sky
by Belmont | selected by Adi
Belmont have surprised us before with their mellow, country-inspired vibes (just check out Country Girl), but today we’re getting a much heavier side from this Chicago crew. This new track brings everything: breakdowns, growls, and some seriously hard-hitting energy - still with that signature pop-punk flavor they’ve stuck with since 2014. They’re back with this single after dropping their third studio album in April 2024, and it’s clear they’re sticking to their chosen path.
But when it comes to describing the track, let’s hand it over to the band themselves:
Sonically, In The Sky strives to push the boundaries of music in a way that can’t be found anywhere else. Blending elements of progressive pop punk, metal, hip hop, ambient EDM, hardcore, and everything under the umbrella of ‘rock’ overall - the goal was to make something that was true to us as a band while keeping things catchy and palatable to the common listener, so that it would be engrained in their memory upon the first listen.
And honestly, there’s a good chance it’ll stick with you after just one spin.
And finally, the full playlist! 🤘
You can play it along, or just save within your Spotify account. Be safe, Lukas & Adi.