Just Before The Drop: #21
Featuring: blessthefall, Fit for a King, All-American Rejects and more. Check out the newest issue of your weekly, curated modern punk & hardcore music recommendations.
Hi everyone!
We’re back with the new portion of great modern punk and hardcore recommendations. Summer’s in the middle, so we’ve picked some party pieces for you - whenever you’re going to celebrate, you’ll have tunes to heat the floor up. As always tho, some pack a punch and some come with a light sprinkle. Have fun and enjoy!
Lukas & Adi
mallxcore
by blessthefall | picked by Lukas
Alright, let’s rewind the tape as for a beginning - blessthefall basically ghosted us after dropping Hard Feelings in 2018 and wrapping up what many thought was their “last show” in 2019. Rumors swirled that Beau was busy being a dad, Eric went full-on realtor mode, and Jared plus Elliot even started a side project - so naturally fans figured BTF was done for good. By late 2022, all band socials got scrubbed clean, fueling the “breakup” chatter even more.
But then - plot twist in May 2023 they hit us with Wake the Dead their first new song in five years, reminding everyone why we love this squad. Fast-forward to June 2025 and BAM - they announce Gallows, their first full-length in seven years, with lead single mallxcore tearing up the scene. So yeah, they went off the grid for a “minute”, but now BTF’s back louder than ever - and we’re all here for it.
Witness the End
by Fit for a King | picked by Lukas
We’ve just uncovered another single from the forthcoming Lonely God album, and this one’s shaking things up. Witness the End leans heavier into gothic horror vibes than anything they’ve done before - think profane rituals in a church set and a cameo from Chris Motionless that takes the track to unpredictable territory.
From the opening blast of hyper-fast-foot drums and pulverizing riffs, you know you’re in for chaos. Ryan Kirby’s screams bite differently and deep, like never before, then Chris Motionless swoops in for a verse that feels sharp, theatrical, and utterly unhinged. The band themselves called it
the most unpredictable experience of any song on Lonely God
and they weren’t kidding.
Visually, the video plays like a twisted ceremony: a priest drenched in rancid holy water, shadowy congregants, and flashes of bloody ritual, finally burning along with the black soil-born tree - crazy shit. It’s all wrapped up in themes of false faith and apocalypse - spotlighting how easy it is to lose belief in a world that feels rotten to the core.
Shake
by Ray Hawthorne | picked by Adi
After the first few seconds of this track, you’ll be singing along:
Never found out why you left him,
but this answer begs a question,
Too blind to see tomorrow,
too broke to beg or borrow.
And in your head you’ll see the Universal logo and hear the opening seconds of American Pie 2. Because the intro is eerily similar to Every Time I Look for You. And although this song probably won’t have the same legendary impact as that blink-182 classic, Ray Hawthorne once again proves he’s got a knack for writing catchy, melodic tunes that feel like summer circa 2002.
This time it’s a bit faster and more aggressive than his previous stuff, but still unmistakably his sound. If, by some miracle, this is your first time hearing him and you’re into that sunny vibe definitely check out his Spotify. He drops new tracks very regularly - by which I mean almost every week (!). It’s a clever promo strategy, and it keeps him high on my radar. I couldn’t be happier about it.
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
Shinebox
by Somerset Thrower | picked by Adi
If I had to sum up Somerest Throwerer’s sound by comparing them to a few bands, it’d be like The Ataris meeting Jimmy Eat World and Rival Schools - and that’s already reason enough to give them a spin. This Long Island quartet is back after a long break, and for the past few weeks they’ve been dropping hit after hit from their upcoming album. After the killer Never Going To Therapy and the anthemic Motor City we now get another slice of pure ’90s vibe.
Picture this track as a guy strolling down an empty street in a small California town on a sunny but windy day - flannel shirt on, hair tousled, hands shoved into worn-out jeans pockets, and the whole scene shot with that blown-out, overexposed look. That’s exactly the feel Somerest Throwerer capture: sun-bleached flannel energy in musical form.
If that resonates, add them to your favorites and get ready for their new album Take Only What You Need To Survive, dropped couple days ago.
Rainn
by Liotta Seaoul | picked by Adi
Time for a knockout straight outta Germany. Liotta Seoul and Oklahoma Kid have teamed up to unleash the high-voltage Rainn Neither band sticks to one lane - Liotta Seoul mash up grunge and nu-metal with a dash of alt-rock nostalgia, while Oklahoma Kid bring full-throttle metal fire seasoned by their hardcore roots. That genre mash-up won’t let you sit still for the nearly three-minute runtime of their collab.
These guys go way back on the German scene, ripping through dozens of shows together at home and abroad. After hearing Rainn it’s clear they’re only going to get tighter as a unit - and that can only mean big things ahead. Have fun and enjoy!
I Don’t Love You Like I Wish I Could
Lost Trees | selected by Lukas
We’ve just wrote about Lost Trees recent release, couple days after and they’re releasing a new one - I Don’t Love You Like I Wish I Could - contributing into the same emotional groove they’ve been riding all year. After the raw drive of Friendly Fire and the atmospheric swell of Slow Divide this track keeps that blend of honesty and heaviness intact Spotify.
Right out of the gate, you get those tight, syncopated riffs that build just enough tension before the chorus opens up. Alex Torres delivers his vocals with the grit we know and love, then slides into clean melodies that crackle with regret. Another great track, another flashback for me from the times when ❤️ Kyle 🪦 was with/in We Came as Romans.
Make Me a Martyr
by Caskets | picked by Lukas
Caskets have surfaced again, their first stand-alone single since 2023’s Reflections Make Me a Martyr is here, and it’s a stark reminder of why Leeds’ finest keep stealing the spotlight. Signed to SharpTone Records, they’ve dialed every element up for this one - no half measures.
The tune begins with a throbbing rhythm section: low-end guitar grooves and lyrical fills make a bed of stress before Matthew Flood starts singing for good. His assertive shouts and genuinely tender croon fluctuate, providing a glimpse into the pull and push of devotion and self-sabotage at the song’s heart. Tension builds, tempos, flows being changed, bridging solid, all creates pretty neat construction. Can’t wait for the full upcoming release, that is coming…
Restless Leg Syndrom
by Evergreen Terrace | picked by Lukas
Evergreen Terrace have just dropped Restless Leg Syndrome (this title) the first taste of their upcoming split with Wisdom In Chains, set to land digitally and on vinyl August 29 via Dead Serious Recordings. It’s their first new material since last summer’s Jail on Christmas and it shows the Jacksonville vets still know how to keep you on edge.
From the opening blast - tight, fast-tempo drums underlayered by Craig Chaney’s jagged guitar accents - the song ratchets up the tension immediately. Andrew Carey’s vocals alternate between his signature barked verses and a surprisingly melodic chorus that leans into a restless, almost nervous energy. There’s a driving momentum here that perfectly mirrors the track’s title: you can practically feel the jittery urge to move in every riff.
It’s their very best signature style - guitar tones, vocal blends and the versatile fulfillment makes it again great production, qualitative and catchy one. Hope to get some more stuff from them soon.
Counterfeit
by nothing.nowhere | selected by Adi
Joseph Edward Mulherin - better known as nothing.nowhere - is a Boston native who once worked as a photographer and video editor for an ice cream company, and started making music at the age of 12. At the height of his early success, he had to cancel a string of shows due to panic attacks and worsening depression. He’s vegan and identifies with the straight edge movement, which gives you a good sense of where he’s coming from personally.
Now that you know the person behind the name, let’s talk about the music. It’s a blend of emo rap, indie rock, and trap - melancholic but catchy, raw but melodic. Earlier this year, he took on tracks by Smash Mouth and Chappell Roan in his Will It Emo? series, flipping them into his own emotional universe. He’s already opened for the likes of Neck Deep, Real Friends, Thrice, and even Fall Out Boy - so if you’re into any of those, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to latch onto in his world.
Easy Come, Easy Go
by The All-American Rejects | picked by Adi
A whole new generation recently got their first taste of The All-American Rejects - not through some polished arena tour, but with the band popping up in places like bowling alleys, backyards, and barns. Yep, you read that right. The guys are gearing up to release their first full-length album since 2012, and they’re doing it with some serious old-school flair.
By now, AAR are veterans of the power pop / pop punk / alt rock scene - they’ve been at it since the late ’90s, and they’ve got the mileage to prove it. Back in March, they announced that their long-awaited fifth album will finally drop this year, and honestly? I couldn’t be happier.
As a longtime fan, Easy Come, Easy Go puts a big fat grin on my face. Tyson Ritter’s unmistakable voice still bites, still scratches at the edges of each verse, and those infectiously catchy melodies? Still sharp as ever. If the full album keeps up this pace, the future’s looking real bright for The All-American Rejects.
And finally, the full playlist! 🤘
You can play it along, or just save within your Spotify account. Be safe, Lukas & Adi.