Just Before The Drop: #5
Featuring: Arch Enemy, Rare Americans, Lost in Separation, and more. Check out the newest issue of your weekly, curated modern punk & hardcore music recommendations.
Hi friends! ✋
Another week, another round of absolute bangers! 🔥 Welcome back, JBTD crew! And to all the new faces who just joined us – you picked a hell of a time to be with us. This week’s lineup is strong, and as we both claimed various as f*ck. We’re keeping the tempo relentless, serving you the hardest hitters first, easing into a tiny breather, and then detonating the final drop when you least expect it. This playlist is built for one thing only – making your next week better. So turn it up, and let’s go!
Void
by Haunted Mask | selected by Lukas
Silence… Let it roll out.
I’m starting with a true missile. The beginning is like the peak of a rollercoaster climb - the exact moment when your stomach knots up, right before you plunge at full speed. And oh man, this one drops HARD.
Void is a relentless storm - fast, harsh, and powerful. The energy hits like a hammer, no time wasted. From the start, those running riffs pull you in, hypnotic and razor-sharp. The sheer momentum is insane, like a track that was born to be played live in a packed, sweat-drenched venue.
Vocals are incredibly versatile - especially the growl parts. I swear I hear three, maybe even four different tones in here. Maybe it’s just me, but some lines remind me of early BMTH, straight from their first albums. The background filled in electronic chords, layering that thick substance, that’s dropping in one by one. Then - finally, a brief moment of relief - just enough to catch your breath before the track slams into its final, chaotic spin. WOW. I’m devastated. What a track!
Haunted Mask is a rising force in the metalcore scene, straight out of the Bay Area, California. They’re just getting started, gearing up for new releases while hitting the road for pre-release gigs. Keep your eyes on them - because they’re set to leave a mark on the genre. I can’t wait to hear more!
Paper Tiger
by Arch Enemy | written by Lukas
From the very first lines, Arch Enemy is on a warpath, delivering melodic death metal at its finest, with all the razor-sharp precision we’ve come to expect from them. This track is fast, aggressive, and packed with attitude - Alissa is in full beast mode, alternating between feral growls and those piercing, almost chant-like screams that send shivers down your spine. She’s not holding back, and neither is the band. To me it’s her highest shape so far.
And those guitar lines just before the chorus? Oh, dude. That super melodic, dynamic lead kicks in, teasing you with its energy, building up so much tension - and then? Boom. It’s over way too soon. It feels like they cracked open a vault of pure gold, only to let us glimpse it for a fleeting moment before slamming the door shut again. Damn it, guys, give us more of that!
To me, not a huge fan of their music to date it’s a very promising prognosis of upcoming full-length album packed with (hope so) jucie sounds and vibes.
Arch Enemy has unleashed Paper Tiger the fourth single from their forthcoming album, Blood Dynasty, set to release on March 28, 2025, via Century Media Records. As anticipation builds for the new album, Paper Tiger stands as a testament to Arch Enemy's enduring prowess in the metal scene. With its potent combination of melody and aggression, the track not only satisfies long-time fans but also promises to captivate new listeners.
Iron Grip
by Nasty, Terror | picked by Adi
On March 14, Nasty is dropping their new EP, Black My Heart, and in 2024, they went head-to-head on tour with hardcore legends Terror from California. The result? A 90-second sonic chainsaw that cuts through everything in its path.
Scott Vogel jumps in on vocals for the final 30 seconds, delivering a hard-hitting message: Thru the best and thru the worst, I kept my iron grip in this fucking world. Matthias Tarnath follows up with: F*ck what they say, division is making us weak. Together we are in battle, together we bleed.
The end result? A brutal anthem for Nasty’s upcoming U.S. tour. But no worries for European fans - Nasty has already announced an intense summer tour across the continent, kicking off in June.
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
Y U Gotta Do Me Like That
by Down And Out, As December Falls | picked by Lukas
OK. Let’s leave this harsh and fast metal tunes for a moment. Time to rest.
Next is a collaboration between Down And Out and As December Falls. It’s a jumpy, melodic anthem tailor-made for those upcoming summer nights. From the opening riff, you're hooked. The energy is infectious, with guitars that fly and weave, setting the stage for a melody that sticks. The verses, constructed on top of the mix of electronic beats and simple guitar chords build anticipation, leading into a chorus that's an explosion of sound - melodic, bouncy and very vocally, a bit post-hardcore-ish?! (I can feel this influence, really)
Love that the track was split “by bands”. Thanks to that, just after the first chorus you can hear the Bethany’s (As December Falls) part that isn’t a short featuring, that will be missed after a few seconds - like with last week’s Melissa Bruschi. It’s here, it’s real, it’s rich, bumped by the pop-punk riffs. You can even hear some Skrillex-like, dub-step’py inserts. Oh my!
Coming straight off their brand-new EP, Sunk Cost Fallacy, this track stands out as one of its defining moments. Down And Out, a rising pop-punk powerhouse from Adelaide, is proving that they’re here to stay and make waves. If Y U Gotta Do Me Like That is any indication of where they’re headed, their future looks massive. Their ability to blend infectious energy, sharp melodies, and a dynamic vocal balance makes them a standout in the genre.
And hey, imho there’s not so many bands like this one. These great times of this great music went a bit away (that’s the feeling). So I’m even more happy that had a chance to present them to you. 🍉 My absolute favourite one from this week.
Drugs
by Rare Americans | picked by Adi
There are nearly 70,000 Slovaks or people of Slovak descent living in Canada - and at least two of them founded the pop-indie-rock band Rare Americans in 2018. While Lubo Ivan had to leave the group, bassist Jan Cajka, along with brothers James and Jared Priestner, continue to push forward, now joined by Duran Ritz on drums. And they’re moving in the right direction - fast.
Not only is the band incredibly productive, but they’re also in full creative control - animating their own music videos, promoting a punk-rock musical (S)kids set to premiere in early April, and currently deep into an intense U.S. tour with dates packed through at least the end of May.
Rare Americans might not be the most obvious pick this week, but their 700 million+ streams, tours across Europe and North America, and a nomination for Canada’s version of the Grammys “Breakthrough Group of the Year” suggest you should definitely give them a listen. Trust the hype.
An Irish Goodbye On St. Valentine's Day
by The Rumjacks | written by Adi
If you’re born in Australia but feel such a strong pull toward Celtic punk that you move from the other side of the world to Europe, it’s safe to say you were made for this music. Or, you’ve found enough success to make that move worthwhile, which, in this case, is pretty much the same thing.
In three years, these guys will be celebrating two decades on stage, and not even internal struggles could slow them down. Frontman Frankie McLaughlin had to leave the band after 12 years, following yet another fallout with the rest of the group. But that didn’t stop them - in fact, they’ve only gained momentum since. Now, they’re dropping their second album since his departure, and their sixth overall, hitting what might be the best moment of their career.
For this week’s Just Before The Drop, I could have gone with any of the three singles leading up to the February 7 release of Dead Anthems. But with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there was only one real choice An Irish Goodbye On St. Valentine’s Day. This year, expect flat caps, raucous singalongs, and one hell of a melodic album from a band currently tearing through another European tour. And if you’re not into Valentine’s Day?
No worries. "Dead Anthems" guarantees a damn good time either way.
Three Six Five
by SHINEDOWN | selected by Adi
Next year, Shinedown will hit the 25-year mark, proving that hard rock longevity doesn’t mean stagnation. With their eighth full-length album slated for 2025, the Florida rock veterans are kicking things off with two brand-new singles: Dance Kid, Dance and Three Six Five.
The first? Fast, electrifying, and carried by a signature riff that demands attention, topped off with a slick solo that reminds us why Shinedown has always been about anthemic rock energy. The second? Slower, deeply nostalgic, and primed for radio airwaves - a track that already feels destined for their 25th-anniversary setlist. And if you had any doubts that such a tour is happening, forget them. This milestone is getting the full celebration treatment.
Despite a quarter-century on stage, Shinedown sounds fresher than ever, thanks in part to frontman Brent Smith’s powerhouse vocals and the band’s willingness to evolve. Smith himself admitted that for this record, they decided to break away from the conceptual approach of their last two albums and take a new creative direction:
We asked ourselves where we truly wanted to go this time. Instead of questioning, ‘Why this way?’ we started asking, ‘Why not?’
This April, Shinedown will hit the road across the U.S., playing legendary venues like Madison Square Garden, supported by an incredible lineup: the younger but ferocious Beartooth, rising star Morgan Wade, and seasoned rock veterans Bush.
A hell of a lineup for a hell of a band.
Black Mirror
by Lost in Separation | picked by Adi
If you think the world is rotten to the core, crumbling more with each passing day, and that humanity might be beyond saving - BUT you still manage to find tiny sparks of hope in this bleak reality, then you’re about to click instantly with this band. Like black t-shirts and metal, it’s a perfect match.
This is one of those bands where, if you scroll through their YouTube comments, you’ll find countless people asking:
Why the hell isn’t this band bigger?
And honestly? They’ve got a point. But everything is still ahead of them. Right now, they’re working on the follow-up to 2024’s Sabertooth, and it looks like they’re leaning more toward the melodic intensity of Fit For A King rather than the uncompromising brutality of Kublai Khan - sticking within the Texas metalcore scene, but with a different spin.
Maybe it’s just personal perception, but their last album was powerful yet a bit chaotic at times. The new single? More structured, more digestible - or maybe I’m just feeling that winter nostalgia creeping in. Either way, this band is one to keep on your radar.
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
Never Enough
by Archers | written by Lukas
It starts with reverb-sinked guitar that at the beginning instantly grabbed attention. A melodic riff paired with a fast-paced tempo, layered clean vocals, and eventually culminating in growling sections, all backed by pounding double-kick - it’s a mix that keeps you hooked.
It’s hard to pin down the exact genre - it sits somewhere between alternative metal, modern metal, and even touches of metalcore - they original genre. Well, that’s why it’s hard to place them somewhere, especially that this track is much different from what they’ve crated 10 years ego… Anyway, regardless of how you label it, one thing’s for sure: this track is insanely catchy, and your head will be nodding along before you even realize it.
Archers, Madison, Wisconsin. Formed in 2015 by guitarist Ben Koehler and vocalist Nathanael Pulley. They debuted with the EP Cuts & Bruises, which helped establish their presence in the metalcore scene (exactly). Now, as they’re gear up for their upcoming North American tour, Never Enough sets a promising tone for what's to come. The track not only showcases their musical prowess but also their ability to tackle relatable themes with authenticity and intensity. I like that the character of their sound is different, kept within the convention, but fresh, modern and future-oriented.
Death Shall Have No Dominion
by Imminence | picked by Lukas
I’ve started hard, I’ll finish hard.
Time for Swedish metalcore sensation of last years. Imminence just unleashed their latest single, Death Shall Have No Dominion and it's... different. Released on February 7, 2025, this track plunges listeners into the deepest, darkest realms of their musical prowess. I guess. Actually, I’m shocked, bit confused even.
From the very first notes, the track feels “odd”. The atmosphere is thick with emotion, drenched in cinematic tension, making it one of their most enigmatic and complex releases to date. After couple of weird plate sounds, and guitar string strokes it hit you with immediate aggression. And with what power! The climax is massive - a gut-wrenching wave of distorted guitars, soaring orchestration, and primal screams that hit like an avalanche. It’s both devastating and beautiful - the kind of moment that sticks with you long after the final note fades.
You can still hear their signature style - the haunting melodies, the severe vocals, the crushing breakdowns, and of course, Eddie Berg’s iconic violin. But this time, it’s all wrapped in something more etheric, melancholic, and deeply introspective. There’s a strange weight in it, an almost spiritual aura, making it feel vast yet intimate, powerful yet fragile. It’s harsh, it’s dark, I don’t know what to write more…
They’ve just dropped their new album, The Black, and with it came the bold slogan: “The Black is Back.” But what does that really mean? Is this track a declaration of a new era or just a standalone bonus piece… looks like. Either way, it’s here, and it absolutely deserves your attention.