Just Before The Drop: #6
Featuring: Hands Like Houses, Bleeding Through, Eve 6, and more. Check out the newest issue of your weekly, curated modern punk & hardcore music recommendations.
Hi friends! 👋
It’s us again, Lukas & Adi!
We’ve got another round of great recommendations for you. This week, as always, we’re bringing you some incredible tunes, a mix of bollock-kicking-metalcore with alternative, atmospheric, cinematic even tracks that will hook you from the very first listen, and - we promise - will be looped all over.
Grab your headphones, get comfy, close your eyes, and let’s dive in. This is going to be an unforgettable experience. Let’s start this off strong.
Obey
by Hands Like Houses, Kellin Quinn | picked by Lukas
After months of anticipation, Hands Like Houses have finally released their ambitious new album, ATMOSPHERICS. This double album is structured into four volumes - Tropo(sphere), Strato(sphere), Meso(sphere), and Thermo(sphere) - each representing a different layer of the atmosphere, symbolizing the band's evolution and creative journey.
I’m picking Obey, a track that’s been building anticipation since December (released on Meso). The song captures the essence of the album - punchy, energetic, and layered with intricate sound design. Featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens, Obey blends soaring melodies, HLH’s signature gritty guitars and electronic inserts making it an instant standout.
The album as a whole leans into themes of resilience, transformation, and pushing boundaries, making ATMOSPHERICS one of the most ambitious projects HLH has undertaken to date. Longtime fans will recognize nods to their Dissonants era, but this time, they’ve expanded their sonic palette, incorporating more electronic textures and cinematic influences to create a cohesive and immersive experience.
Prudent Passion
by Bitter Season | written by Adi
If you still ride a skateboard or ever have, chances are you’ve worn long white socks with stripes at least once. Or maybe, as a kid, you longingly stared at ads for the latest Dickies you wished you could rock, and you definitely have a soft spot for snapbacks - if any of that sounds like you, then Bitter Season is right up your alley.
Right from the start, the guitar in Prudent Passion reminded me of something. About two and a half listens in, it hit me - RUFIO! If reading that triggered a nostalgia trip and Perhaps, I Suppose... was in your heavy rotation 20 years ago, then you’re in the right place. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, then do yourself a favor and check out @bitterseasonpunkx on social media ASAP.
Out of today’s picks, this is the most underground band, but they’ve got serious potential to stand alongside those pushing to bring skate-punk back to its glory days. They call themselves neo-punk - a term I first read over 25 years ago when blink-182 dropped Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, and some old-school Only Rock reviewer tried to define the punk-rock catharsis brought on by that lovable trio from California. Bitter Season won’t be the next blink, but with influences like these, they definitely deserve a shot.
War Time
by Bleeding Through, Shadows Fall | selected by Lukas
After months of anticipation, Bleeding Through has unleashed their ninth studio album, Nine, on February 14, 2025, via SharpTone Records. This release marks a significant milestone in their 25-year career, after long-time break encapsulating their evolution while staying true to their metalcore roots.
I'm spotlighting War Time a track that originally dropped in April 2023 as a teaser for the (maybe-in-the-future-release) album. Featuring Brian Fair of Shadows Fall, whose distinctive vocals add a unique layer to the track. War Time delivers a potent blend of aggressive riffs, thunderous drums, and haunting keys, creating a soundscape that's both brutal and melodic. The interplay between Brandan Schieppati's and Fair's vocals brings an intense dynamic, though some listeners might find their simultaneous delivery a bit overlapping - but that’s fine. My advice here would be to keep attention on backgrounded, doubled growls within certain parts, it has this significant overloading above the rest.
Nine as a whole delves into themes of resilience, inner turmoil, and societal challenges. Tracks like Dead But So Alive and I Am Resistance showcase the band's signature fusion of metalcore intensity with gothic and symphonic elements, offering listeners a diverse and immersive experience. The album also features collaborations with artists like Doc Coyle of God Forbid and Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid, adding depth and variety to the record.
My personal outcome is that they sound stays still like all good BT, with tiny tweaks tho. And that’s good because something is with that band that I may not stand if there would be any significant evolution here. Good stuff!
Check out previous issues of Just Before The Drop!
Prawda Rodzi Nienawiść
by Dybuk | picked by Adi
It sounds like another dose of emotional self-flagellation, and we’re all in. The guys from Dybuk describe their latest work with brutal clarity, leaving no doubt about what to expect from their upcoming second album, set to drop in May.
It’s going to be raw, intense, and unapologetic. If life is already dragging you down, Dybuk will take you even further - but that’s the point. After all, Veritas Odium Parit means Truth Breeds Hatred (Prawda Rodzi Nienawiść), and that’s exactly what their sophomore record will be called. At this stage, it’s probably time to stop calling them a project and recognize them as a full-fledged band - one that tours and continues to unleash a fresh wave of dark, unrelenting music.
Even if you don’t understand a word of Polish, don’t worry - Dybuk’s music isn’t about the lyrics alone; it’s about the emotions it evokes. And make no mistake, those emotions won’t be pleasant. But that’s exactly the way it should be.
Blood Red 🩸
by LANDMVRKS | picked by Adi
In one of the previous Just Before The Drop issues, I told you to keep an eye on the latest from these guys from Marseille, arguing that their upcoming April release could be one of the best albums of the year. Well, I stand by that statement.
We’re finally getting some French-language sections, which LANDMVRKS should definitely incorporate more often. I’ll just leave this comment from the Blood Red release here: I did not understand any French word, but it's so fucking insane. Honestly, that alone could be my whole review.
So far, we’ve heard five tracks from The Darkest Place I've Never Been, and not a single one disappoints. Hell, you won’t be able to sit still through any of them. Be sure to check out our review of A Line in The Dust from Just Before The Drop #3, where the band teams up with Mat Welsh from While She Sleeps.
This album is going to be epic. Btw, is that word still in fashion? 😎
Mistake 🐰
by Dead Rabbitts, Lauren Babic | written by Lukas
Metalcore project Dead Rabbitts, led by Escape the Fate’s frontman Craig Mabbitt, set the stage for their upcoming album with Mistake, a track that originally dropped in 2024. Featuring the versatile vocalist and YouTuber Lauren Babic delivers quite original, still Rabbitts-styled composition. To unveil this one I would recommend you to check the video clip first…
It's packed with visual emotions, presenting this song as a modern take on their well-known swinging post-hardcore lines. It weaves together slow, tension-building verses, electronic inserts, and, finally, a “touch” of Lauren’s vocals. Her clean parts fit perfectly, blending seamlessly with the characteristic guitar tones.
There’s a moment in the middle of the track - just after the breakdown - where the sound of keys (maybe it’s a guitar, hard to recognize) emerges. And if you listen carefully, you’ll notice a haunting, looping sound of a drowned-out siren. What an awesome sequence!
Redefined (upcoming on March 14th) marks a significant chapter for Dead Rabbitts, reuniting Mabbitt with producer Howard Benson and engineer Mike Plotnikoff. This collaboration aims to recapture the distinctive post-hardcore sound that sets the project apart from Mabbitt's other musical endeavors. I’m always under impression how different this side can be having in mind characteristics of Mabbitt “voice conditions”. Can’t wait.
WONDERWaLL
by Bring Me The Horizon | selected by Lukas
It’s really hard, taking their fertility not to mention them within such a listing as ours. So here we go again, Bring Me The Horizon gals and lads. Our old friends from Sheffield recently unveiled a bold cover of Oasis's iconic 1995 track, WONDERWaLL, as part of the Spotify Singles series. Released on January 29, 2025, this rendition infuses the classic with the band's signature metalcore energy, offering a fresh and intense perspective on the well-known anthem.
What are the Spotify Singles you’d ask. It’s a program launched by Spotify in 2016 to provide artists with the opportunity to record exclusive tracks for their listeners. The initiative allows artists to reimagine their own songs or cover tracks from other musicians, offering fresh and unique renditions. Since its inception, the program has produced over 630 recordings from more than 300 artists across various genres, collectively amassing over 5 billion streams as of May 2021.
These sessions are typically recorded in renowned studios worldwide, such as Electric Lady Studios in New York City. During the COVID-19 pandemic, artists adapted by recording from their own homes, ensuring the continuation of the series.
The cover has garnered significant attention, amassing over 7 million streams (so far) on Spotify within two weeks of its release. Notably, Liam Gallagher, the original vocalist of Wonderwall, praised the rendition, describing it as:
Absolutely incredible!
Redeemed 🦁
LAMBS & LIONS | picked by Adi
In an era where faith is more often a subject of critique - especially in the world of heavy music - there are still bands that make it their central theme. But let’s be honest, you probably don’t know too many artists playing Christian Oi music. Well, that’s about to change.
Lambs & Lions is a band formed by a trio from Brazil, Croatia, and England. What started as a side project has now evolved into a full-fledged band, and they’re about to drop their second album. Luis Medeiros, formerly of hardcore outfit Living Fire, brings plenty of punk energy to the mix. The difference? Instead of anthems about the struggles of the working class, you’ll be hearing about devotion to God and gratitude for His grace.
If faith is a big part of your life, you probably won’t need much convincing. But even if it’s not your thing, this record is worth checking out - musically, it delivers a well-produced, melody-driven sound, with soaring choruses that stick. Redeemed is the standout track leading the charge, and who knows maybe Lambs & Lions will help you redeem your own sins. Still not feeling it? Fine, check it out purely out of curiosity. After all, it’s not every day you see a bunch of guys in suspenders and Fred Perry polos singing about miracles and worship.
Stealing My Sun
by Eve 6 | picked by Adi
For 30 years, this Californian trio has had a knack for crafting nostalgic hits. Two of their albums went platinum (Eve 6, 1998) and gold (Horrorscope, 2000), but after that, they became more known for their sporadic releases than for chart dominance. Their fourth album arrived after nearly a decade, and fans had to wait a full ten years for their fifth. So, it was quite a surprise when, following the release of Dream Fist last fall, Eve 6 quickly returned with something new - well, sort of.
Their latest track, Steal My Sunshine, is a cover of the one-hit-wonder classic by Canadian group LEN. At the turn of the millennium, the original dominated the charts in Australia, Canada, and even held its ground for quite a while on the Billboard Hot 100. Eve 6's take retains that same carefree, feel-good vibe but presents it in a slightly more polished, radio-friendly package.
However, if you’re unfamiliar with Eve 6, this isn’t the best track to start with. Instead, do yourself a favor and begin with Horrorscope - or, if you’re in the mood for something more aggressive, dive straight into Think Twice, one of their hardest-hitting songs to date.
Oh, and while we’re on the topic - if you’re from the U.S., confirm something for me: is Here’s to the Night really the most-played song at the end of high school proms, or is that just a myth?
Talking In My Sleep 🛏️
by Grayscale | selected by Lukas (and Adi)
Funny story with this one. It doesn’t happen often, but we both added this track to our list without knowing the other had picked it. That’s how you know it’s something special! However, I was first - so I get the privilege of writing about it.
Lately, not many alternative tracks manage to catch my attention. The genre often feels saturated, with many releases sounding secondary or unoriginal. So much has already been done that it’s tough to find something that feels fresh and original. But Talking In My Sleep? That’s a different story.
From the moment the first notes hit, Talking In My Sleep got this perfect blend of nostalgia and modern energy - deeply melodic, emotionally raw, and undeniably catchy. I love the acoustic guitar building, super gentle vocals, piano and synchs in background and stacked werbel, heading towards passionate chorus. The track walks the fine line between heartfelt vulnerability and anthemic power.
I'm ashamed to admit it, but they’re new to me. This is my first time diving into their music, and I’m thrilled - I’ve been waiting a long time to discover something like this. And since I can’t compare their previous work, Talking In My Sleep feels like the perfect entry point to The Hart. With this track serving as an introduction to their newly released album, it’s the best time to play it loud and form an opinion. I can only encourage you to do the same!