Third Track Alert: DRAIN – ‘Who’s Having Fun?'

Santa Cruz hardcore crew DRAIN is back with another track off their upcoming album …IS YOUR FRIEND. It’s the third single so far, and just as sick as the rest. If you don’t already know DRAIN, you should, and I say that as a metalcore girl with a huge soft spot for this band. Their sound lives somewhere between a cool ocean breeze and a chaotic, teeth-baring Shark Week. “Who’s Having Fun?” is officially playlist-approved. Put on your swim shorts and let’s dive in before the trio’s full record drops November 7th.

There’s nothing that screams summer quite like a DRAIN hit — and “Who’s Having Fun?” nails that feeling. The opening riff alone warms your skin and drops you right onto your own imagined beach. Vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro set’s the scene with warm and unguarded clean vocals, and then by the halfway point, you’re tangled in unstoppable guitar noodles from Cody Chavez and rocketing into the second verse. That also goes without mentioning the momentum that’s provided by drummer Tim Flegal. Flegal keeps a tight rhythm throughout the song even during the tonal changes, but also helps lead into and out of those notable transitions with ease.

Another run through that pre-chorus might have you thinking, Hey, this is one happy song! — but then comes the tonal shift: a darker, moodier section laced with Ciaramitaro’s unmistakable unclean vocals. The song’s vibe stays fun, but there’s an undercurrent of confrontation.

I can hear this blasting at a house party or soundtracking a PCH drive in the last weeks of summer. But underneath the good vibes, this is a me vs. you track. It’s a call-out. A target. An anthem that repeats its message loud and clear from start to finish. Sometimes there’s no need for resolution, you know, just a little tough love and a jab at those who’ve sold themselves out (remind you of someone?).

On the subject of lyrics, that’s what I love about DRAIN: their songs are flexible. You can interpret them from multiple perspectives: maybe it’s about you, maybe it’s about someone else entirely. It’s music that belongs to the people while still being a truthful outlet for the band. Hitting both marks is rare, but they pull it off, which can be a hard balance for some.

DRAIN proves once again they’re here for all the right reasons. This genre-bending crew just delivered a pop-punk banger with enough grit to keep it grounded. Fans reacted fast, like really fast, within hours, opinions were flying. Most are loving it, though a few are wondering: is this where hardcore is headed? Will more bands start crossing over like this? Well, time will tell, and to those who are concerned about genre-boxing these bands, the answer’s simple: a good song is a good song. And “Who’s Having Fun?” is exactly that.

So… back to the main question: Who’s Having Fun? If it’s you, catch DRAIN this fall at Louder Than Life, New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, and Warped Tour FL, or on tour with Kublai Khan TX, Gideon, and Guilt Trip.