Santa Cruz hardcore heavyweights DRAIN have officially announced their new album …IS YOUR FRIEND, set to drop November 7th, 2025 via Epitaph Records. Known for their feral live shows and infectious energy, the trio isn’t slowing down—in fact, they’re doubling down. This upcoming release follows the chaos of 2023’s LIVING PROOF, and it promises even more mayhem, melody, and mayhem with a smile.
Leading the charge is the punchy new single “Nights Like These,” a bouncy hardcore anthem packed with gratitude, gang vocals, and just enough pit-stirring chaos to make venue security break a sweat. Frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro says the song is a love letter to the wild ride he’s had with his best friends. “No matter how much we accomplish and how big we grow—we are still just a couple of friends who get to play music together,” he reflects. “That is what ‘Nights Like These’ is about.”
But it’s the music video that really seals the deal. DRAIN tapped their actual dads and uncles as body doubles to fast-forward thirty years into the future, where greying versions of the band still tear it up on stage. Forget CGI or prosthetics—Ciaramitaro’s 61-year-old father legit stage-dives in the clip. The vibe? Unhinged and heartwarming. “Shout out to Stu, Frankie, and Donny!” he adds, clearly still buzzing from the experience.
Produced by Jon Markson (The Story So Far, Drug Church), …IS YOUR FRIEND was tracked entirely live—no click tracks, no programming, no nonsense. Just raw, real, raucous energy. It’s the closest you’ll get to a DRAIN show without catching an elbow to the jaw.
Over the years, DRAIN have exploded out of their Santa Cruz roots to win over punks, metalheads, and pit veterans alike. Whether sharing stages with Blink-182 or Neck Deep or going full send at underground festivals, one thing stays consistent: the crowd always goes wild. And with …IS YOUR FRIEND, that’s exactly the plan. Ten songs built to go off, crafted with the chaos of the live show in mind.
