DRAIN, the Santa Cruz bruisers who gained significant attention during the pandemic with their debut full-length California Cursed, have delivered yet another phenomenal hardcore record with their sophomore album, Living Proof. Building on the success of their debut, this new album showcases the band’s relentless energy while incorporating a few surprising elements that set it apart from its predecessor. The first half of Living Proof is packed with hardcore ragers, featuring beefy crossover thrash riffing, chug-heavy breakdowns, and Sammy Ciaramitaro’s unmistakable snarl. However, the band isn’t afraid to explore new territories with tracks like “Intermission,” which features rapper SHAKEWELL and seamlessly transitions from a piano/trap beat combo to a hardco...