Drop Rate’s new EP, Cheap Fantasy, is a tightly focused distillation of energy and sincerity. The Lansing, Michigan band taps into the ethos of the 90s hardcore scene while carrying forward a sharp, modern sensibility. Their influences—ranging from Snapcase and Quicksand to Backtrack and Turnstile—form the backbone of this release, but Cheap Fantasy is no mere homage. It’s a burst of passion, a reflection of a band driven by genuine intent rather than posturing.
The six-track EP, out today via Setterwind Records, captures Drop Rate’s ability to balance intensity with accessibility, delivering some cool vibes that resonate with anyone who remembers when hardcore was about authenticity, not artifice—a hardcore that echoes the raw heart of bands like Snapcase and Quicksand without feeling derivative.
Recorded by current members of Foxgrave and Silktail, alongside past members of Thrashin in the Streets, Cheap Fantasy is the band’s second EP and a deliberate step forward in their creative journey.
The group’s chemistry—developed through years of experience and collaboration—makes the EP feel effortless but not complacent. It’s hardcore with heart: full of natural energy and unpretentious passion, the kind of sound that doesn’t require polish to hit hard.