Throwing in rap bits and a slightly melodic delivery, Chicago based beatdown hardcore pack DROWNING have teamed up with us to give you the first look at their new music video for the track “Gods”, coming from their new record “23”, out July 20th via Fast Break! Records! These lads have surely proven themselves to be solid on the mic and with the good hustlin’ vibe and without losing touch with the things that are important in life.
“We’ve pretty much toured the entire United States and I can honestly say the scene in Chicago is among the most violent but yet light-hearted I’ve seen. By that I mean that the atmosphere at our hometown shows is intense but I’ve seen people get punched right in the face and laugh it off. It’s a strong release of feelings and energy and the people in that pit know what they are getting into.”
Bryan Grantz, vocalist of hardcore unit, DROWNING, is pretty clear that the band’s influences and attitude is distinctly a product of their Chi-town upbringing.
“More than any other band, we draw inspiration from the inner-city around us and that includes the drill music scene, the hip-hop scene to the working class people around us.”
That pride come together on the cover of the band’s forthcoming sophomore full-length 23 (to be released by Fast Break! Records on July 20th). The four members of the band confidently pose in front of Basketball deity Michael Jordan’s mansion gates (adorned with his jersey number carved in stainless steel).
New single/video “Gods” gives an example of the metallic and urban style of hardcore that the band excels at. An anthemic joint, Grantz says the track is about “hustling non-stop to achieve your goals and being able to celebrate with those who believed and forgetting those who didn’t.”
Grantz along with other members Ryan Kramarz (bass), Marcos Jaramillo (guitar), Cameron McBride (guitar) and Isaiah Rivera (drums) consider “Gods” to be one of the songs that shows their progression from 2016’s debut album EgoTrip to now. Of that development between albums Grantz says:
“When we started in 2011 we just wanted to write the heaviest music possible but in the last few years we have been just following wherever our influences are coming from, I feel like there’s no ideas or barriers that we won’t explore now.”
DROWNING has toured the U.S. and Puerto Rico with such notables as Sworn Enemy, Lionheart and Hoods. The band will embark on their first headlining tour of Europe (including festival dates) this summer.
