The underground hardcore scene is packed. So many bands, so much noise that it’s easy to miss the ones that actually deserve your attention. But every now and then, one cuts through the static. Right now, that band is Drag You Under—a new hardcore outfit from Delaware that’s already making waves in the right places.
They’re just getting started—both in terms of their time together and their reach—but there’s something real here. They’ve been tearing up small venues and basement shows around Delaware, Philly, and New Jersey, and if the footage is any indication, their sets are absolute chaos in the best way. It’s the kind of show where you don’t just watch—you feel it. In your chest. In your fists. There’s a part of your mind that yearns to express itself but doesn’t always have the opportunity. This is that opportunity.
Right now, they’ve got two EPs out. One is Survivors Guilt, a gritty, no-frills introduction to who they are. The other is a split with the band Inevitable, which opens strong with two Drag You Under tracks before handing things off. Personally, I keep coming back to Survivor’s Guilt. It’s raw, it’s pissed off, and it doesn’t overthink anything—which is exactly what good hardcore should be.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/72ETURDkOh0zCE0u5qYfg0?si=HPORvU6GQdiGC233Ilxoaw
The vocals are rough around the edges in a way that feels honest, the guitar riffs are dirty and unrelenting, and the drums are genuinely some of the tightest I’ve heard from a band at this stage. It’s all still a little rough—the production isn’t majorly studio-polished—but that’s part of what gives it character. There’s potential here, and if they get the chance to refine things a bit more, they could really take off.
So yeah, Drag You Under might only have a handful of monthly listeners right now, but don’t let that fool you. This is one of those bands you’re going to wish you heard before everyone else did. If you’ve got any love for heavy, emotionally honest music, they’re worth your time.
Keep an eye on them; I feel like this is the start of something.
