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70. Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows - D.R.U.G.S. (2011)

Post-Punk

Comprised of members of Chiodos, From First to Last, Matchbook Romance and Story of the Year, D.R.U.G.S. was a bonafide screamo supergroup. In the aftermath of his departure from Chiodos, founder Craig Owens managed to bottle some serious lightning on what would become his side project’s only full-length album. In what probably came as a surprise to no one, the group lasted a scant two years, dissolving upon Owens’ return to Chiodos in 2012. But the work they did together culminated in their eponymous perfect storm of an album, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows.

While the admittedly odd screamo mutation of metal seemed to be a flash in the pan destined to die off by the end of the 2000’s, this project may have been instrumental in ensuring it’s persistence well into the 2010’s. A classic amalgamation of all of the best qualities of screamo: unfettered teen angst, infectious melodies, and tastefully balanced aggression and vulnerability. It’s immature, but innocently so, made for a largely immature market that’s too helplessly beholden to their hormones to know any better. Production on the album is eclectic and bold. Curious but compelling detours into electronic dot a few tracks, prophesying a more digitally influenced decade to come. Love it or hate it, screamo’s time in the sun was replete with groups that executed extremely well, and D.R.U.G.S. certainly established themselves within that top tier.

*image; cover art for the album Destroy Rebuild Before God Shows by the artist D.R.U.G.S.