Nashville heavy duo Friendship Commanders—vocalist/guitarist Buick Audra and drummer/bassist Jerry Roe—are back with a monumental new track, “DRAIN.” This single is the focus track from their highly anticipated third album, “BEAR,” which is set for release in 2023.
“DRAIN” is more than just heavy; it’s a massive, doomy sonic statement.
The Focus Track: Doomy and Direct
The band describes “DRAIN” as a big, slow-burning anthem focused on a deeply relatable, yet intensely frustrating, human interaction:
“This is a big, doomy song about people who saddle up next to you and drain you of your personality and power to try and make it their own.”
Musically, the track delivers on this theme with slow-crawling, thick riffs and Audra’s commanding vocals, creating an atmosphere that is both heavy and suffocating—perfectly mirroring the feeling of being emotionally depleted. It’s a powerful exploration of psychological energy vampires rendered in crushing sound.
The GodCity Seal of Approval
Adding to the intensity, the upcoming album “BEAR” was co-produced, engineered, and mixed by the legendary Kurt Ballou (of Converge) at his famed GodCity Studio in Salem, MA. Ballou’s touch is instantly recognisable in the raw, immense, and technically precise sound of “DRAIN,” guaranteeing that this new era of Friendship Commanders will be their most sonically forceful yet.
A History of Heavy and High-Calibre Craft
For those just discovering this potent duo, Friendship Commanders are no strangers to high-stakes recording. Their 2018 album, Bill, was captured at Electrical Audio by the iconic Steve Albini, while their 2016 debut, Dave, showcased their DIY spirit.
Their commitment to music with a message is equally important. Their recent single “And If My Body,” the lead track from their limited vinyl EP, RELEASE THE REST (released December 1st, 2022), directly challenged the dangerous attitudes surrounding the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Friendship Commanders consistently prove they are an essential band in the heavy scene, blending personal struggle with political commentary, all packaged in a crushing sonic shell forged by the industry’s best producers.
