10 Greatest Hard Rock Songs Of The 2000s

Brody Dalle’s short lived punk act released only three albums during their tenure, and with each better than the last, it’s a shame we didn’t get to see them take their grunge-influenced sound even further. They left us with some classic and still underrated tracks, though, particularly the opener to their final album Coral Fang.

“Drain The Blood” utilises the quiet/loud dynamic that producer Gil Norton helped to pioneer with Pixies and Nirvana, but Dalle doesn’t have the kind of time that the old guard did. As if she knew she had to get to the goods, the quiet part lasts just a couple of seconds before the distortion pedals are stomped and the screaming starts.

Dalle sings like her life depends on it, reaching a fever pitch that she maintains for the whole song as it lurches from section to section. The guitars alternate from choppy up-picking to the deluge of the earworm chorus.

The first single as well as the opening track to the record, it sets a precedent for a great collection of tracks. The Distillers may have had catchier tunes than this one, but rarely did they nail so completely the balance between melody and power.