{{Short description|American punk rock band}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2020}} {{Original research|date=June 2025|reason=}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Drug Church | image = Patrick Kindlon.jpg | caption = Patrick Kindlon performing with Drug Church in Denver. March 2023 | origin = Albany, New York, United States | genre = {{Flatlist| *Post-hardcore *hardcore punk *alternative rock *punk rock *post-punk }} | years_active = {{Start date|2011}}–present | label = {{Flatlist| *Pure Noise *No Sleep *Secret Voice *Ride The Fury }} | spinoffs = {{flatlist| *Militarie Gun *Pile of Love}} |spinoff_of = {{flatlist| *Self Defense Family}} | current_members = *Patrick Kindlon *Nick Cogan *Cory Galusha *Chris Villeneuve *Pat Wynne }} thumb|250px| Drug Church performing at the Ottobar in Baltimore, 2023
'''Drug Church''' is an American post-hardcore band from Albany, New York, United States. The band has released five albums, as well as several EPs.
==History== Drug Church started as a side project for singer Patrick Kindlon of Self Defense Family. After having released a three-song demo online in 2011, the band got signed by No Sleep Records by the beginning of 2012. The band's original lineup included Kindlon, guitarist Nick Cogan, guitarist Cory Galusha, and drummer Chris Villeneuve. They were later joined by Patrick Wynne on bass. Their debut EP, ''Swell'', was released in 2012, and it received critical acclaim for its raw and aggressive sound.
Drug Church's debut full-length album, ''Paul Walker'' (named after the late actor of the same name), was released in 2013 and was well received by music critics. The band's sophomore album, "Hit Your Head," was released in 2015.
In 2018, Drug Church signed with Pure Noise Records released their third album, ''Cheer'' which demonstrated the band's willingness to experiment with different styles such as grunge while retaining their punk ethos. The album was named as Kerrang! Magazine's Album of the Week<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-02 |title=Album Of The Week: Drug Church's Cheer |url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-of-the-week-drug-churchs-cheer |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref> and received praise for its introspective and honest lyrics, as well as its willingness to tackle complex themes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2018-12-04 |title=Review: Drug Church - 'Cheer' |url=https://www.getalternative.com/review-drug-church-cheer/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=The Alternative |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/drug_church_members_of_self_defense_family_sign_to_no_sleep/|title=Drug Church (members of Self Defense Family) sign to No Sleep|first=Bryne|last=Yancey|website=Altpress.com|date=26 January 2012|accessdate=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |date=2018-12-10 |title=STAFF LIST: Henderson's Top Releases of 2018 |url=https://www.getalternative.com/staff-list-hendersons-top-releases-of-2018/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=The Alternative |language=en}}</ref> The song "Foam Pit" was included in The Alternative's Best of 2018 compilation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Alternative release new compilation; “The Alt’s Best of 2018 Comp”│PUNX SAVE THE EARTH |url=https://punxsavetheearth.com/the-alternative-release-new-compilation-the-alts-best-of-2018-comp/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |language=ja}}</ref> and the band received "Most Underrated" in the site's awards for that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=The Alt Editing |date=2018-12-18 |title=The Alternative Music Awards 2018 |url=https://www.getalternative.com/the-alternative-music-awards-2018/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=The Alternative |language=en}}</ref>
The band's fourth album ''Hygiene'' was announced on November 10, 2021<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |title=Drug Church announce new album 'Hygiene' (exclusive splatter vinyl & 2 new songs) |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/drug-church-announce-new-album-hygiene-exclusive-splatter-vinyl-2-new-songs/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US}}</ref> with the release of the singles "Million Miles of Fun" (a reference to Len's "Steal My Sunshine") and "Detective Lieutenant", and was released on March 11, 2022 through Pure Noise Records.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Drug Church announce new album Hygiene and unleash two new songs|url=https://www.kerrang.com/drug-church-announce-new-album-hygiene-and-unleash-two-new-songs|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Kerrang!|date=10 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On March 1, 2023, the band released the single ''Myopic'' through Pure Noise Records, which was ultimately included on their fifth album, ''Prude'', released on October 4, 2024. The release of ''Prude'' was flanked by the release of singles "Demolition Man", "Slide 2 Me" and "Myopic".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Brad |title=Drug Church: Hygiene |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/drug-church-hygiene/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roesler |first=Brian |date=2022-03-14 |title=Drug Church : Hygiene {{!}} Album review |url=https://www.treblezine.com/drug-church-hygiene-review/ |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=Treble |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=March 11 |first=Alex McLevy {{!}} |last2=2022 {{!}} 6:54pm |title=Drug Church reimagines ’90s alt-rock with a hardcore edge on the earnest and ass-kicking Hygiene |url=https://www.avclub.com/drug-church-hygiene-review-1848641176 |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Musical style == Drug Church's music is characterized by its eclectic blend of punk rock, post-hardcore, and alternative rock. Their sound has evolved over the years, moving from a raw and aggressive punk style to a more diverse and experimental approach. Lyrically, the band explores a wide range of themes, often delving into social and personal issues with a unique combination of humor and thoughtfulness. The band also mixes hardcore punk in the style of bands like Black Flag with alternative rock and grunge elements to create their post-punk/post-hardcore sound. The lyrics to their songs focus mostly on social matters and tend to be dark and/or satirical. In a Q&A Session on the website of his other project Self Defense Family, Kindlon has stated that he has no pre-written lyrics for his bands and rather writes the songs' lyrics while in the studio:
<blockquote>Completely different people write the instrument portion of the music. Leads to a very different feel, so, very different lyrics. Also, I write everything in the studio. So, there’s no bank of lyrics I pull from. This is made to order, not buffet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://selfdefensemusic.com/post/128214457978/you-might-have-been-asked-this-before-but-im|title=Learn Self Defense|website=Selfdefensemusic.com|accessdate=25 September 2020|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628234108/http://selfdefensemusic.com/post/128214457978/you-might-have-been-asked-this-before-but-im|url-status=dead}}</ref></blockquote>
== Band members == * Nick Cogan – guitar (2011–present) * Cory Galusha – guitar (2011–present), bass (2011) * Patrick Kindlon – lead vocals (2011–present) * Chris Villeneuve – drums (2011–present), backing vocals (2024–present) * Patrick Wynne – bass (2011–present)
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class= "wikitable" ! Album ! Year ! Label |- | ''Paul Walker'' | 2013 | No Sleep Records |- | ''Hit Your Head'' | 2015 | No Sleep Records |- | ''Cheer'' | 2018 | Pure Noise Records |- | ''Hygiene'' | 2022 | Pure Noise Records |- | ''Prude'' | 2024 | Pure Noise Records |}
===EPs and other=== {| class= "wikitable" ! Name ! Year ! Label |- | ''Demo'' | 2011 | Ride the Fury Records |- | ''Drug Church'' | 2012 | No Sleep Records |- | "Party at Dead Man's" b/w "Selling Drugs from Your Mom's Condo" | 2013 | Secret Voice |- | ''Swell'' | 2015 | No Sleep Records |- | ''Tawny'' | 2021 | Pure Noise Records |}
=== Singles === * "Weed Pin" (2017) * "Bliss Out" (2020) * "Myopic" (2023) * "Demolition Man" (2024) * "Pynch" (2026)
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Drug Church}}
Category:Hardcore punk groups from New York (state) Category:Musical groups from Albany, New York Category:No Sleep Records artists Category:Pure Noise Records artists Category:Musical groups established in 2011 Category:2011 establishments in New York (state)