Silverstein teamed up with Rory Rodriguez of Dayseeker to unleash their frustrations at AI-generated art with powerful new single “DRAIN THE BLOOD.” The track serves as the second single for the band’s upcoming album Pink Moon, which is the second half of their 16-song double album following Antibloom. “DRAIN THE BLOOD” is Silverstein’s most ambitious release yet, complete with rage-induced screams and heavy breakdowns.
Guitarist Paul Marc Rousseau expresses his love for the song, even going as far as to say it’s his favorite of the band’s entire decade-spanning career. When asked about the inspiration and meaning behind “DRAIN THE BLOOD,” he shares,
“The premise of the song is very simple: keep your AI out of my art. I wanted every part of the song to feel unexpected and a little out of context. Irrational and human. Like, an AI would have never made these choices. The lyrics are irreverent and over-dramatic, but only time will tell if they’re completely science fiction.”
The chorus is full of fiery rage towards this idea of AI-generative technology overtaking the artistic process. Frontman Shane Told conveys these thoughts by repeatedly screaming, “Drain the blood from the arm of the artist,” which showcases how deeply humanity is rooted in creativity and cannot be digitally replicated. Everything about this song has a hauntingly dystopian feel that validates concerns about the rise of AI through the lens of musicians.
The second Rodriguez’s voice hits “DRAIN THE BLOOD,” the vibe shifts from pure rage to bone-chilling fear and anxiety. He laments, “Can I be honest now? / I don’t see a way we get beyond this hell,” highlighting the impending fear of generative technology replacing real, authentically created art. Expanding upon this idea, Told shares,
“‘Drain the Blood’ is our response to the growing fear that machines are starting to replace what makes music (and other art) human. It’s a warning, a cry of resistance, and a reminder that emotion can’t be automated.”
The release was accompanied by a visually striking and unsettling music video that captures these feelings of fear and uncertainty for the future. It compels the viewer to understand the detrimental effects of AI usage in the world beyond the internet. “DRAIN THE BLOOD” is Silverstein’s attempt to take back the power of human emotion and creativity even when all hope begins to feel lost.
Pink Moon will be released on September 12th via UNFD, and pre-order/pre-save for the album can be found here. Silverstein is continuing their 25 Years of Noise Tour with an upcoming Australian leg and appearance at the Long Beach date of Vans Warped Tour. The celebrations will conclude with a final show at Brooklyn Paramount with support from Thursday, The Movielife, Free Throw, and Bloom in December. Tickets and information for all of Silverstein’s upcoming shows can be found here.
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