Combining elements of alternative metal, post hardcore, and progressive rock, San Antonio outliers Donella Drive cannot be categorized by a singular label. Consisting of songwriters Aidan Escalante (lead vocals/guitar) and Andrew Salazar (bass/backing vocals) Donella Drive has expanded upon the previous boundaries of their work since their inception in 2012. Brothers Escalante and Salazar originally formed the band with the desire to create a sonically engaging music that pushed the rock medium in a new direction. The young San Antonio band hearkens to the hyper-energized punk-prog of fellow Texans At The Drive-In. There’s a decidedly more metallic edge to their sound, but at its heart they’ve got a really refreshing explorative melodic fury.
In 2015, Donella Drive released their first album Anomalous, followed by tours where they opened for legendary acts such as Megadeth, Deftones, and Scorpions, as well as contemporary bands such as Dead Poet Society, The Callous Daoboys, Protest The Hero, Hail the Sun, He Is Legend, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and Upon a Burning Body. Noteworthy changes such as Escalante’s shift to lead vocals, amplified their sound and led them to create Bloomer in 2020.
Donella Drive remain tenacious in challenging themselves in their pursuit to elevate their music and diverge from commercial endeavours, which is evident in their current EP release Ozell, and their first full-length album Axon releasing in August 2025.
Their single ‘Keep You Waiting’ recently peaked at #24 on The Billboard Rock Indicator chart as well as peaking at #10 on The Foundations Chart. The band was also a finalist for The Battle For Wacken Festival and performed at The Viper Room in West Hollywood in 2022.
Axon will be available on August 22, 2025.
Pre-orders are available on Bandcamp HERE
