I Prevail

An American post-hardcore outfit blending elements across genres, I Prevail surfaced in the early 2010s and gained traction the next year through a metallic take on Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space.” Their chart-topping second album, Trauma, earned the group two Grammy nominations in 2019, and they followed up in 2022 with True Power, which wove electronic, pop, and hip-hop textures into their sound.

The band formed in Southfield, Michigan, in 2013 with Brian Burkheiser and Eric Vanlerberghe handling vocals, Steve Menoian and Jordan Berger on guitar, and Lee Runestad on drums. Drawing from metalcore, pop-punk, and post-hardcore influences that recall Bring Me the Horizon, We Came as Romans, and A Day to Remember, they issued their debut EP, Heart vs. Mind, via Fearless Records in December 2014. Their aggressive cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” amassed more than two million YouTube views and helped cement their standing in the hardcore community. The 2016 full-length Lifelines then showcased their songwriting strength. With the lineup now featuring Burkheiser, Vanlerberghe, Menoian, and new guitarist Dylan Bowman, the album reached number one on Billboard’s alternative, hard music, and rock charts. The following year brought departures for Runestad and bassist Tony Camposeo, after which Gabe Helguera and Eli Clark joined; the refreshed group began shaping their next record while supporting the Word Alive, We Came as Romans, and Escape the Fate on tour.

In 2019 they unveiled the sophomore album Trauma, led by the singles “Bow Down” and “Breaking Down.” By year’s end the project earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album, while “Bow Down” was nominated for Best Metal Performance. The next year brought an acoustic take on the Trauma track “Hurricane,” and after the collaborative single “DOA” with rapper Joyner Lucas, the band released the live collection Post Traumatic, captured across shows in 2019 and 2020. Their third LP, True Power, arrived in 2022 and expanded their stylistic reach with cinematic electronic production, rap verses, and shimmering pop ballads.