Versus Me is an American metalcore band from Janesville, Wisconsin. Formed in 2014 by brothers James (vocals) and Lee Milbrandt (bass), they’re joined by Dustin Hansen on guitar and J.J. Johnson on drums. When you read the term “metalcore,” some may think it’s nothing but screaming. This is not the case with Versus Me; they’ve paired deep screaming with catchy choruses and lyrics that anyone can relate to. It’s hard not to nod your head up and down while tuning into their music. It’s also great weight lifting music to keep you going through an intense training session.





Every show, they record video from the stage to show the crowd. Each time you can see the fans, how invested they are in the music, and how they show up. James is always enticing the fans to headbang, jump, and sing along, especially during the choruses. Dustin and Lee are masters at their craft with articulate, crisp, and moody,tones coming from guitar and bass as they move around on stage, sometimes spinning or headbanging with James. Their drummer is one of the happiest drummers I’ve ever photographed; he’s always smiling while wailing away on his kit. As Smash Into Pieces began their prank during “Terrified” and disassembling his drum-kit while he was playing…J.J. was still smiling and laughing.


I first caught these guys early last year when I was covering a show in Baltimore, and it was great to be able to catch them again. I have only covered them for both of these shows, and it was just as enjoyable this year as it was last year. If someone asked me before to go to a metalcore show with them, I probably would’ve said “thanks, but that’s not my style of music.” Some of my newer favorites from Versus Me are “Terrified,” “Down,” and “Blackout,” while “You Lift Me,” “Flatlined,” and “(A)Tension” are older favorites. “Terrified” (2022) and “Down” (2021) are also #32 and #37 on the Mainstream Rock Chart in Billboard Magazine.




Versus Me are no strangers when it comes to festivals and touring. They’ve been repeats at Sonic Boom’s festival, were part of Incubus’ tour in 2016 and Warped Tour in 2015, and have played with bands like We Came As Romans, Rise Against, I Prevail, Archers, Five Finger Death Punch, and Ekoh. The guys have been doing really well, and it doesn’t seem like they’re going anywhere anytime soon. Stay tuned to see what they’re up to and new releases/albums in the future.