Release Wave

Arm’s Length, an anthemic emo-punk band from Ontario, Canada, has signed with Pure Noise Records and is set to release their sophomore album 'There's A Whole World Out There' on May 16, 2025, featuring their latest single "Funny Face". Drawing on personal struggles, this album delves into themes of personal trauma, love, and resilience, showcasing the band's evolution and raw emotion. Arm's Length pull from the best parts of early 2000s emo, pop-punk, and post-hardcore, with passionate vocal delivery, the occasional screams, loud melodic guitars, and big anthemic singalong hooks, that fans of Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, Taking Back Sunday, Hot Mulligan and Armor For Sleep will love.

Heaven, a power-popgaze band from NYC, is set to release their third album, "Dream Aloud," on April 4, 2025, through Little Cloud Records. The album marks their first LP in 7 years with most recent single "I Need You More Somehow" blending nostalgic melodies with reverb-filled guitars, offering a taste of the emotional journey and otherworldly sounds to expect from the upcoming album. Influenced by artists like Teenage Fanclub, The Lemonheads and Swervedriver, Heaven's dreamy yet introspective tracks showcase their evolution as a trio, with Matt Sumrow, Mikey Jones, and Sonia Manalili now shaping their most somnambulistic record yet.

Seattle power-pop punk rockers Dead Bars are gearing up to release their third LP, "All Dead Bars Go to Heaven," on March 21, 2025 through Iodine Recordings. Drawing comparisons to bands like Japandroids, The Replacements, White Reaper, and Fucked Up, Dead Bars have established themselves as a formidable force in the music scene, known for their energetic live performances and raw but anthemic singalong tracks with a pop sheen. Their latest album features 10 hook-laden songs that offer a mix of nostalgia and fresh perspectives, punk energy and power-pop guitar riffs, highlighted by their new single "Give the Metalhead a Hug," that should please old fans and new.

Cloakroom will release their new album "Last Leg of the Human Race" on February 28, 2025, via Closed Casket Activities exploring themes of modern society and human experience while showcasing Cloakroom's genre-bending capabilities and seemingly array of influences. Pop, shoegaze, doom, post-punk, folk, indie rock only scratch the surface on Cloakroom’s shortest yet most essential release to date, spanning 37 minutes in length over 10 new tracks.

RIYL: Greet Death, Nothing, DIIV, Ovlov

The Murder Capital, a Dublin-based post-punk band, is set to release their 3rd album titled "Blindness" on February 21, 2025. Produced in Los Angeles with John Congleton, the album promises an intense and expansive sound reminiscent of their previous work while drawing comparisons to similar artists like Fontaines D.C., METZ, Idles, Shame, and Protomartyr. Their latest single "Words Lost Meaning," which is now available on all streaming platforms, showcases a more anthemic style and follows the success of their previous single "Can't Pretend To Know".

Rocky Votolato has formed a new band called Suzzallo, revealing their debut album "The Quiet Year" with a release date of May 2nd, 2025. Departing from Votolato's acoustic roots, Suzzallo offers a cathartic blend of fuzzed out alternative rock, exploring themes of grief and healing following a personal tragedy. The album features collaborations with producer John Goodmanson and musician Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie,, The Postal Service), aiming to provide comfort and catharsis to listeners grappling with similar experiences. Lead off single "The River" combines Smashing Pumpkins-esque riffing with Votolato's open-hearted lyricism and soaring voice, resulting in a song that's sonically and emotionally pummeling.

The debut LP "Sunset Funeral" by Texas shoegazers Glare, set for release on April 4, 2025 via Sunday Drive Records + Deathwish Inc., is described as a blend of dreamy grief with heavily crushed textures. Drawing inspiration from 90s shoegaze and alternative rock bands like Slowdive, Drop Nineteens and Smashing Pumpkins, Glare offers a celestial sound of woozy and hazy guitars, crafted with a resourceful, DIY approach. Their music, encapsulating unspeakable grief and the process of mourning, incorporates a broad sonic pallete with walls of guitars and reverb, big floating melodies, dreamy soundscapes and hooks to go along with it. Described as music made by people whose feelings speak louder than their words, Glare is must-listen for fans of bands likeTrauma Ray, DIIV, Whirr and other 90s-inspired dreamy shoegaze / alt-rock.

SOM is set to release their third LP, "Let The Light In," on March 14, 2025 via Pelagic Records. Described as "Doom Pop," their music blends elements of shoegaze, post-metal, and dream pop, with a broad sonic landscape, both heavy and tranquil all at once. The songs are triumphant, with reverb soaked guiars, big vocal melodies, and pop hooks, while still containing the post-hardcore/metal edge they've incorporated in their previous work. Drawing comparisons to bands like Deftones, Astronoid, and Holy Fawn, SOM's new album showcases their best mix of heaviness, beauty, melody and catchiness, exploring themes of resilience and growth.

Oversize, a UK alt-shoegaze band, will release their debut LP "Vital Signs" on February 28, 2025 via SharpTone Records. The album features 10 tracks full of reverb drenched heavily distorted guitars, quiet to loud dynamics, and soaring melodies, drawing inspiration from bands like Hum, My Vitriol, Deftones and Nothing. Combining the best elements of 90s inspired shoegaze, grunge, alt-rock/metal, and dream pop similar to bands like Trauma Ray, Narrow Head, Superheaven, Fake Eyes and Heavenward, the new LP is sure to please fans of the aforementioned bands and should add this to their highly anticipated 2025 releases.

Philadelphia-based shoegaze band Cigarettes for Breakfast is set to release their second album, "Slow Motion," on February 21, 2025, showcasing a blend of melodic shoegaze and dream pop with influences from bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. Produced, recorded, and mixed by frontman Matthew Paul Whiteford, the LP features 11 tracks that capture the essence of lush soundscapes and emotion through big walls of guitars and melodic hooks, appealing to both shoegaze purists and new fans of the genre. Recommended for fans of My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slow Crush, Narrow Head, and Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

Brooklyn based heavy rockers Bedridden is set to release their debut album "Moths Strapped to Each Other's Backs" on April 11, 2025, via Julai's War Recordings. The album is a collection of ten songs that delve into tumultuous adult life with a mix of fuzzed-out guitar riffs, influenced by a blend of 90s inspired shoegaze, punk, and indie / alt rock meant to be played loudly. On their debut LP, Bedridden's music mirrors a raw and confrontational energy similar to bands like Narrow Head, The Smashing Pumpkins, Hum, and Trauma Ray with buzzing guitars, and a range of tempos and dynamics.

Momma's upcoming album "Welcome to My Blue Sky" is set for release on April 4th, 2025, showcasing their viscerally charged sound with singles like the latest"I Want You (Fever)" and previously released "Ohio All The Time" now available on all streaming platforms. Recorded live with a focus on emotive and clean songwriting that inspires people to sing along, the album is described as 12 immaculately composed yet immediately potent songs by matching the raw urgency of rock with the sticky melodies and taut arrangements of pop—a dynamic born from their deepened commitment to finding the most direct vessel for their emotional expression. Drawing comparisons to The Breeders, Mannequin Pussy, Veruca Salt, Mannequin Pussy and Soccer Mommy, Momma's new release promises a bold leap forward in their unique musical voice.

Legendary guitar-pop singer/songwriter Bob Mould has announced his upcoming album "Here We Go Crazy," set to be released on March 7 via Granary Music/BMG Records. This 15th solo album features backing by drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Jason Narducy, delivering classic melodic fuzzed out guitar alt-pop with big hooks, reminiscent of Mould's previous work with Sugar and his solo endeavors.

Connecticut punk favorites Anxious are releasing their sophomore album "Bambi" via Run For Cover Records on February 21st, showcasing a blend of hardcore grit, alternative rock, and classic emo dynamism. The album features lead single "Counting Sheep" now available on DSPs that nods to influences like Jimmy Eat World and The Smashing Pumpkins while remaining uniquely Anxious. Produced by Brett Romnes, "Bambi" is described as a meticulously arranged, emotionally charged record that takes big swings, delving into themes of leaving adolescence behind and the challenges of being in a rising band. The result is a massive leap forward and an endlessly anthemic rock record.

fish narc, a versatile artist from Olympia, WA, has announced the upcoming release of his album "frog song" on February 14th through K Records. The album showcases guitar-driven indie rock with '90s alternative influences and heartfelt lyrics, reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest indie rock tradition. Tracks like "my ceiling," "old band," and "cluefinder" feature distorted guitars and shoegaze textures, while songs like "boxy volvo" and "interstate" offer a more intimate, stripped-back sound. To mark the announcement fish narc has shared frog song's tremendous opening track, "my ceiling." It's a blast of fuzzed-out guitars, shoegazey textures, and widescreen melodies that would have fit in perfectly on an episode of 120 Minutes.