Release Wave

UK rockers Split Chain's debut LP "motionblur" will be released on July 11, 2025 through Epitaph Records. The album, described as a coming of age story by the band, presents a visceral, kaleidoscopic wall of sound blending conflicting emotions of adolescence with loud guitars, big melodies, and heavy breakdowns pulling from elements of Grunge, Nu-Metal, Alt Rock, Shoegaze and Hardcore. Drawing comparisons to artists like Deftones, Blanket, Oversize and Soul Blind, Split Chain's music combines intense emotions with complex soundscapes that are showcased throughout 11 brand new tracks on their debut LP.

New York shoegaze noise-pop rockers Hotline TNT, fronted by Will Anderson, have announced their new 11 track LP titled "Raspberry Moon," releasing on June 20th via Third Man Records. The album follows 2023's outstanding LP Carthweel, and marks their evolution into a full band with its most texturally rich and energetically nuanced sound. Described as their most sweeping and compelling album to date, and first LP built by a full band, lead single "Julia's War" captures a sense of nascent affection with its warm and cutting guitar melodies and big hooks. Fans of Ride, DIIV, Beach Fossils, and My Bloody Valentine will find common ground in Hotline TNT's compelling blend of youthful wistfulness and grown-up charm through walls of reverb and fuzzed out guitars, big melodies and memorable hooks.

Dead History is set to release their highly anticipated second album, Departures, on June 6, 2025 via Landland Colportage. The Minneapolis-based quintet draws comparisons to bands like Quicksand, Jawbox, and Hum, blending the best elements of 90s post-hardcore, emo, and shoegaze, with a focus on layered and distortion-heavy guitars, thick grooves, hard-hitting drums, big melodies and singer Brad Senne's melancholic and intense vocal delivery. Where their self-titled LP leaned heavily into their love for bands like Quicksand, Departures showcases a collaborative songwriting approach, with a focus on more cinematic and dynamic soundscapes, varying tempos and melodic sensibility, tapping heavily into the more emotive side of the band. The raw heaviness is still present, but there is more variation and melodic sensibility throughout the LP, with influences from the likes of early Sunny Day Real Estate,The Casket Lottery, Sparta, Texas Is the Reason, and Fugazi this go round. The new LP explores some new territory for the band while staying true to what they do best, offering a mix of emotive vocals, intense instrumentation and memorable hooks, that will surely please fans of the aforementioned bands.

Southern California post-hardcore band Spark of Life is releasing their sophomore album, "Plagued By The Human Condition," featuring a cover of That Dog's "Never Say Never" with a special collaboration with Fred Armisen. The album showcases a bold evolution of their sound, offering 13 tracks of punk-infused melodic sing-along hardcore, appealing to fans of bands like Praise, Stand Still, and 7 Seconds.

Florida pop-punk band You Vandal is releasing their fourth album 'this is where people come to die' on May 23, 2025 via Euclid Place Records. Inspired by 90s alt rock and early 2000s emo and pop punk bands, their music offers catchy earworms and a unique blend of pop and punk elements. With thirteen tracks in thirty minutes, the album promises a punky punch for listeners who appreciate their niche brand of grubby pop and offbeat references.

RIYL: Saves The Day, Third Eye Blind, Motion City Soundtrack, This Time Next year

Alien Boy's highly anticipated new album "You Wanna Fade?" is set to be released on May 9th by Get Better Records, featuring powerful and dynamic songs that showcase the band's signature pop-rock-by-way-of-shoegaze 90s alt rock sound. The lead single "Changes" offers a glimpse into the album's ambitious songwriting, combining shimmering guitars and memorable hooks. Collaborating with talents like Phil Jones (Supercrush) for guitar and bass and Jack Shirley for mixing and mastering (Deafheaven, Gouge away), Alien Boy expands their sound while retaining their captivating melodies and introspective lyrics, making "You Wanna Fade?" a must-listen for fans of Wishy, Momma, Supercrush, and Pity Sex.

Speedway, a Stockholm hardcore band, is set to release their debut album "A Life’s Refrain" on April 11th through Revelation Records. The album, produced by the band and Title Fight’s Ned and Ben Russin, features a blend of melodic and explosive east coast influenced hardcore, reminiscent of 80s youth crew bands like Youth Of Today and Agnostic Front, with collaborations from artists like Ekulu’s Chris Wilson, Viagra Boys’ Sebastian Murphy, and Title Fight/Glitterer's Ned Russin adding to the album’s diverse appeal. A Life’s Refrain embodies everything Speedway has accomplished up to this point, only better, more focused, and imbued with a sense of rebirth that resonates from the first riff to the closing lyrics of the forthcoming LP.

Somerset Thrower is set to release their third LP, "Take Only What You Need to Survive," on July 11, 2025, via Smart Punk Records. They've also released their reflective and anthemic new single "Never Going To Therapy" showcasing their mid 90's and early '00s alternative meets punk sound while drawing influences from bands like Jimmy Eat World, Garden Variety, Jawbreaker and Seaweed, providing a nostalgic yet modern feel. The album, produced by Jon Markson and mixed at Animal Farm Studios, captures the band at their most dynamic, with soaring guitars and unshakable hooks, reflecting Somerset Thrower's ten-year tenure of blending raw energy with melody-soaked textures. RIYL: Seaweed, Samiam, Taking Meds, 84 Tigers, Drug Church

Unseemlier, a self-proclaimed heavy emo/soft punk band, is set to release their debut LP "I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere" on June 13, 2025 via Sell The Heart Records. Lead off single "Power Chord Career Criminal" is now streaming, showcasing the raw emotional intensity akin to Title Fight and Touche Amore combined with the hook-fueled melodic alt-punk of bands like Drug Church and Militarie Gun. The new LP is no doubt a sonic punch to the jaw, both raw and HUGE sounding, featuring 11 emotionally charged punk rock anthems in less than 25 minutes, appealing to fans of raw, unapologetic music that you can move to.

Michigan emo band Charmer's long awaited third album, "Downpour," will be released on May 23, 2025 on Counter Intuitive Records, blending influences from the late 90s and early 2000s Long Island emo-punk scene, to the melancholic vibes of The Cranberries and The Cure, with the midwestern emo revival punk sound that laid the original foundation for their sound.. The lead single "Arrowhead" streaming now, captures the band's intense and cathartic sound, drawing parallels to early Alkaline Trio, Title Fight, and Bayside. Hailing from Marquette, Michigan, Charmer's music reflects their surroundings and emotional depth, offering a mix of familiar tones and fresh perspectives for listeners.

Dallas-based Chicano artist Esteban Flores, known as Slow Joy, is gearing up to release his debut album "A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming" on May 16th via Mick Music. With Slow Joy's previous works blending alt-rock, grunge, emo, and shoegaze, Slow Joy's sound on the forthcoming LP continues to explore these genres, while also pulling influences from bands like Third Eye Blind, Smashing Pumpkins, The Pixies, and Jimmy Eat World with even bigger choruses and hooks. Across 13 new tracks, his impactful storytelling turning personal loss into powerful emotive tracks remains front and center. Alongside producer Mike Sapone, Slow Joy's forthcoming LP promises a dynamic emotional depth, highlighted by lead off nü-punk leaning single "Gruesome," showcasing a poppier and more upbeat side to Slow Joy.

Toronto punk band PUP is set to release their fifth album "Who Will Look After The Dogs?" on May 2nd via Little Dipper / Rise Records. The album, produced by John Congleton and recorded in Los Angeles, continues to showcase the band's raw energy and introspective lyrics, and is described as perhaps their most immediate, no frills and hard-hitting full length yet. Over 12 brand new tracks, PUP delivers a heavy-hitting and cathartic record with shout-along hooks, that reflects their growth and chemistry as a group, appealing to fans of bands like Heart Attack Man, Joyce Manor, The Dirty Nil, and The Hotelier.

Greet Death will release their 3rd LP "Die In Love" on June 27, 2025 via Deathwish Inc. The band's music, drawing from shoegaze, doomgaze, and a little-bit-of-everything-gaze, explores themes of life and death with emotional depth and melodic sensibility. Returning six years later with what has been described as their third and best album, Greet Death face the great human problem—that we must go on living despite knowing we’re going to die, and loving despite knowing we’re going to lose it all—with great sensitivity, humor, and flourish. With this album, Greet Death have found a way to anthemize our suffering, to turn it into one great, big, beautiful singalong. Latest singles "Country Girl" and "Same But Different Now" can be streamed everywhere for a taste of what's to come. RIYL: Cloakroom, Nothing, Downward, Trauma Ray, and Ovlov.

RVA shoegaze / alt rock band Keep is set to release their new LP "Almost Static" on May 30, 2025. Influenced by bands like The Cure and Slowdive, Keep's music often falls under the shoegaze genre but incorporates elements from various genres. The band's forthcoming album promises to blend their diverse influences seamlessly, exploring themes of introspection and relentless movement, with recording done in Chicago and Tolono and production by Zac Montez. Similar artists include Slowdive, The Cure, Glare, Downward and Cloakroom.

Mississippi's band MSPAINT is known for their unique sound that combines heavy elements and melodic undertones, showcased in their debut album "Post-American." Their upcoming EP, "No Separation," set for release on May 23rd, 2025 via Convulse Records, continues this distinctive style, characterized by distorted bass lines, synths, and powerful drumming, with vocalist Deedee's fierce vocals leading the way. The EP's lead single "Angel" exemplifies their experimental fusion, reminiscent of a John Carpenter score blended with the raw energy of a punk performance. Fans of innovative, genre-bending music will find MSPAINT's latest release captivating.

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.

Doom Mutual unifies the musical endeavors of Nashville-based musicians Daphne Browdy and Davis Gestiehr. The debut EP showcases a brilliantly familiar sound that is reminiscent of early 90's alternative, shoegaze, dream-pop and modern wave emo.