emo
These are the best emo artists featured on Release Wave.

Eastern Bleeds
Eastern Bleeds is an indie rock band that channels the sound of bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, Twilight Singers and Hot Snakes. The band was formed by drummer Bob Penn after his previous bands The Jealous Sound and Racquet Club went on hiatus. Penn enlisted the help of a few friends -- guitarist Joe Rivera (Coco B’s, Black Swan Runners), singer Bill Kielty (O Zorn!, Who Rides the Tiger) and bassist Trent Steinbrugge (The Kite Eating Tree) -- to bring the project to life.

Tape Trash
TAPE TRASH is a Norwegian duo comprised of Anders Magnor Killerud and Kristofer Mathias Staxrud. Drawing inspiration from the music that first sparked their passion for playing instruments during their teenage years, they craft a sound that blends elements of shoegaze, alternative rock, emo, and punk. Their music has been described as "in your face shoegaze/emopunk/indierock", known for its raw, anthemic quality and a "more-is-more mentality" existing in the space between ecstasy and panic. Killerud handles lead vocals, guitar, and keys, while Staxrud plays guitar, bass, and drums. They previously worked together in the band Ludvig Moon.
RIYL: Mew, Bloc Party, Jimmy Eat World, Broken Social Scene, Japandroids

Stay Inside

Saturdays At Your Place
Saturdays At Your Place is an emo band from Kalamazoo, MI. Their intimate lyrics pair with heavy hitting instrumental hooks and cleverly placed twinkly guitar parts to create a uniquely personal sound that has come to define the band.

Have Mercy
Have Mercy is a Baltimore-based indie / alt-rock band heavily influenced by post-hardcore and emo music, with heart on your sleeve vocals and driving guitar melodies. They have released multiple albums, with their latest being "Numb" in 2023 and their recently announced 6th LP, "the loneliest place i've ever been," is set to release in August 2025 via Rude Records. Fans of bands like The Dangerous Summer and Jimmy Eat World will enjoy their emotionally charged anthemic alt-rock.

The Casket Lottery
The Casket Lottery is an emo/post-hardcore band from Kansas City, MO formed in 1997. The band released its first three LPs on Second Nature Recordings, a fourth LP on No Sleep Records, and reunited for a 5th LP in 2020 on Wiretap Records. The band are now signed to Iodine Records and will release it's 6th LP titled "Feel The Teeth" in August of 2025.

Moving Mountains
Moving Mountains is an American rock band from Purchase, New York. Combining elements of emo and post-rock, the band has often been compared to such acts as The Appleseed Cast, Gates and Thrice.

Tired Radio
Tired Radio is a Brooklyn, NY-based melodic punk band known for their raspy emo-punk anthems. Initially a solo project by singer/songwriter Anthony Truzzolino, it evolved into a full band with the addition of drummer Kevin Daly, bassist Jason St. Angelo, and guitarist Chris Schmidt. They are known for their energetic, anthemic songs that blend gritty punk rock, big melodies, and hooks you can hang your heart on.
RIYL: Beach Slang, The Lawrence Arms, Samiam, Jawbreaker, Hot Water Music, Leatherface, Goo Goo Dolls

Garage Sale
Garage Sale is an Australian indie rock band based in Melbourne. The band blends elements of fuzzy indie rock, dream pop, slowcore, alt-rock and shoegaze.

Spoils System
Spoils System is a New York-based band formed in 2021 by Dan Coutant (vocals, guitar, keys), Sean Hansen (guitar, background vocals), David Fateman (bass), and Mark Frankel (drums). They are known for their melodic and often discordant indie rock, drawing on influences from their past work in the emo band Joshua (Doghouse Records). The band is gearing up to release their sophomore LP on Sweet Cheatah Records in summer 2025.

Nihilistic Easyrider
Nihilistic Easyrider is the brainchild of Narrow Head frontman Jacob Duarte. His debut LP "DELUXE EDITION" is a mixtape of sorts, a collection of songs written at various intervals throughout Duarte’s career. These songs traverse a wide-range of stylistic references, from saccharine Y2K emo and young-dumb-and-full-of pop punk to Soviet fuzz fueled alt and pure Evan Dando-core verse-chorus-verse-chorus-done pop rock. Brought to life by a cast of characters including Narrow Head drummer Carson Wilcox, producer (and former tour-mate) Graham Hunt and features from Momma’s Allegra Weingarten and Ella Friedman, this debut album still provides with masterfully crafted and hook-drenched renditions of Duarte’s signature songwriting aesthetics.

Hot Mulligan
Hot Mulligan, an American emo/punk band, emerged as part of the 5th wave emo revival. Their music blends midwestern emo guitars, mathy rhythms, and pop-punk melodies with anthemic sing-along choruses. They have released several well-received albums and EPs, drawing comparisons to artists like modern baseball and The Wonder Years.

The Starting Line
The Starting Line is an American pop-punk band formed in 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band's original lineup consisted of Ken Vasoli (lead vocals/bass), Matt Watts (guitar), Mike Golla (guitar/backing vocals), and Tom Gryskiewitz (drums). They signed with Drive-Thru Records and released their debut album, Say It Like You Mean It, in 2002. The Starting Line released three studio albums: Say It Like You Mean It (2002), Based on a True Story (2005), and Direction (2007). They went on hiatus in 2008 but have reunited for shows and tours over the years, and are now back with their fourth LP and first album in 18 years, expected to be released in fall of 2025.

Heavy Seas
Chicago-based punk/emo trio Heavy Seas, led by Jeff Dean of Airstream Futures, The Bomb, and All Eyes West, released their debut LP "Everything Breaks" in 2021. The band draws inspiration from 90s indie/emo/post-hardcore acts such as Seaweed, Jawbox, and Jawbreaker. Their upcoming sophomore album "Distortion Days" is set for release on Really Rad Records in January 2024.

Brooklyn Comic
Formed in 2022, Brooklyn Comic, alternative emo band from Sydney, Australia, are known for their raw and emotional lyrics, and powerful music. With a mission to raise awareness about mental health, the band resonates with listeners who are navigating their own struggles and seeking connection. Through their honest songwriting and powerful live performances, Brooklyn Comic has quickly become a voice for those who feel unseen or unheard. The band’s music blends emo, hardcore, indie and alternative rock, tackling themes such as loss, self-doubt, heartache and personal growth. As proud allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, Brooklyn Comic is also committed to fostering inclusivity and acceptance, both in the music industry and in the wider world.
RIYL: Movements, Citizen, Basement

Sainthood Reps
Sainthood Reps are an emo/indie/post-hardcore band from New York. They have been known for their unique blend of grunge, post-hardcore, shoegaze, and emo since the late 2000’s. After releasing Monoculture in 2011 on Tooth and Nail Records, Headswell in 2013 on No Sleep Records, and a couple of singles here and there, the band spent several years pursuing other projects before eventually regrouping during COVID. Since 2022, the band has been in and out of the studio compiling new music that marks a definitive step forward without straying too far from their signature sound. The band are now signed to Smartpunk Records and will release their 3rd LP titled "Dull Bliss" in September 2025.Sainthood Reps consists of Derrick Sherman, Cesco Montesanto, Bradley Cordaro, and Jani Zubkovs, with Chris Smith featuring in live performances.
RIYL: Balance and Composure, Common Sage, Stay Inside, Superheaven

By A Thread
Forged in Vancouver’s late-’90s post-hardcore crucible, By A Thread first left their mark with Last of the Daydreams, a Revelation Records cult classic that paired soaring melody with raw emotional weight. After lineup twists and quiet years, core songwriters Sean Lande and John Franco joined forces with drummer Gabe Mantle (Gob) to shape Mirrored Life, a brooding, reverb-drenched record that channels grief, growth, and hard-won perspective into their heaviest, most expansive music yet. Bassist Carl McBeath now anchors the low end, completing a lineup ready to carry these songs forward. It’s not a comeback so much as a reaffirmation, proof that By A Thread’s knack for cathartic, atmospheric anthems remains more vital and uncompromising as ever.

Sunday Morning
Hailing from New Haven, Ct Sunday Morning is an alternative rock / post-hardcore band consisting of Westly Benjunas, Erik Stanzel, Dom Barone, Jason Moriarty, and Mike Verrastro. The band began in 2018, opening for artists such as Microwave, Boston Manor, Can’t Swim, and The Plot in You. Sunday Morning’s refined hardcore infused alternative sound is what sets them apart from their peers, making them one of the most exciting up and coming bands in the scene right now. At their core, Sunday Morning is about connection – writing songs that will resonate with their listeners, playing shows to connect with new fans, and at the end of the day, they’re living the dream, playing music they love as best friends. The band is currently signed to Open Your Ears Records who released their last EP in June 2024, and have just announced their debut LP releasing in October 2025.

En Masse

Plight
Plight is an alternative grungegaze band from NYC combing elements of power-pop, emo, grunge, and alt-rock with big loud guitars and razor sharp hooks.