melodic-hardcore
These are the best melodic-hardcore artists featured on Release Wave.

Drought
Drought is a bay-area melodic hardcore band influenced by Pianos Become the Teeth, Title Fight and mewithoutYou, and are currently signed to Iodine Records. The band will release their emotionally charged debut album "Souvenir," in July 2025, showcasing a fusion of post-hardcore and emo. Recorded by Jack Shirley, the album channels themes of survivor's guilt and generational trauma, featuring guest vocals from members of Fiddlehead and Mom Jeans.

Spark Of Life

Stateside
Stateside is a melodic emo/punk band from Southern California formed in 2022. The band plays heartfelt, melodic pop punk music with a hardcore edge that feels simultaneously nostalgic for a time when bands wore their hearts on their sleeves and a current moment where sound transcends genre or authenticity is key. The band has signed to Pure Noise records and will release their debut LP in June 2025.
RIYL: Koyo, Stand Still, One Step Closer, Knuckle Puck, No Pressure
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Planes Mistaken For Stars
Planes Mistaken For Stars (also known as Planes or PMFS) is a Punk / Hardcore Punk band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. The group later relocated to Denver, CO. In 2007 the band announced that they would be disbanding following a final comprehensive US tour. Their final show was played on February 16, 2008 at the Marquis Theater in Denver supported by fellow local friends Kingdom of Magic and Mustangs &.Madras. Since 2010 PMFS have been sporadically active again, and in 2016 a new album was announced. Founding member Gared O'Donnell died in November 24, 2021 due to cancer and the band subsequently disbanded. The band will finally release their final recordings with Gared and their first new music since 2016 in the form of a new LP in November of 2024.
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Public Opinion
Public Opinion is an indie/post-punk/hardcore band from Denver, Colorado, with a lineup featuring Kevin Hart, Devan Bentley, Kevin Johnson, Brent Liseth, and Sebastian Stanley. Influenced by early 2000s rock revival bands like The Strokes, The Hives, Bloc Party but with a hardcore twist, the band will release their debut LP "Painted On Smile" in September 2024, co-produced by Ian Shelton (Militarie Gun) and Taylor Young and will please fans of bands like Spiritual Cramp, Militarie Gun, Squint, The Hives, The Vines and Angel Du$t.

Four Year Strong
New England band Four Year Strong, known for mixing pop-punk and easycore genres, originated in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2001. Comprising Dan O'Connor, Alan Day, Joe Weiss, and Jake Massucco, the band has released seven studio albums are are signed to Pure Noise Records. Their most recent album, "Brain Pain," dropped on February 28, 2020 via Pure Noise Records, and they are preparing to launch their 8th LP, "Analysis Paralysis," in August 2024.
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Hippie Trim
Hippie Trim, a German post-punk/hardcore band on Supervillain Records, gained attention with their explosive debut and energetic live performances. Blending heaviness with melody, their music has drawn comparisons to acts like Drug Church and Fiddlehead. Their upcoming EP "Morbid Orbit" highlights their exploration of profound themes while maintaining catchy melodies, set for release on May 31, 2024.
Unseemlier
Unseemlier are a New England based self-proclaimed heavy emo/soft punk band, however the band are anything but soft. Founded in the fall of 2023, Unseemlier was born from emo nostalgia and a shared passion for raw, unapologetic music. Childhood friends Mike Assatly, Chris Pina, and Kevin Merriam quickly wrote their first tape and soon after its release recruited Andrea Neuenfeldt for bass and vocal duties. Since inception Unseemlier has played all over Boston and New England to a growing fan base who are ready to hear what's next. The band released their debut EP "The Truth Is We Out Here" in May of 2024, only hinting at what the band was capable of. Self described as heavy emo/soft punk, Unseemlier's debut LP is aptly titled "I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere" and is due June of 2025 via Sell The Heart Records. Recorded in the fall of 2024 with Zach Weeks at God City Studios, the twenty-three minute long blast is full of heavy hitting lyrics that listeners can easily connect with. The album quickly rips through themes of addiction and loss, growing up in a suburban bubble, and battling to look at the world in a positive light.
RIYL: Fiddlehead, Have Heart, Militarie Gun, Drug Church, Spite House, Touche Amore, Title Fight

Somerset Thrower
Hailing from Long Island, NY, Somerset Thrower was founded by four friends who share a love of all things rock and roll. Built on punk and hardcore roots, the four-piece blends raw energy with melody-soaked textures to create something both urgent and timeless. Fans of bands like Seaweed, Jawbreaker, Samiam, Jimmy Eat World and more recent bands like Drug Church, Taking Meds, Praise and the like will enjoy their sound. The band has signed to Smart Punk Records and will release their third album, Take Only What You Need to Survive in July 2025.

Squint
Squint is a melodic hardcore/alt rock/punk band from St. Louis, Missouri. The band started in fall of 2021, featuring various members from Missouri bands Time and Pressure, New Lives, Soul Craft and Choir Vandals. The band has a nice palette of sounds ranging from hardcore to alternative/indie rock. Largely influenced by a shared liking of Rites of Spring and Turning Point, Squint take the sound of melodic-leaning hardcore, but areable to put their own spin on it with fuzzed-out guitars and big riffs—recalling tones heard from bands like Seaweed and Sugar while fitting right in with newer bands like Drug Church and Militarie Gun as well.

Static Dress
A hardcore punk band from Leeds, Yorkshire, UK formed in 2018. The current lineup includes Olli Appleyard on vocals, Sam Ogden on drums, Contrast on guitar, and George Holding on bass. Former members include Tom Black, Sam Kay, and Connor Reilly.

Touche Amore
Touché Amoré is an American post-hardcore band from Los Angeles, formed in 2007. The band consists of vocalist Jeremy Bolm, guitarists Clayton Stevens and Nick Steinhardt, bassist Tyler Kirby, and drummer Elliot Babin. Among other releases, they have released five studio albums: ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse in 2009, Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me in 2011, Is Survived By in 2013, Stage Four in 2016, and Lament in 2020 which was released on Epitaph Records. They are now gearing up to release their first album in 4 years titled Spiral In A Straight Line in October 2024 for Rise Records.
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Fly Over States
Fly Over States, a post-hardcore / screamo band from Billings, MT, have recently signed with Fever Ltd. and are set to release their Ghosts EP on May 24th, 2024. Drawing inspiration from Underoath, Glassjaw, and The Chariot, their music features captivating rhythms that blend seamlessly with a dynamic energy perfect for fans of these influential bands.

En Masse

High Vis
High Vis delivers aggressive and artful punk, drawing inspiration from London underground acts like Chubby And The Gang and The Chisel. Their intense live shows and politically charged lyrics echo their hardcore roots, while also exploring post-punk textures reminiscent of older UK bands such as Gang Of Four and Joy Division. They are part of a new crop of bands seamlessly blending genres like street punk, jangly indie sneer, brit pop, post punk, hardcore and shoegaze with a sonic landscape, big melodies, and anthem hooks.

A Static Lullaby
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Drug Church
Drug Church is #1, so why try harder? Truer words have never been spoken (or emblazoned upon merch that may or may not reference a novelty shirt seen on a 1998 Fatboy Slim album cover). For over a decade, Drug Church have been building a very strong case that they’re the best loud guitar band in the game. Releasing 4 amazing LPs, including the highly acclaimed Cheer and Hygine, their fifth full-length PRUDE due out in October 2024 is a 28-minute blast of aggression, melody, irreverence, and genuine heart, proving that Drug Church is the best in the game. The album is so downright satisfying it tricks you into thinking there’s nothing all that surprising about a difficult-to-pigeonhole punk band from Albany, NY, with a name like Drug Church somehow having a career at all, much less one that would last over 10 years and qualify them as the best band going. But before you start trying to think of who might have them beat (good luck), consider what just might be the key to Drug Church’s unexpected staying power: Don’t take it too seriously. Drug Church are known for their intense vocal delivery helmed by Patrick Kindlon, crunchy hardcore groove, catchy melodies and 90s alternative hooks, that have fans stage diving and shouting along to like no other. Fans of Fiddlehead, Militarie Gun, Seaweed, The Pixies, Fugazi, Touche Amore, Hot Water Music, Anxious and so many others will all find something to love about Drug Church's unique high energy sound.

Stand Still
Stand Still, an emotionally charged melodic hardcore band from Long Island, NY signed to Daze Records, carries on the legacy of the region's melodic hardcore scene with influences from acts like The Movielife. Formed in 2020, they gained recognition with EPs "A Practice In Patience" and "In A Moment’s Notice," receiving accolades from music publications. Their debut LP under Daze Records is set for release in June 2024.