pop-punk
These are the best pop-punk artists featured on Release Wave.

Super Sometimes
Super Sometimes is a Southern California pop punk band set to release their album 'Show the World What’s Underneath' on May 15 via Pure Noise Records. Their lead single 'Afterthought' showcases a blend of skate punk and early 2000s modern emo-pop-punk influences (Drive Thru Records era), capturing themes of coming-of-age malaise and romantic fallout. Consisting of vocalists/guitarists Gabriel Muñoz and Dylan Guzman, and drummer Matthew Ludwig, the trio embodies the essence of pop-punk's tradition while aiming to inspire a new generation of music lovers. RIYL: Early 2000s pop punk (Drive Thru Records era), Slick Shoes, MXPX, The Story So Far, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck

I Am The Avalanche
I Am the Avalanche is a melodic punk and post-hardcore band from Brooklyn, New York, founded in 2004 by frontman Vinnie Caruana following the breakup of his previous band, The Movielife. The group is known for pairing aggressive, driving rhythms with raw, emotional lyrics. Caruana formed the band in 2004, enlisting members from various New York scenes, including The Movielife, Scraps and Heart Attacks, and Further Seems Forever. The moniker comes from a lyric written by Caruana, though it coincidentally mirrors a line in a poem by Stephen Dobyns. After debuting with a split EP and their self-titled album in 2005 on Drive-Thru Records, the band experienced long gaps between releases but maintained a loyal following. They released albums in 2011, 2014 and 2020. They celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2024 and recently announced their 4th LP set for release in April 2026. RIYL: The Movielife, Crime in Stereo, Polar Bear Club, The Descendents, Lagwagon

Box Elder
Box Elder emerges from the vibrant music scene of Salt Lake City, with their self-titled debut LP set to release on April 10, 2026 via Steadfast Records and Sweet Cheetah Records. Blending the melodic urgency of The Get Up Kids and Jimmy Eat World with raw emotional storytelling, vocalist/guitarist Christopher Archuleta leads the band through a journey of personal struggle and growth. Originally a solo project born during the Covid era, Box Elder has evolved into a full-band collaboration with 2 EPs under their belt and a forthcoming new LP exploring themes of mental health, love lost, and the quest for identity. With a polished production that honors the weight of their songs, Box Elder's music captures the essence of heartfelt alternative rock.

Shoreline
Starting out on the floors of squats and basements, SHORELINE have played pretty much every venue in Europe that has provided them with a power outlet over the past ten years. Since then, they have played shows with scene legends such as FOUR YEAR STRONG, KNUCKLE PUCK, and SILVERSTEIN. This February, they will be touring the UK with ARM’S LENGTH – and just recently, they played a sold-out, acclaimed hometown show at Sputnikhalle in Münster with 600 tickets sold, their biggest headlining concert to date. SHORELINE was formed in 2015 out of a desire to be an active part of the scene back home in Münster. First demo songs on YouTube and plenty of DIY diligence soon got the band on the road. With their third album, To Figure Out, SHORELINE gained attention beyond Europe’s borders when they became the first German band to release an album on the US label Pure Noise Records. The band is gearing up to release their latest LP 'Is This The Low Point Or The Moment After?' on March 13, 2026, through Pure Noise Records.

Fire In The Radio
Fire in the Radio is a Philadelphia-based indie rock/punk band known for their catchy high energy sound blending 90s indie rock, emo and melodic pop-punk influences, drawing inspiration from Jawbreaker, Bob Mould, Superchunk, Samiam and the like. Formed in the 2010s, key members include Rich Carbone (vocals/guitar), Jon Miller (vocals/guitar), Ed Olsen (bass), and Adam Caldwell (drums). They gained attention for albums like Telemetry (2015) and Monuments (2020) on Wednesday Records, praised for their catchy songwriting and dynamic rock style. They are gearing up to reissue their debut LP Red Static Action (2000) and are working on new material for 2026.

Capillary
New Jersey has produced some of the greatest emo and rock bands of all time, and the state is continuing to build the next generation of soon to be staple acts. Enter Capillary, the four piece crafting emotive and powerful tracks sure to capture the attention of even the most staunch genre purists. Signed to 51st State Records (run by Joey Chiaramonte of Koyo), the band released their debut self-titled EP in early 2024. Gearing up to release a full-length in 2026, today Capillary share a two song promo - "Lost Sleep" and "Time Before The Order.”
Taking influence from bands like Rites of Spring, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Mineral, you’ll hear strong building melodies, compelling riffs, and poignant vocals. “Lost Sleep” captures living in New Jersey - “a melancholy feeling in the air sometimes longing for those really simple and blissful times,” while "Time Before The Order" calls out the feeling of longing for someone. The tracks were recorded, mixed, and mastered with Justin Bartlett at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA (All Under Heaven, Carly Cosgrove).
RIYL: Title Fight, Anxious, One Step Closer, No Pressure

Good Sleepy
Good Sleepy is an emo band from Worcester, Massachusetts, formed as a DIY project in 2018 with a demo titled "Rest Easy" and eventually signed with No Sleep Records. The band's music, which draws from various eras of emo, has been described as an outlet for their collective experiences and emotions. Their first full-length album, "everysinglelittlebit," was released in 2021, and described as a blend of mathy '90s Midwest emo, anthemic early 2000s emo, and modern revival styles. They released an EP in 2022 and a single in 2024, and just announced they will self-release their sophomore LP "Constant Humming" in February 2026 revealing lead off single "Trap."
RIYL: Carly Cosgrove, Ben Quad, Marietta, Hot Mulligan, Arm's Length, The Wonder Years

Jaguero
Formed in 2021, Jaguero is a punk/emo band from Vicenza, Italy featuring members of Slander, Regarde, and La Fortuna. Following the release of their EPs Worst Weekend Ever (2022) and New Love (2023), produced by Maurizio Baggio at La Distilleria and released via Epidemic Records, the band quickly gained momentum with festival appearances and international shows. Those early releases were later compiled into a limited-edition self-titled vinyl. With their debut full-length album "Make Me Feel Alive Again" due in April 2026, Jaguero push further into emotional extremes — blending punk urgency, grunge grit, and melodic hooks while staying rooted in the DIY spirit of small rooms and packed club floors, where shared experience matters more than genre boundaries.

Leisure Hour
Leisure Hour, the emo/indie rock band from Muncie, IN, is gearing up for the release of their highly anticipated album "...and to think" on January 30, 2026, marking their debut under emo label Counter Intuitive. Drawing inspiration from midwest emo and pop-punk, the trio delivers raw and heartfelt storytelling on themes of grief and regret, evidenced in their singles like "Ode to Muncie" and "Happy Birthday!" The band's energetic and emotional songs have garnered a strong following, propelled by their relentless DIY touring and recent success on TikTok.

Hedge
Hailing from Worcester, MA, Hedge brings a gritty and raw approach to pop-punk, drawing inspiration from legendary bands like Hüsker Dü, Superchunk, and The Lemonheads. Their debut album, *Better Days*, released in 2024, showcased their knack for crafting speedy power-pop tunes with loud guitars and catchy vocal hooks, earning widespread acclaim, while their new EP Freeze Frame High will release in 2026.

Honor Choir
Honor Choir, an up and coming Oklahoma City emo/post-hardcore band will release their new EP "Modes of Transport" on February 13, 2026 via Sunday Drive Records. Drawing influence from Blink-182 with a twist of early-2000s emo and post-hardcore sounds, as well as 80s new-wave bands like New Order, their tracks like "Satellite Receiver" and "Envelope" showcase a cohesive blend of their diverse influences, each featuring catchy choruses.

The Academy Is...

Footballhead
Initially the solo project of Ryan Nolen, FOOTBALLHEAD showcases the poppier side of 90s radio rock. With big guitars and bubblegum hooks, these nostalgia soaked songs evoke the energy of early Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye Blind, and blink-182 while also incorporating elements of grunge and post-hardcore with bands like Story of the Year, The Used, Basement, and One Step Closer. Nolen has teamed up with Adam Siska (The Academy Is... & Say Anything) to keep the ethos of 90s/2000s alternative pop music fresh and dynamic. The band is currently signed to Tiny Engines and released an LP and EP through them already, and a new LP is set for March 2026.

Glean
With a foundation of San Diego’s punk influences from Drive Like Jehu, Blink-182, Heroin and others, a band like Glean naturally have a sense of melody. Formed in 2019 by four kids (now young adults), the band blends that melodic instinct with their love of punk and hardcore, crafting energetic, emotional, and catchy songs in the vein of Seaweed, Samiam, Jawbreaker, Lifetime, and Title Fight.

The Flatliners
Hailing from Canada, The Flatliners have been an influential force in the punk scene for nearly 24 years. Their upcoming album 'Cold World', slated for release on May 8, delves into themes of clarity, legacy, and nostalgia. Drawing inspiration from the urgent energy of punk rock and the intricate guitar work of their sound, tracks like 'Inner Peace' and 'Burn' showcase their dynamic musical evolution.

Palette Knife
Palette Knife are an emo/indie/pop punk band from Columbus, Ohio who already have two LPs under their belt and write anthemic shout along songs with big guitar riffs and hooks. The band formed in 2018 and released their debut LP for Take This To Heart Records in 2021, featuring melodic emopunk anthems with math like guitar parts similar to bands like Charmer, Hot Mulligan, Into it Over It, Tiny Moving Parts, Origami Angel, Ben Quad and the like. They released their sophomore LP in January 2023 which was well received, and are now gearing up to release their 3rd album Keyframe in April of 2026.

Chief State
Canadian pop-punk outfit Chief State is gearing up to release their highly anticipated new album, "Keep Your Friends Closer," on April 17 via Mutant League Records. With a blend of high-energy pop-punk and introspective lyricism, the band's sound, produced by Tim Creviston and mastered by Stu McKillop, strikes a balance between grit and vulnerability. Emerging from a period of lineup changes, Chief State's resilience shines through as they deliver emotionally charged anthems that resonate with urgency and honesty.

Red Arrow Highway
Red Arrow Highway, hailing from West Michigan, is an alt-rock band gearing up to unveil their sophomore album, *Be Someone Better*, on March 20th, 2026, under the banner of North Carolina's indie label, Self Aware Records. Drawing inspiration from rock legends like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, as well as modern torchbearers such as The Menzingers, The Gaslight Anthem, Spanish Love Songs and Bright Eyes, their sound marries classic rock aesthetics with contemporary indie punk passion with big alt-rock hooks. Through their lead single 'Not the End,' the band delves into societal critique with infectious melodies and fervent instrumentation, encapsulating the essence of their upcoming record.

Goldfinger
Goldfinger is a Los Angeles-based ska-punk/pop-punk band formed in 1994, known for energetic music and anthemic hooks, fronted by constant member John Feldmann, with breakthrough hits like "Here in Your Bedroom" and "Superman," becoming key figures in the '90s ska-punk scene before evolving their sound, known for intense live shows and a lineup featuring Feldmann, Charlie Paulson, Darrin Pfeiffer, and Simon Williams in their classic era, with Feldmann still leading the band today. The current lineup features John Feldmann (producer/lead vocalist), Charlie Paulson (guitar/Black President), Mike Herrera (bass/MXPX), Nick Gross (drums/girlfriends), and Moon Valjean (guitar/Greek Fire). In their early years, the band was considered a contributor to the movement of third-wave ska, a mid-1990s revitalization in the popularity of ska, evidenced in their first three albums: Goldfinger (1996), Hang-Ups (1997) and Stomping Ground (2000). However, the releases of Open Your Eyes (2002) and Disconnection Notice (2005) saw the band shed most of the ska influence, and they have been more commonly placed in the pop-punk genre in later years. They have since released three more albums: Hello Destiny... (2008), The Knife (2017) and Never Look Back (2020) with their latest album "Nine Lives" coming January 2026.

Bicycle Inn
Bicycle Inn is an emo band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2016. The band consists of Declan Moloney (bass), Noah Aguiar (guitar/vocals), Dylan Ilkowitz (guitar/auxiliary vocals), Gilmar Perez (lead guitar), and Josh Giaquinto (percussion). They are known for blending emotional, often melancholy themes with an alternative and sometimes post-hardcore edge, and have released albums like This Time and Place Is All I'll Ever Know and forthcoming LP "Long in the Tooth" scheduled for November 2025.
RIYL: Good Sleepy, Charmer, Arm's Length, Ben Quad