
Seize!
May 22, 2026Omaha indie-rock band Criteria, led by Stephen Pedersen (ex-Cursive), will release their new album SEIZE! on May 22 via Spartan Records. Along with the album announcement, the band has released the video for crushing lead off single "You Maketh Me" an absolute ripper that captures what Criteria do best. The album, recorded in Omaha with producer Matt Bayles, embodies a blend of heavy rock reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins and Quicksand, exploring themes of loss and the importance of seizing the present moment. The band's latest work is a reflection of personal and professional transitions, offering a glimpse into the current state of life through intense and poignant soundscapes.

Mirrored Life
September 12, 2025Vancouver's 90's post-hardcore band By A Thread is releasing their first album in 14 years, "Mirrored Life," on September 12th, 2025 via Spartan Records.The album reflects the band's growth and introspective lyrics, offering a melodic heavy sound with infectious rhythms that feel melodic and nostalgic all at once. Reverb-heavy pedalboards and moody, deliberate tempos replaced the radio-ready instincts of earlier material. “This is essentially an anti-pop record,” Franco explains. “It’s meant to feel heavy. Lyrically, the album dives deep into themes of loss, identity, and introspection. The songs course through existentialism, the current state of the world, how we treat others, self reflection and loss. Fans of Samiam, Texas Is The Reason, Seaweed, Farside and Ways Away will certainly welcome By A Thread's return to the scene.

Light A Candle For The Lonely
March 8, 2024Ghost Work, comprising members from Seaweed, Snapcase, Milemarker, and Minus The Bear, will drop their new album "Light a Candle for the Lonely" on March 8th via Spartan Records. The LP showcases a post-punk sound with influences reminiscent of The Cure and REM, infused with a gritty edge akin to AC/DC. Vocalist Aaron Stauffer's impactful performance in the album resonates with themes of recovery and self-discovery, creating a balance between past experiences and new creative pursuits.

The Never-Ending Year
April 24, 2020Icelandic post-rock band VAR, signed with Spartan Records, is set to launch their album 'The Never-Ending Year' on April 24, 2020. Expect a captivating blend of post-rock, indie rock, and shoegaze reminiscent of Sigur Ros with lush melodies and dreamy arrangements.

Nothing Ends
October 17, 2025Michigan post-hardcore band 84 Tigers are set to release their emotionally charged sophomore album, Nothing Ends, on October 17, 2025, via Spartan Records. Drawing from elements of post-hardcore and '90s alt-rock, and comparable to bands like Small Brown Bike, The Casket Lottery, Quicksand, Seaweed and Jawbox, the album navigates themes of loss and recovery through 10 brand new explosive tracks, including lead off single "The Crush Of It All", a melodic post-hardcore rocker that's now streaming everywhere.

Basking In The Gaslight
July 25, 2025Assertion, a band formed by William Goldsmith (Sunny Day Real Estate/ Foo Fighters) and Justin Tamminga, is releasing their sophomore album "Basking In The Gaslight" July 25, 2025 through Spartan Records. The music blends alternative and post-rock elements, with the lead single "Lock and Load" now streaming, showcasing infectious percussion and guitar riffs. The album is a raw and personal exploration of survival and emotional resilience, heavy in both sound and subject, and shaped by years of upheaval and trauma, but ultimately driven by a desire for healing and growth. The music itself balances loud and melodic, sometimes chaotic, always full.

Time in The Lighthouse
October 21, 202284 Tigers, comprised of members from Small Brown Bike and The Swellers, are set to release their debut album 'Time in the Lighthouse' on October 21. Recorded with Marc Jacob Hudson, the album blends post-hardcore, punk, and 90s alt-rock influences into a unique sound, featuring intense tracks like “Kingdom of One” and “Great Basin.”

BELIEVEYOUME
September 26, 2025Spartan Records and Shiner are proud to announce the Friday, September 26, 2025 release of BELIEVEYOUME, the longstanding and celebrated Kansas City rock band’s brand new album. Having spent over three decades redefining heavy, melodic rock, evolving from the raw power of their early years into something more layered, dynamic, and emotionally resonant, BELIEVEYOUME finds the band channeling that evolution into a set of songs that feel immediate yet timeless, balancing their signature heaviness with newfound space and vulnerability. BELIEVEYOUME digs deep into aging, relationships, and self-deception, its title reflecting the ambiguity and contradictions at the heart of human connection. The result is Shiner at their most honest and self-aware — still heavy, still weird, and still pushing forward after all these years. RIYL: Failure, No Knife, Jawbox, Hum, Swervedriver, Castor
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Suburban Eyes
August 30, 2024Suburban Eyes, the new indie/emo trio featuring members from well-known emo bands Christie Front Drive, Mineral and Boys Life, is set to release their self-titled debut album on August 30, 2024 via Spartan Records. Their music offers a blend of propulsion and dreamy shimmering soundscapes, maintaining accessible pop structures and melodic guitar hooks with a unique sonic duality. With Grammy-winning mixer Peter Katis involved, the band's introspective and virtual approach has led to a creatively satisfying experience and significant musical growth. Fans of their former projects looking for an updated and more expansive and dreamy shoegaze take on their nostalgic and melodic emo/inidie rock pop sound will definitely find something to love here. RIYL: Christie Front Drive, Jimmy Eat World, Antarctica, The Promise Ring

Intermission
April 9, 2021Assertion, led by musician William Goldsmith, reveals their debut album 'Intermission' out on April 9 via Spartan Records, marking Goldsmith's return to music after a decade-long hiatus. With bandmates Justin Tamminga and Bryan Gorder, Assertion's sound echoes 90's alternative rock with driving guitars, a frenetic rhythm section, and a mix of dark heaviness and delicate moments, appealing to fans of Sunny Day Real Estate and Foo Fighters.