Omaha 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.

Vancouver'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.

Michigan 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.

Spartan 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

Suburban 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