Featured Releases
At RELEASE WAVE, we spotlight the best upcoming album releases by your favorite bands. Here are a few highlights of some upcoming releases.
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Sunset Funeral
Glare, a Texas shoegaze band, is set to release their debut LP "Sunset Funeral" on April 4 via Deathwish Inc. + Sunday Drive Records. The album delivers a blend of dreamy textures reminiscent of '90s shoegaze and alt rock greats like Slowdive and Smashing Pumpkins, appealing to fans of the genre's recent revival acts such as DIIV, Trauma Ray and Whirr.
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Welcome To My Blue Sky
The highly anticipated album "Welcome to My Blue Sky" by Momma, set for release on April 4th, 2025, showcases a blend of rock urgency and pop melodies in 12 potent tracks. Recorded at Studio G in Brooklyn, the album delves into deeply personal experiences of the band, delivering an exactingly realized work filled with emotional depth and sensitivity, akin to artists like Wishy, The Breeders, Veruca Salt and Soccer Mommy.

Dream Aloud
Heaven announce their third album "Dream Aloud" out April 4, 2025, featuring the single "I Need You More Somehow" blending timeless melodies with reverb-driven guitar. Influenced by power-pop and shoegaze, the NYC-based trio's introspective tracks evoke artists like Teenage Fanclub, The Lemonheads, Swervedriver, and Ride.

Moths Strapped To Each Other's Backs
Brooklyn noise-pop band Bedridden's debut album "Moths Strapped To Each Other’s Backs" offers ten aggressive tracks reflecting on adult life, dating, and survival, blending shoegaze, noise-pop, and punk influences. The album signifies a raw and confrontational musical journey with lyrical storytelling fueled by personal experiences and loud guitars. Fans of Narrow Head, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Hum will find a visceral and angsty resonance in Bedridden's sound.

Joyride The Pale Horse
Heart Attack Man will release their 4th album "Joyride The Pale Horse" on April 25, 2025, offering introspective lyrics set to a blend of pop-punk and alt-rock reminiscent of bands like Can't Swim and Sum 41. The album explores themes of life and death with a blend of optimistic and pessimistic tones, showcasing the band's evolution and sharpened sound since their emergence in 2014.
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RELEASE WAVE the best new and underground music releases in 90s alternative, shoegaze, pop punk, rock, hardcore, punk, emo, indie and more.
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Upcoming Releases

Feel The Teeth
August 29, 2025The Casket Lottery's new album "Feel The Teeth", set for release on August 30, 2025, containing 9 brand new tracks exploring themes of exhaustion and revelation, reflecting the complexities of a shifting era. Where their 2020 album Short Songs for End Times felt like a direct confrontation with the chaos of a fractured world, Feel The Teeth dwells in the quieter aftermath, the moments of clarity amidst the noise. The album is soaked in existential fatigue, and compared to its previous release, is described as a quieter, more introspective reckoning with what it means to still be here, still searching for meaning, still hoping for something better even when we're not sure what it looks like anymore. In an age where comfort is a fleeting illusion and the answers remain out of reach, Feel The Teeth is the sound of a band refusing to give up, refusing to let go.

Souvenir
July 18, 2025Drought is set to release their debut LP "Souvenir" on July 18, 2025 via Iodine Records. Influenced by bands like Pianos Become the Teeth and Title Fight, their emotionally charged sound has already garnered attention from their 2024 released self titled EP . With guest vocals from Pat Flynn on their debut LP produced by Jack Shirley, Drought's "Souvenir" is a mature offering in the melodic post-hardcore and emo scene, recommended for fans of Touche Amore, Fiddlehead, Praise and Have Heart.

Die In Love
June 27, 2025Greet Death will release their 3rd LP "Die In Love" on June 27, 2025 via Deathwish Inc. The band's music, drawing from shoegaze, doomgaze, and a little-bit-of-everything-gaze, explores themes of life and death with emotional depth and melodic sensibility. Returning six years later with what has been described as their third and best album, Greet Death face the great human problem—that we must go on living despite knowing we’re going to die, and loving despite knowing we’re going to lose it all—with great sensitivity, humor, and flourish. With this album, Greet Death have found a way to anthemize our suffering, to turn it into one great, big, beautiful singalong. Latest singles "Country Girl" and "Same But Different Now" can be streamed everywhere for a taste of what's to come. RIYL: Cloakroom, Nothing, Downward, Trauma Ray, and Ovlov.

I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere
June 13, 2025Unseemlier, a self-proclaimed heavy emo/soft punk band, is set to release their debut LP "I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere" on June 13, 2025 via Sell The Heart Records. Lead off single "Power Chord Career Criminal" is now streaming, showcasing the raw emotional intensity akin to Title Fight and Touche Amore combined with the hook-fueled melodic alt-punk of bands like Drug Church and Militarie Gun. The new LP is no doubt a sonic punch to the jaw, both raw and HUGE sounding, featuring 11 emotionally charged punk rock anthems in less than 25 minutes, appealing to fans of raw, unapologetic music that you can move to.

Plagued By the Human Condition
May 30, 2025Southern California post-hardcore band Spark of Life is releasing their sophomore album, "Plagued By The Human Condition," featuring a cover of That Dog's "Never Say Never" with a special collaboration with Fred Armisen. The album showcases a bold evolution of their sound, offering 13 tracks of punk-infused melodic sing-along hardcore, appealing to fans of bands like Praise, Stand Still, and 7 Seconds.

A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming
May 16, 2025Dallas-based Chicano artist Esteban Flores, known as Slow Joy, is gearing up to release his debut album "A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming" on May 16th via Mick Music. With Slow Joy's previous works blending alt-rock, grunge, emo, and shoegaze, Slow Joy's sound on the forthcoming LP continues to explore these genres, while also pulling influences from bands like Third Eye Blind, Smashing Pumpkins, The Pixies, and Jimmy Eat World with even bigger choruses and hooks. Across 13 new tracks, his impactful storytelling turning personal loss into powerful emotive tracks remains front and center. Alongside producer Mike Sapone, Slow Joy's forthcoming LP promises a dynamic emotional depth, highlighted by lead off nü-punk leaning single "Gruesome," showcasing a poppier and more upbeat side to Slow Joy.

The Quiet Year
May 2, 2025Rocky Votolato has formed a new band called Suzzallo, revealing their debut album "The Quiet Year" with a release date of May 2nd, 2025. Departing from Votolato's acoustic roots, Suzzallo offers a cathartic blend of fuzzed out alternative rock, exploring themes of grief and healing following a personal tragedy. The album features collaborations with producer John Goodmanson and musician Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie,, The Postal Service), aiming to provide comfort and catharsis to listeners grappling with similar experiences. Lead off single "The River" combines Smashing Pumpkins-esque riffing with Votolato's open-hearted lyricism and soaring voice, resulting in a song that's sonically and emotionally pummeling.

Thirst
August 29, 2025Slow Crush's upcoming album, "Thirst," is set for release on August 29, 2025 via Pure Noise Records, showcasing their dynamic textures, signature rock and shoegaze sound with added grit. The band aims to evoke a sense of longing and renewal with this album, delving into themes of vulnerability and romantic connections. Thirst’s ten tracks are a thematic cascade of noise that echoes the end and bursts into new life. The riffs are heavier, the vocals are dreamier and more emotional than ever. Title track and latest single "Thirst" is now streaming everywhere. RIYL: Deftones, Nothing, Trauma Ray, Narrow Head, Glare

motionblur
July 11, 2025UK rockers Split Chain's debut LP "motionblur" will be released on July 11, 2025 through Epitaph Records. The album, described as a coming of age story by the band, presents a visceral, kaleidoscopic wall of sound blending conflicting emotions of adolescence with loud guitars, big melodies, and heavy breakdowns pulling from elements of Grunge, Nu-Metal, Alt Rock, Shoegaze and Hardcore. Drawing comparisons to artists like Deftones, Blanket, Oversize and Soul Blind, Split Chain's music combines intense emotions with complex soundscapes that are showcased throughout 11 brand new tracks on their debut LP.

newviolenttrends
June 20, 2025
Where You Found Me
June 6, 2025
No Separation
May 23, 2025Mississippi's band MSPAINT is known for their unique sound that combines heavy elements and melodic undertones, showcased in their debut album "Post-American." Their upcoming EP, "No Separation," set for release on May 23rd, 2025 via Convulse Records, continues this distinctive style, characterized by distorted bass lines, synths, and powerful drumming, with vocalist Deedee's fierce vocals leading the way. The EP's lead single "Angel" exemplifies their experimental fusion, reminiscent of a John Carpenter score blended with the raw energy of a punk performance. Fans of innovative, genre-bending music will find MSPAINT's latest release captivating.

You Wanna Fade?
May 9, 2025Alien Boy's highly anticipated new album "You Wanna Fade?" is set to be released on May 9th by Get Better Records, featuring powerful and dynamic songs that showcase the band's signature pop-rock-by-way-of-shoegaze 90s alt rock sound. The lead single "Changes" offers a glimpse into the album's ambitious songwriting, combining shimmering guitars and memorable hooks. Collaborating with talents like Phil Jones (Supercrush) for guitar and bass and Jack Shirley for mixing and mastering (Deafheaven, Gouge away), Alien Boy expands their sound while retaining their captivating melodies and introspective lyrics, making "You Wanna Fade?" a must-listen for fans of Wishy, Momma, Supercrush, and Pity Sex.

Who Will Look After The Dogs?
May 2, 2025Toronto punk band PUP is set to release their fifth album "Who Will Look After The Dogs?" on May 2nd via Little Dipper / Rise Records. The album, produced by John Congleton and recorded in Los Angeles, continues to showcase the band's raw energy and introspective lyrics, and is described as perhaps their most immediate, no frills and hard-hitting full length yet. Over 12 brand new tracks, PUP delivers a heavy-hitting and cathartic record with shout-along hooks, that reflects their growth and chemistry as a group, appealing to fans of bands like Heart Attack Man, Joyce Manor, The Dirty Nil, and The Hotelier.

Songs In The Key of Yikes
August 22, 2025Chapel Hill, NC indie-rockers Superchunk is set to release their new album "Songs in the Key of Yikes" on August 22, 2025, via Merge Records, featuring the lead single "Is It Making You Feel Something" now available on all streaming platforms. The album promises a triumphant and catchy sound, reminiscent of their iconic fuzzed out inde-punk meets power-pop style. Fans of upbeat indie rock akin to previous albums Majesty Shredding and Digging for Something will find joy in this upcoming release. Songs in the Key of Yikes is a signature Superchunk album: visceral and timeless and catchy as hell—a cathartic balm for these oppressive times that will feel even better once we’ve figured our collective shit out.

Take Only What You Need to Survive
July 11, 2025Somerset Thrower is set to release their third LP, "Take Only What You Need to Survive," on July 11, 2025, via Smart Punk Records. They've also released their reflective and anthemic new single "Never Going To Therapy" showcasing their mid 90's and early '00s alternative meets punk sound while drawing influences from bands like Jimmy Eat World, Garden Variety, Jawbreaker and Seaweed, providing a nostalgic yet modern feel. The album, produced by Jon Markson and mixed at Animal Farm Studios, captures the band at their most dynamic, with soaring guitars and unshakable hooks, reflecting Somerset Thrower's ten-year tenure of blending raw energy with melody-soaked textures. RIYL: Seaweed, Samiam, Taking Meds, 84 Tigers, Drug Church

Raspberry Moon
June 20, 2025New York shoegaze noise-pop rockers Hotline TNT, fronted by Will Anderson, have announced their new 11 track LP titled "Raspberry Moon," releasing on June 20th via Third Man Records. The album follows 2023's outstanding LP Carthweel, and marks their evolution into a full band with its most texturally rich and energetically nuanced sound. Described as their most sweeping and compelling album to date, and first LP built by a full band, lead single "Julia's War" captures a sense of nascent affection with its warm and cutting guitar melodies and big hooks. Fans of Ride, DIIV, Beach Fossils, and My Bloody Valentine will find common ground in Hotline TNT's compelling blend of youthful wistfulness and grown-up charm through walls of reverb and fuzzed out guitars, big melodies and memorable hooks.
Electrician
May 30, 2025
This Is Where People Come to Die
May 23, 2025Florida pop-punk band You Vandal is releasing their fourth album 'this is where people come to die' on May 23, 2025 via Euclid Place Records. Inspired by 90s alt rock and early 2000s emo and pop punk bands, their music offers catchy earworms and a unique blend of pop and punk elements. With thirteen tracks in thirty minutes, the album promises a punky punch for listeners who appreciate their niche brand of grubby pop and offbeat references.
RIYL: Saves The Day, Third Eye Blind, Motion City Soundtrack, This Time Next year

Bleed
May 2, 2025Dallas heavy alt-metal band Bleed will release their debut self-titled LP on May 2, 2025, showcasing a blend of melodic heaviness and immersive soundscapes. Influenced by late 90's/early 00's alt rock/metal, their music balances gauzy distortion and tight song structures, evoking themes of internal struggle and desperation. Drawing inspiration from bands like Alice in Chains and Deftones, Bleed's album promises a unique blend of brutal yet beautiful sound that lingers in the listener's mind. The album will contain 10 brand new tracks, including lead off single "Marathon" now streaming on all digital streaming platforms, and should appeal to fans of Soul Blind, Split Chain, Narrow Head, and the like.