Release Wave

Florida 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

Alien 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.

Rocky 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.

Speedway, a Stockholm hardcore band, is set to release their debut album "A Life’s Refrain" on April 11th through Revelation Records. The album, produced by the band and Title Fight’s Ned and Ben Russin, features a blend of melodic and explosive east coast influenced hardcore, reminiscent of 80s youth crew bands like Youth Of Today and Agnostic Front, with collaborations from artists like Ekulu’s Chris Wilson, Viagra Boys’ Sebastian Murphy, and Title Fight/Glitterer's Ned Russin adding to the album’s diverse appeal. A Life’s Refrain embodies everything Speedway has accomplished up to this point, only better, more focused, and imbued with a sense of rebirth that resonates from the first riff to the closing lyrics of the forthcoming LP.

Bantom Woods, an Alternative Indie Rock band from Austin, Texas, released their debut EP "With All Due Respect" in summer 2023 and will be dropping their latest single "Lotteries & Lightning Strikes" on March 28, 2025 as a preview to their upcoming album. The band's sound blends alternative rock, 90s college indie, post-punk, and dream pop, drawing inspiration from artists such as The Replacements, Sonic Youth, Ride, The Hold Steady, Sugar and Superdrag. Comprising Indie rock veterans from Austin, including members of Silver Scooter, Bantom Woods creates a distinctive and catchy mix that will appeal to fans of various alternative rock genres.

Touch the Clouds, a Detroit alternative rock band composed of veterans from the local scene including 3/4 of the early 2000s post-punk meets emo-core band Few and Far Between, will release its 15 track self-titled LP on March 14, 2025 via Elkion Records. The new album picks up where Few and Far Between left off, but with more depth and maturity as the band members are 20+ years older with more music and life experience under their belts. Tracks like the gossamer “Tension” and the dynamic “You Got No Soul” combine Hunt’s angular guitar work with Philip’s soaring emotive vocals—creating tracks that snap between post punk iciness and the warm groove of vintage R&B, showcasing the band's diverse musical influences and knack for writing big melodies with anthemic hooks. Fans of Built To Spill, Sunny Day Real Estate, Smashing Pumpkins, and Jimmy Eat World will find Touch the Clouds' debut LP both a nostalgic and compelling listen, that will sit well within the current alternative musical landscape.

RVA shoegaze / alt rock band Keep is set to release their new LP "Almost Static" on May 30, 2025. Influenced by bands like The Cure and Slowdive, Keep's music often falls under the shoegaze genre but incorporates elements from various genres. The band's forthcoming album promises to blend their diverse influences seamlessly, exploring themes of introspection and relentless movement, with recording done in Chicago and Tolono and production by Zac Montez. Similar artists include Slowdive, The Cure, Glare, Downward and Cloakroom.

Dallas-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.

Pet Symmetry's upcoming album "Big Symmetry" is set for release on May 2, 2025 via Storm Chasers Ltd and Asian Man Records. The new album features 12 melodic emo anthems, including singles like "Big Mileage" and "Big Engagement" which are now available on all streaming platforms. The Chicago-based trio, consisting of members from Into It. Over It. and Dowsing, explores themes of love and everyday moments in this heartfelt release, which was born from a creative retreat in a remote cabin. Fans of Jimmy Eat World, The Get Up Kids, Into it. Over it. and Motion City Soundtrack will appreciate Pet Symmetry's blend of catchy hooks, big melodies, and emotional depth.

Toronto 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.

Brooklyn based heavy rockers Bedridden is set to release their debut album "Moths Strapped to Each Other's Backs" on April 11, 2025, via Julai's War Recordings. The album is a collection of ten songs that delve into tumultuous adult life with a mix of fuzzed-out guitar riffs, influenced by a blend of 90s inspired shoegaze, punk, and indie / alt rock meant to be played loudly. On their debut LP, Bedridden's music mirrors a raw and confrontational energy similar to bands like Narrow Head, The Smashing Pumpkins, Hum, and Trauma Ray with buzzing guitars, and a range of tempos and dynamics.

Iconic genre-defining rock band Underoath is set to release their new album, "The Place After This One," on March 28, 2025, showcasing a blend of their classic post-hardcore sound, with a crystalline vision blending hard rock, metal, electronic experimentation, guttural screams and anthemic, call-to-arms choruses. The band aims to push boundaries with a new sound that draws inspiration from acts like The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers while still staying true to the sound that made this band so special in the first place. Sonically, its references are varied and complex, and is a distillation of everything they’ve accomplished thus far. Fans of all eras of this band should find something to love on this new LP.

Michigan emo band Charmer's long awaited third album, "Downpour," will be released on May 23, 2025 on Counter Intuitive Records, blending influences from the late 90s and early 2000s Long Island emo-punk scene, to the melancholic vibes of The Cranberries and The Cure, with the midwestern emo revival punk sound that laid the original foundation for their sound.. The lead single "Arrowhead" streaming now, captures the band's intense and cathartic sound, drawing parallels to early Alkaline Trio, Title Fight, and Bayside. Hailing from Marquette, Michigan, Charmer's music reflects their surroundings and emotional depth, offering a mix of familiar tones and fresh perspectives for listeners.

Arm’s Length, an anthemic emo-punk band from Ontario, Canada, has signed with Pure Noise Records and is set to release their sophomore album 'There's A Whole World Out There' on May 16, 2025, featuring their latest single "Funny Face". Drawing on personal struggles, this album delves into themes of personal trauma, love, and resilience, showcasing the band's evolution and raw emotion. Arm's Length pull from the best parts of early 2000s emo, pop-punk, and post-hardcore, with passionate vocal delivery, the occasional screams, loud melodic guitars, and big anthemic singalong hooks, that fans of Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, Taking Back Sunday, Hot Mulligan and Armor For Sleep will love.

Dallas 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.

Heart Attack Man is releasing their 4th album "Joyride The Pale Horse" on April 25, 2025, introducing two new tracks now streaming titled “Laughing Without Smiling” and “Spit" from the forthcoming LP. The Cleveland trio's blend of palm-muted pop-punk guitar chords and introspective lyrics delves into existential themes, drawing comparisons to bands like Can't Swim, Sum 41, Pup and Micorwave with a nod to 90s heavy fuzzed out alt-rock and pop-punk influences. Across 12 tracks, fans can expect a dose of high energy, loud guitars and the monster hooks the band is known for.

Heaven, a power-popgaze band from NYC, is set to release their third album, "Dream Aloud," on April 4, 2025, through Little Cloud Records. The album marks their first LP in 7 years with most recent single "I Need You More Somehow" blending nostalgic melodies with reverb-filled guitars, offering a taste of the emotional journey and otherworldly sounds to expect from the upcoming album. Influenced by artists like Teenage Fanclub, The Lemonheads and Swervedriver, Heaven's dreamy yet introspective tracks showcase their evolution as a trio, with Matt Sumrow, Mikey Jones, and Sonia Manalili now shaping their most somnambulistic record yet.

Seattle power-pop punk rockers Dead Bars are gearing up to release their third LP, "All Dead Bars Go to Heaven," on March 21, 2025 through Iodine Recordings. Drawing comparisons to bands like Japandroids, The Replacements, White Reaper, and Fucked Up, Dead Bars have established themselves as a formidable force in the music scene, known for their energetic live performances and raw but anthemic singalong tracks with a pop sheen. Their latest album features 10 hook-laden songs that offer a mix of nostalgia and fresh perspectives, punk energy and power-pop guitar riffs, highlighted by their new single "Give the Metalhead a Hug," that should please old fans and new.