Release Wave

some fear began as a solo endeavor in 2021 in Oklahoma City, OK when Branden “Bran” Palesano released a rough demo on Bandcamp. The project, initially driven by his solitary songwriting process—where he dwells on his thoughts and crafts chord progressions in one sitting—soon evolved into a full band. Bran’s vision was realized with the addition of Ray Morgan, Lennon Bramlett, and James Tunell, who added another dimension to the sound. The band’s sound can be described as chill and melancholic, a blend of slowcore and lo-fi rock that resonates with a profound sense of introspection. From a solitary project to a dynamic quartet, some fear continues to carve out a unique niche in the music scene with their deeply personal and genre-blending approach.

New Age Thief is a Chicago based two-piece band, channeling the sounds of earlier eras of emo/alternative music through impassioned, drivey, and anthemic songs that draw heavy influence from bands like Jimmy Eat World, Basement, Armor for Sleep and the like. Their anthemic emo punk sound is all at once classic sounding while being updated for modern times. The band is gearing up to release their debut LP on Wax Bodega in October 2025.

Japandroids is a Canadian rock duo from Vancouver, British Columbia formed in 2006 combining elements of anthemic punk, post-punk, and rock with monster hooks and shout along choruses. The group consists of Brian King (guitar, vocals) and David Prowse (drums, vocals).After self-releasing 2007’s All Lies and 2008’s Lullaby Death Jams EPs to little attention, the band was effectively broken up by the end of 2008. In January 2009, Japandroids signed to Unfamiliar Records for the release of their debut LP Post-Nothing, deciding to continue on temporarily. The album quickly and unexpectedly rose to wide critical acclaim after its April release. King and Prowse were subsequently signed to Polyvinyl and toured extensively throughout 2009 and 2010, playing more than 200 shows in 20 countries and earning praise for their extremely energetic live performances. A compilation of Japandroids’ self-released EPs, entitled No Singles, as well as a series of three 7″ singles, “Art Czars,” “Younger Us,” and “Heavenward Grand Prix” were released in the meantime. The tour ultimately concluded on October 27, 2010. After working on new material throughout 2011, Japandroids announced in March 2012 that their second LP, Celebration Rock, would be released internationally on June 5, prefaced by the single “The House That Heaven Built” on May 15. Similarly to its predecessor, Celebration Rock was also widely acclaimed by critics. Their third album, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, was released on January 27, 2017, by ANTI-. The album experimented with some new sounds while still maintaining true to their roots, and was also a critical success. Now after 7 years, the duo have finally announce they will release their final LP titled "Fate & Alcohol" in October of 2024, before parting ways for good.

Fort Collins, CO based band Gleemer mixes indie / alt rock with dream pop, shoegaze and a splash of emo. The band is heavily influenced by the melodic guitar rock sounds from the 90s and is centered around Corey Coffman's layered and fuzzy guitar tones and melancholy vocal delivery. The band has released 4 full length LP's and 2 EPs, all of which are consistent while offering something new to their sound. The band is signed to Other People Records and are now gearing up to release their 5th LP in December 2024. Fans of Balance and Composure, Death Cab for Cutie, DIIV, Cloakroom and newer bands like Downward and Glare will enjoy Gleemer.

Around the tucked-away town of Boonton, NJ in 2021, Christian Castan (vocals/ guitar), Bridget Bakie (bass/vocals), Jack Miller (drums), and Danny Zavala (guitar) formed High, a band that combines elements of shoegaze, grunge, emo and dream pop. Creative nucleus Christian Castan and Bridget Bakie met while playing the DIY and college circuit around New Jersey building Bakie’s reputation as “The Queen of The Quarter Note,” and Castan’s profile as an unforgettable guitarist. After playing in a band together, the two longed for a project that would be their sole creative focus and could tour as far and wide as possible. A few weeks and two practices after their formation, the band began playing shows around the tristate DIY circuit after their proper NYC debut at Saint Vitus. The band is gearing up to release their sophomore EP "Come Back Down" in January of 2025 which will include their debut EP Bomber on the B-side.

Perth/Boorloo post-shoegaze outfit Gloam offer up dreamy shoegaze tinged alternative rock and metal. Formed in early 2022, Gloam are a four-piece that have already carved a name for themselves in their corner of the world. Rowan Hardy takes on vocal duties and guitar while Oli Booth joins as lead guitarist, George Blacklock on drums and Oakie Diggins on bass. Drawing inspiration from iconic shoegaze acts to the likes Diiv, Deafheaven, Nothing, Slowdive, and Whirr, along with heavier alt metal bands like Deftones, Gloam take listeners on an immersive, genre-defying journey. Their swirling shoegaze style has proven to appeal to a diverse range of fans, resonating with followers of alternative, indie, hardcore, and metal music.

Cigarettes for Breakfast, a Philadelphia-based band, crafts lush soundscapes reminiscent of shoegaze and dream pop icons like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. Led by Matt Whiteford, the band has garnered attention in the DIY music scene and shared stages with acts like Slow Crush and The Asteroid No. 4. Their debut album "Join the Circus" delves into themes of love and self-discovery, with a second album titled "Slow Motion" slated for release in February 2025.

The band Trauma Ray from Fort Worth has made waves in the shoegaze scene with their intense and expressive music. The band will be releasing their debut full length album, "Chameleon," showcasing their three-guitar attack and stormy fusion of influences, appealing to fans of Nothing, DIIV, Glare, and the shoegaze revival genre.

Tiny Moving Parts is an American emo / math rock / pop punk band from Benson, Minnesota. Formed by brothers William and Matthew Chevalier, and their cousin Dylan Mattheisen, the band has released 6 studio albums across labels such as Hopeless Records, Triple Crown Records, Big Scary Monsters etc since their 2008 formation in junior high. The are gearing up to release their 7th LP in November of 2024.

Common Sage is an American emo band hailing from Brooklyn, New York, and was established in 2018 on Staten Island. The band, featuring members Julian Rosen, Chris Johns, and Phil DiMarco, has put out two albums and one EP, drawing comparisons to similar artists in the post-hardcore scene like Thursday, Brand New, and The Republic of Wolves.

Planes Mistaken For Stars (also known as Planes or PMFS) is a Punk / Hardcore Punk band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. The group later relocated to Denver, CO. In 2007 the band announced that they would be disbanding following a final comprehensive US tour. Their final show was played on February 16, 2008 at the Marquis Theater in Denver supported by fellow local friends Kingdom of Magic and Mustangs &.Madras. Since 2010 PMFS have been sporadically active again, and in 2016 a new album was announced. Founding member Gared O'Donnell died in November 24, 2021 due to cancer and the band subsequently disbanded. The band will finally release their final recordings with Gared and their first new music since 2016 in the form of a new LP in November of 2024.

Origami Angel is a rock band from Washington D.C., made up of singer and guitarist Ryland Heagy and drummer Pat Doherty. Formed in 2016, the band has quickly become known for their unique blend of emo, indie rock, pop punk, and easycore. They've been described as part of the "fifth wave of emo," but they bring a distinct and refreshing energy to the genre that sets them apart.Their debut album, Somewhere City, released in 2019, received high praise from music publications, with Pitchfork and the Chicago Reader lauding it as emblematic of emo in 2019 and setting the tone for the genre's next decade. The album's themes revolve around a utopian concept, which counters the typically negative lyrical content found in emo music with more positive messages and pop culture allusions. Following the success of Somewhere City, Origami Angel released their sophomore double-album, Gami Gang, in 2021. This album saw the band expanding their musical horizons, mixing their signature sound with a more experimental approach, drawing comparisons to The Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness for its ambitious scope. The band will release their new full length LP titled "Feeling Not Found" on Counter Intuitive Records in September of 2024.

Formed in Jacksonville, FL in 2020 while members Joel Cedeno, Nick Dilts, Jarod Whalen, and Reed Cothren previously & simultaneously played in bands True Form, Method of Doubt, and more—Leaving Time sonically stands out from the aforementioned. Taking inspiration from the notable '90s alternative-rock and shoegaze sound, Leaving Time adds much of their own to the sound. Subtle nuances like the whirling guitar leads and hardcore-inspired drums give each song a driving punch, taking the singular "shoegaze" descriptor out of the picture. On EP II, the band again connected with Gainesville producer, John Howard to write some of their best songs to date. Pushing the sound heard on their S/T, EP II finds the band coming to form. The band is signed to Sunday Drive Records and is gearing up to release their debut LP in November of 2024.

High Vis delivers aggressive and artful punk, drawing inspiration from London underground acts like Chubby And The Gang and The Chisel. Their intense live shows and politically charged lyrics echo their hardcore roots, while also exploring post-punk textures reminiscent of older UK bands such as Gang Of Four and Joy Division. They are part of a new crop of bands seamlessly blending genres like street punk, jangly indie sneer, brit pop, post punk, hardcore and shoegaze with a sonic landscape, big melodies, and anthem hooks.

The alternative rock band Fake Eyes, from North Carolina, combines shoegaze, grunge, brit pop, and emo influences in their music. Fans of Trauma Ray, Narrow Head, and Broken Head will enjoy their sound, as the band pulls from similar 90s influences like Hum, Sunny Day Real Estate and The Smashing Pumpkins. They have an EP out on New Morality Zine and plan to release their debut LP on Sunday Drive Records in fall 2024.

Oklahoma City’s Photocopy play the kind of buzzing feedback-laden alternative rock sound that fit right in with the whole 90s shoegaze /emo / alt-rock genre blending revival. Their debut LP is coming out in October 2024.

Underoath is an American post-hardcore band. They gained mainstream popularity with albums like They're Only Chasing Safety and Define the Great Line. After disbanding in 2013, they reunited in 2015 and released their latest albums, Erase Me in 2018 and Voyeurist in 2022.