Release Wave

Spoils System is a New York-based band formed in 2021 by Dan Coutant (vocals, guitar, keys), Sean Hansen (guitar, background vocals), David Fateman (bass), and Mark Frankel (drums). They are known for their melodic and often discordant indie rock, drawing on influences from their past work in the emo band Joshua (Doghouse Records). The band is gearing up to release their sophomore LP on Sweet Cheatah Records in summer 2025.

Forged in Vancouver’s late-’90s post-hardcore crucible, By A Thread first left their mark with Last of the Daydreams, a Revelation Records cult classic that paired soaring melody with raw emotional weight. After lineup twists and quiet years, core songwriters Sean Lande and John Franco joined forces with drummer Gabe Mantle (Gob) to shape Mirrored Life, a brooding, reverb-drenched record that channels grief, growth, and hard-won perspective into their heaviest, most expansive music yet. Bassist Carl McBeath now anchors the low end, completing a lineup ready to carry these songs forward. It’s not a comeback so much as a reaffirmation, proof that By A Thread’s knack for cathartic, atmospheric anthems remains more vital and uncompromising as ever.

Worlds Worst are a Salt Lake City alternative/indie/slacker rock band who play guitar heavy 90s inspired fuzzed out noise pop. The band is gearing up to release their sophomore LP, American Muscle, which showcases the band continuing to perfect their unique approach to the indie, noisy, slacker rock sound with loud punchy guitars and big hooks.

Have Mercy is a Baltimore-based indie / alt-rock band heavily influenced by post-hardcore and emo music, with heart on your sleeve vocals and driving guitar melodies. They have released multiple albums, with their latest being "Numb" in 2023 and their recently announced 6th LP, "the loneliest place i've ever been," is set to release in August 2025 via Rude Records. Fans of bands like The Dangerous Summer and Jimmy Eat World will enjoy their emotionally charged anthemic alt-rock.

Plight is an alternative grungegaze band from NYC combing elements of power-pop, emo, grunge, and alt-rock with big loud guitars and razor sharp hooks.

Highspire was a shoegaze staple of the early 2000’s international shoegaze scene via early internet music sites, filesharing, and releases on compilations like Losing Today Magazine, Tonevendor, Vinyl Junkie, Alison Records, even Club AC30’s first release.

In 2004, legendary shoegaze label of the time Clairecords released their debut album "Your Everything" to much acclaim. With most shoegaze-centric outlets of the time naming it the best shoegaze album of the year, and even making KEXP’s John in the Mornings top 10 albums of 2004.

Alex White & EJ Hagen joined Australian Neo-Psych band the Morning After Girls for half a decade in 2008. In between tours, they recorded their 2nd album "Aquatic" in 2010. "Aquatic" also garnered many top shoegaze album of 2010 accolades of the time.

The latest incarnation of the band features Laura Watling (The Autocollants, Tears Run Rings), John Loring (Fleeting Joys), drummer Kory Gable, and original drummer Guyton Sanders. Their long-awaited third album, "Crushed," sees the band take it up a notch. With everyone involved saying it’s their best album yet. John Loring also mixed, mastered, and co-produced the album. 

"Crushed" will be released on Shelflife Records July 11, 2025 on 2 vinyl variants (Oilslick Nautilus & Orange Crushed) as well as CD. RIYL:

My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, Ride, Glare, Nothing, Greet Death, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart.

Rocket is an indie rock band formed in Los Angeles in 2021, known for their 90s-inspired sound with influences from shoegaze and alt-rock. The band consists of Alithea Tuttle (bass, vocals), Baron Rinzler (guitar), Cooper Ladomade (drums), and Desi Scaglione (guitar). They draw inspiration from bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, The Pixies, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr., The Flaming Lips, Yo La Tengo, and Radiohead.

Nihilistic Easyrider is the brainchild of Narrow Head frontman Jacob Duarte. His debut LP "DELUXE EDITION" is a mixtape of sorts, a collection of songs written at various intervals throughout Duarte’s career. These songs traverse a wide-range of stylistic references, from saccharine Y2K emo and young-dumb-and-full-of pop punk to Soviet fuzz fueled alt and pure Evan Dando-core verse-chorus-verse-chorus-done pop rock. Brought to life by a cast of characters including Narrow Head drummer Carson Wilcox, producer (and former tour-mate) Graham Hunt and features from Momma’s Allegra Weingarten and Ella Friedman, this debut album still provides with masterfully crafted and hook-drenched renditions of Duarte’s signature songwriting aesthetics.

The Casket Lottery is an emo/post-hardcore band from Kansas City, MO formed in 1997. The band released its first three LPs on Second Nature Recordings, a fourth LP on No Sleep Records, and reunited for a 5th LP in 2020 on Wiretap Records. The band are now signed to Iodine Records and will release it's 6th LP titled "Feel The Teeth" in August of 2025.

Moving Mountains is an American rock band from Purchase, New York. Combining elements of emo and post-rock, the band has often been compared to such acts as The Appleseed Cast, Gates and Thrice.

Hotline TNT is a New York based noise-pop band that play their own brand of melodic shoegaze and grunge pop combined with elements of dream-pop and loud fuzzed out anthemic alternative rock. Laying out sheets of buzzy guitar sounds over simple, forceful melodies, Hotline TNT take their shoegaze influences and meld them with a pop undertow and personal lyrics about life and relationships. Founded and led by guitarist and songwriter Will Anderson (of former band Weed), the group started as a one-man-band in the studio, with Anderson calling all the shots, and expanding into a quartet or quintet on-stage. Anderson established Hotline TNT's sound and style with the 2021 indie release Nineteen in Love, and made their music sound bigger and bolder on 2023's Cartwheel, their debut for Third Man Records. Now the band is back with "Rasberry Moon" their first album built as a full band and follow up LP to 2023s Cartwheel set for release June of 2025 via Third Man Records.

End It is a hardcore band from Baltimore, MD. Formed in 2017, the five-piece have pride for the city and often address the unease mixed with hope that stems from the community they live in. The band came out strong with the release of their self-titled EP the same year they started, and followed it up with 2020’s One Way Track. In the summer of 2022, the band took the hardcore world by storm with the EP, Unpleasant Living released through Flatspot Records. Quickly becoming a favorite with fans and press alike, the album landed on best of the year lists from Revolver, BrooklynVegan, Stereogum, No Echo and more. The band takes heavy influence from ‘90s hardcore, while throwing in their own flavor of thrashy guitars and charismatic vocals from Akil Godsey. They will be releasing their debut LP in summer of 2025.

Saturdays At Your Place is an emo band from Kalamazoo, MI. Their intimate lyrics pair with heavy hitting instrumental hooks and cleverly placed twinkly guitar parts to create a uniquely personal sound that has come to define the band.

Hailing from New Haven, Ct Sunday Morning is an alternative rock / post-hardcore band consisting of Westly Benjunas, Erik Stanzel, Dom Barone, Jason Moriarty, and Mike Verrastro. The band began in 2018, opening for artists such as Microwave, Boston Manor, Can’t Swim, and The Plot in You. Sunday Morning’s refined hardcore infused alternative sound is what sets them apart from their peers, making them one of the most exciting up and coming bands in the scene right now. At their core, Sunday Morning is about connection – writing songs that will resonate with their listeners, playing shows to connect with new fans, and at the end of the day, they’re living the dream, playing music they love as best friends. The band is currently signed to Open Your Ears Records who released their last EP in June 2024, and have just announced their debut LP releasing in October 2025.

Hot Mulligan, an American emo/punk band, emerged as part of the 5th wave emo revival. Their music blends midwestern emo guitars, mathy rhythms, and pop-punk melodies with anthemic sing-along choruses. They have released several well-received albums and EPs, drawing comparisons to artists like modern baseball and The Wonder Years.

The Starting Line is an American pop-punk band formed in 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band's original lineup consisted of Ken Vasoli (lead vocals/bass), Matt Watts (guitar), Mike Golla (guitar/backing vocals), and Tom Gryskiewitz (drums). They signed with Drive-Thru Records and released their debut album, Say It Like You Mean It, in 2002. The Starting Line released three studio albums: Say It Like You Mean It (2002), Based on a True Story (2005), and Direction (2007). They went on hiatus in 2008 but have reunited for shows and tours over the years, and are now back with their fourth LP and first album in 18 years, expected to be released in fall of 2025.

Chicago-based punk/emo trio Heavy Seas, led by Jeff Dean of Airstream Futures, The Bomb, and All Eyes West, released their debut LP "Everything Breaks" in 2021. The band draws inspiration from 90s indie/emo/post-hardcore acts such as Seaweed, Jawbox, and Jawbreaker. Their upcoming sophomore album "Distortion Days" is set for release on Really Rad Records in January 2024.