alt-rock
These are the best alt-rock artists featured on Release Wave.
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Japandroids
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.
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Better Lovers
Better Lovers is an American hardcore punk band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 2023 after the dissolution of Every Time I Die, the group consists of vocalist Greg Puciato, guitarists Jordan Buckley and Will Putney, bassist Stephen Micciche, and drummer Clayton Holyoak. The band is signed to SharpTone Records and released their debut EP, God Made Me an Animal, in 2023. Often labeled a supergroup, the band features members formerly of Every Time I Die (Buckley, Micciche, and Holyoak) and The Dillinger Escape Plan (Puciato), as well as a current member of Fit For An Autopsy (Putney). They are gearing up to release their debut LP titled "Highly Irresponsible" on Sharptone Records in October 2024.
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High Vis
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.
Armlock
Armlock is an Australian duo formed by Simon Lam and Hamish Mitchell, blending electronic music with guitar pop elements. Their debut release, "Seashell Angel Lucky Charm," offers a unique sound reminiscent of artists like Pinback, Alex G, and experimental acts from the UK scene. Signed to Run for Cover Records, Armlock's anticipated album is set for release in July 2024.
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Horse Jumper of Love
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Cursive
Cursive is an indie rock band formed in 1995 from Omaha, Nebraska, known for their stylistic blend of indie-rock, emo, and post-hardcore. With influences from bands like Fugazi, Shudder to Think, Archers of Loaf and Superchunk, they have gained critical acclaim and commercial success through albums like "Domestica" and "The Ugly Organ." The band is set to release their 10th LP, "Devour," in September 2024 under Run For Cover Records.
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Heart to Gold
Formed in 2017, Minneapolis, Minnesota indie/punk band Heart to Gold strike a chord with their swaggering, scrappy Midwest punk that prioritizes the strength of the collective over the individual. There are obvious influences from bands like The Weakerthans, American Football, Weezer, Husker Du, and more, but Heart to Gold is really doing their own thing with it and that's in part due to Grant Whiteoak, lead singer and guitarist. Both on a songwriting and a vocal delivery level, his voice and his lyrics can often times feel like two distinct instruments––and part of the band's magic is in how they're able to masterfully weave it all together. The band is singed to Will Yip's Memory Music and will release their a new LP in November 2024.
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Public Opinion
Public Opinion is an indie/post-punk/hardcore band from Denver, Colorado, with a lineup featuring Kevin Hart, Devan Bentley, Kevin Johnson, Brent Liseth, and Sebastian Stanley. Influenced by early 2000s rock revival bands like The Strokes, The Hives, Bloc Party but with a hardcore twist, the band will release their debut LP "Painted On Smile" in September 2024, co-produced by Ian Shelton (Militarie Gun) and Taylor Young and will please fans of bands like Spiritual Cramp, Militarie Gun, Squint, The Hives, The Vines and Angel Du$t.
Origami Angel
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.
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Drug Church
Drug Church is #1, so why try harder? Truer words have never been spoken (or emblazoned upon merch that may or may not reference a novelty shirt seen on a 1998 Fatboy Slim album cover). For over a decade, Drug Church have been building a very strong case that they’re the best loud guitar band in the game. Releasing 4 amazing LPs, including the highly acclaimed Cheer and Hygine, their fifth full-length PRUDE due out in October 2024 is a 28-minute blast of aggression, melody, irreverence, and genuine heart, proving that Drug Church is the best in the game. The album is so downright satisfying it tricks you into thinking there’s nothing all that surprising about a difficult-to-pigeonhole punk band from Albany, NY, with a name like Drug Church somehow having a career at all, much less one that would last over 10 years and qualify them as the best band going. But before you start trying to think of who might have them beat (good luck), consider what just might be the key to Drug Church’s unexpected staying power: Don’t take it too seriously. Drug Church are known for their intense vocal delivery helmed by Patrick Kindlon, crunchy hardcore groove, catchy melodies and 90s alternative hooks, that have fans stage diving and shouting along to like no other. Fans of Fiddlehead, Militarie Gun, Seaweed, The Pixies, Fugazi, Touche Amore, Hot Water Music, Anxious and so many others will all find something to love about Drug Church's unique high energy sound.
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The Dangerous Summer
The Dangerous Summer, an American rock band, draws influences from artists like Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World. Originally signed to Hopeless Records, they are now with Rude Records and will release a new LP in summer 2024.
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Outlander
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Enumclaw
American indie rock band Enumclaw from Tacoma, Washington blends indie pop, alt rock, grunge, and slacker rock. They released their debut album "Save The Baby" in 2022 under Luminelle Recordings and will release their upcoming record "Home In Another Life" with Run for Cover Records in August 2024. Their music should appeal to fans of bands like Hotline TNT, Milly, and Pavement.
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A Place To Bury Strangers
A Place to Bury Strangers is a Brooklyn, New York based noise rock and shoegaze band that formed in 2002. The trio is currently composed of Oliver Ackermann (guitar/vocals, bass), John Fedowitz (bass guitar) and Sandra Fedowitz (drums). Commonly known by the initials APTBS, the band plays a heavy, atmospheric Wall of Sound–influenced blend of noise rock, shoegaze and space rock.The band is also known for the loudness of their intense live shows. A Place to Bury Strangers are commonly referred to by music writers as the "loudest band in New York", a reputation the band developed even before the release of their first album. They currently have six studio albums and are gearing up to release their seventh album in October of 2024.
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Trauma Ray
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.
Regionals
Regionals, are an alternative rock band based in Sydney, Australia. The band has released two EPs and will release their debut album "Spoonbender" after a four year period of experimentation and development. The album showcases a more extreme and experimental sound blending emo, dream pop, and post-hardcore elements. Adding in the light & shade of lush, atmospheric textures and jangly guitars with the abrasive attack of heavy guitars and vocal screams, Regionals have reshaped their sound to something more expansive and exciting.
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Chastity
Chastity is the musical project of Canada native Brandon Williams who makes resonant songs that capture isolation and resilience. As the songwriter behind Chastity, the Whitby Ontario musician has made three unrelentingly perceptive albums culminating in the cathartic Suffer Summer, which was released January 13 via Deathwish and Dine Alone Records. The LP caps off an album trilogy that showcases both Williams’ emotional range as a lyricist but also his boundless love of outsider music. His 2018 debut Death Lust pulled from Unwound and The Smashing Pumpkins as he grappled with mortality while 2019’s Home Made Satan dealt in world-weary anxiety and Hum-like atmospherics. But Suffer Summer is a meditation on happiness, channeled through powerhouse riffs and undeniably potent choruses, sung with Mineral and Jimmy Eat World worn on his sleeve. It’s an album that shows how healing and staying content is hard but necessary work. Now, Chastity returns with a brand new full length LP releasing fall of 2024, which will take his sound to new levels of intensity and emotion. Fans of Jimmy Eat World, Teenage Wrist, Basement, Narrow Head and Title Fight will enjoy Chastity.
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The Story So Far
American pop-punk band The Story So Far, formed in Walnut Creek, California in 2007. With 4 studio albums, they showcase a sound reminiscent of bands like Neck Deep and State Champs.
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