There was a period in the middle of the last decade where a large group of emo and pop-punk bands decided they also wanted to play around with the aesthetics of shoegaze and grunge – if not the genres of music themselves. In retrospect and even currently, it makes sense. Not every band wants to play the former genres forever – coloring outside the lines with some heavier riffs and atmosphere that comes out of a dream ends up can often be a way to change things up. That’s also why you see so many side projects from members of bands like State Champs and other pop-punk bands of their ilk – sounds that certainly wouldn’t fit State Champs end up doing nicely in a side project (the power pop of Pile Of Love rings a bell).
Despite seemingly everyone loving alt-rock, grunge, and shoegaze, so many of these bands end up falling far under the radar. It’s unfortunate, but we’re here to help! Here’s a bunch of bands that fall somewhere inside the aforementioned lines, and there’s even a few that veer more toward alternative metal – even a couple with some nu-metal influence.
Bleak
It is straight up criminal how underrated as fuck this New Mexico band is. The band’s debut record A Crack In The Cortex dropped only in December, yet the band’s ambition stretches all over the place. At 11 tracks and 50 minutes, the band is awfully ambitious. With tracks like “Node” leaning more towards poppy (yet still relatively heavy) alt-rock, the record will throw you for a loop when you realize just how heavy some of these tracks are. Album opener “Put You Down” and “Rob You Blind” are good examples, with the latter containing a serious Sevendust influence in the opening intro. Run, don’t walk, to listen to this one. And you’ll want to put on your retired JNCO jeans when you hear the nu-metal bounce of “Questions?”.
Moodring
Florida’s Moodring only debuted their first-ever single a year ago in “Show Me The Real You”. An instant hit, the band’s debut EP of the same name saw them quickly latch onto the UNFD record label. With their blend of alternative metal, shoegaze, and even some nu-metal vibes, they could very well have a trajectory not unlike bands like Loathe, though there’s lots of notable differences. Not afraid of genres or venturing outside the box with songs like newest single “Disintegrate”,
Mondaze
Hailing from Italy, Mondaze’s 2021 debut full-length Late Bloom carries much of the same blown-out and fuzzy shoegaze/alt-rock hybrid as bands like Nothing, but Mondaze’s faster-paced take on the genre simply bleeds the spirit of something faster and heavier – even if it never quite gets there. Mid-album track “Honest Feelings” evokes a version of newer Deftones, if indeed they leaned into their shoegaze influences more. Once you listen to Late Bloom, you’ll wonder why they’re flying under the radar. Not for long, of course.
Bleed
If you’re familiar with Texas alt-rock band Narrow Head, you’re probably wondering why they’re not on this list. Well, Bleed is – and they’re a heavier outfit with members of Narrow Head as well as music and even production that sound ripped out of the year 2000. Seriously, there’s a good chance EP closer “Somebody’s Closer” would be on the Scream 3 soundtrack or something along those lines.
Heavenward
Heavenward is the new(ish) shoegaze/alt-rock project from Chain Gang Of 1974’s Kamtin Mohager. A way for the musician to continue to indulge himself in those genres after parting ways with Teenage Wrist, Heavenward has a new EP dropping later this month, but there’s more than just shoegaze worship at play here. In fact, newest single “Wish” leans more toward Britpop influences than you’d expect. Stellar.
Higher Power
Higher Power may tour with some of hardcore and metalcore’s biggest bands (they were introduced to many a few years back, when Knocked Loose took them out in the USA), but the band’s newer material has a fun, melodic sensibility that brings to mind ’90s post-hardcore acts like Snapcase.
Oversize
Oversize’s In Balance EP plays its cards close to its chest. It’s all over in just under 12 minutes, yet the hazy alt-rock vibes of tracks like “Nosedive” will leave you wanting more.
Headcave
If Headcave’s heavy alternative metal vibes resonate with you in a very familiar sense, that’s because this is yet another band with members of already established bands – specifically Nick from My Ticket Home, Nick from Night Verses, and In Flames/former Chiodos drummer Tanner Wayne. If you miss Night Verses having a vocalist and you also wish said vocalist had a heavier bent, this is for you (though let’s be honest, any incarnation of Night Verses is PRIME).
Glare
Probably the band on this list that falls most under the dream pop banner, even the band’s 2021 EP Heavenly has track names (“Floating”, “Heavenly”) that serve as both adjectives that describe the band’s sound – as well as how you’ll probably feel after listening to them.
Soul Blind
After a couple demos and a handful of singles, Soul Blind are starting to get the attention they deserve. With last year’s 3-song Third Chain EP, Soul Blind have distillated their diverse influences (Silverchair, Superheaven, and grunge certainly loom large) into a sound that is winning them fans by the month, seemingly. Hope you like riffs.
Soft Blue Shimmer
Super chill, wistful dream pop/shoegaze that easily holds up next to their contemporaries. If listening to Soft Blue Shimmer feels like a fever dream, it probably is – and that’s just fine.
Suntitle
Remember what we said in the introduction about pop-punk and emo bands taking up the mantle of grunge and shoegaze? Suntitle’s In A Dream fits the bill rather well. WTF IS UP we’re burning down a Denny’s.
Gleemer
This band is unbelievably talented. Gleemer’s three full-lengths have all been impressive for the band’s abilities to convey the atmosphere of shoegaze and mood of dream pop in a condensed format (you’re not gonna find 5+ minute songs in their discography) is impressive, but there’s also enough guitar-oriented tunes here to really satisfy a wide variety of people.
Slow Crush
Belgium’s dream pop/shoegaze newcomers (okay, they’ve been around for a little bit, but still) Slow Crush have gone from strength to strength over the course of their two full-lengths. Led by vocalist Isa Holliday and a capable rhythm section, the Belgian band’s riff-heavy take on shoegaze is one that will capture your attention – and your heart.
Wayside
Australia’s Wayside fall on the poppy, alternative rock side of things – relying on huge hooks and big choruses to carry the day. Their full-length from 2021, Shine Onto Me, deserves much more love simply based on how often these songs will indeed get stuck in your head.
Sparing
Okay we lied, there’s 16. Don’t sleep on Sparing. The band’s alt-rock heavy sound belies the fact that all the members are also in North Carolina hardcore band Thirteenth, who are also quite good. With just a debut EP under their belt, last year’s Old Dreams provides a fresh spin on an older sound. Lots of riffs to go around as well.
