On Your Radar: RIVALS

Top Tracks: “Dark Matter,” “Moonlit,” “Fake Rich (feat. Elijah Witt)”
Similar Artists: Cassyette, The Pretty Wild, Colorblind
Recent News: Just finished their U.K./European tour with Nevertel

When it comes to Los Angeles duo RIVALS, composed of vocalist Kalie Wolfe and drummer Joshua Alves, it’s difficult to categorize them into a single genre. While dark-pop is an apt title, RIVALS incorporate heavy elements of post-hardcore or metalcore that break beyond the limits of alternative pop. Since the release of their debut EP Haunted / Hunted in 2015, the duo have continued to hone in on their craft, encapsulating a powerful blend of pop and hard rock.

Now through their latest EP Medusa’s Home, released August 15, RIVALS dives headfirst into hard-hitting, alt-metal influences and cement their space in today’s metal scene. Incorporating heavy riffs and breakdowns into tracks like “Talkin” and “Copacetic,” the duo stands as one of post-hardcore’s most exciting up-and-coming acts. Having just finished supporting Nevertel on their nearly sold-out European/U.K. tour, there’s no doubt RIVALS will continue to rise with the modern rock landscape.

Initially founded in 2014 as a four-piece outfit, RIVALS have spent the last decade maintaining their undying passion and determination for the craft. After coming out the gate in 2015 with their inaugural EP, RIVALS continued to make headway with their cover of Twenty One Pilots’ hit song “Heathens” in 2016. They released their first full-length record Damned Soul in 2018, and continued to release music steadily in the years that followed. Their debut LP established the band as an electrifying emo pop-rock act, but 2021’s full-length follow-up, Sad Looks Pretty On Me, brought the band’s artistry to new heights, amplifying both the hard rock and electronic elements that RIVALS embrace so well.

Now, Wolfe and Alves are now fresh off the release of their latest EP Medusa’s Home, which serves as a culmination of the musical maturity that the duo have harnessed in recent years. After wrapping up their recent run of dates supporting Nevertel on their tour across Europe and the U.K., RIVALS have only continued to grow in popularity. Now with the hint of a new full-length release in the works, there’s no doubt that RIVALS are a pop metal duo that listeners should keep on their radar going into 2026.

Stream Medusa’s Home here.