function wpcf_create_temp_column($fields) {
  global $wpdb;
  $matches = 'The';
  $has_the = " CASE
      WHEN $wpdb->posts.post_title regexp( '^($matches)[[:space:]]' )
        THEN trim(substr($wpdb->posts.post_title from 4))
      ELSE $wpdb->posts.post_title
        END AS title2";
  if ($has_the) {
    $fields .= ( preg_match( '/^(s+)?,/', $has_the ) ) ? $has_the : ", $has_the";
  }
  return $fields;
}

function wpcf_sort_by_temp_column ($orderby) {
  $custom_orderby = " UPPER(title2) ASC";
  if ($custom_orderby) {
    $orderby = $custom_orderby;
  }
  return $orderby;
}

<?php
    $args_post = array('post_type' => 'release', 'orderby' => 'title', 'order' => 'ASC', 'posts_per_page' => -1, );

    add_filter('post_fields', 'wpcf_create_temp_column'); /* remove initial 'The' from post titles */
    add_filter('posts_orderby', 'wpcf_sort_by_temp_column');

    $loop = new WP_Query($args_post);

    remove_filter('post_fields', 'wpcf_create_temp_column');
    remove_filter('posts_orderby', 'wpcf_sort_by_temp_column');

        while ($loop->have_posts() ) : $loop->the_post();
?>