REVIEW: SHUTDOWN – BY YOUR SIDE (2025)

There is a certain irony that the lead track here is called “Our Time,” because the “By Your Side” EP is the first work that Shutdown have released in a quarter of a century.

But the thing about these NYHC bands is they never, well, shut down. They don’t just sing about bonds; they live by the code.

Motivated to get back together—although vocalist Mark Scondotto is at pains to point out that they never broke up—when bassist Dion DeNardo’s son received an autism diagnosis, the six songs (amounting to 15 minutes and 48 seconds of laser-guided fury) contained here are everything you’d want from a band that were ones to watch in the late 1990s and very early 2000s across their two full-length albums and many EPs and 7-inch singles.

It sets its stall out from the start. The riffs, the promise of anger in the air, and the feeling that, as “Our Time” hits, this is a gang. Take one on, take them all, and you’d best come heavy.

The groove that New York has is present on the title track, and the sass you need bursts forth. If “Untouchable” initially does the same thing, then you could argue that it never goes out of fashion and it races around looking for mosh pits anyway.

At its best, hardcore has always had a thrash element (perhaps that should be the other way around?), and “Is This the End” is arguably purer in its intent than most thrash.

“Another Day” bursts with positivity for a change and asks, “Am I a better man?” before urging you to “seize the day, don’t wait another day.”

That autism diagnosis also inspired the comeback single, “What Are You Thinking,” and it’s the most “punk,” if you will, as well as being the most personal (perhaps self-evidently). It’s hardcore in every way.

Twenty-five years is a long time, but then the news around the world could be the same as 2017, I suppose? But rather like its close cousin, thrash metal, this type of music never really goes out of fashion. Especially not when it’s done as well as this.

See you in 2050, lads?

Rating 8.5/10