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There are some bands that are just like old friendships — even if you haven’t spoken (or written music) for a while, you can pick up right where you left off. It had been an incredibly long time since New York hardcore outfit Shutdown had written a record together — 24 years, to be precise — but one listen to By Your Side and it’s almost as if that time has never passed. 

Formed in Brooklyn in late 1994 as a bunch of teenagers, the four-piece quickly settled into their own skin. They solidified the line-up — Mark Scondotto on vocals, Steve Della Croce on guitar, Dion DeNardo on bass and Jimmy McCormack on drums — and, after a handful of EPs and split 7”, released their debut full-length, Against All Odds, in 1998. An EP called Something To Prove came out the next year, followed by a second full-length, Few And Far Between, in 2000. Though young, the overriding sentiment of those songs was one of positivity despite the circumstances, and the band channeled that optimism and defiance through their raw and breathless take on hardcore. Straight edge and no bullshit, the four-piece soon became a known name in the scene … but then things slowed down and eventually just came to a stop. Life, as life does, got in the way

“We never officially broke up,” says Della Croce. “We needed to stop touring, and we started doing a few other things. We all tried to play when we could, but it wasn’t consistent. A couple of us had side projects going so we could keep playing, and we would write some Shutdown songs once in a while, but we realized we needed a plan of what we wanted to do and what the band should sound like. We’ve talked a lot over the past couple of years about how we’ve evolved and grown as musicians and songwriters, and we wanted everyone to hear what we were talking about.”

It's not an understatement to say that the music those same four guys are making now is as essential and necessary as anything from their past, offering an important dose of hope despite the times. Recorded by longtime friend (and unofficial fifth member) Jerry Farley, the EP begins with “Our Time,” a powerful hardcore anthem about seizing the moment, before the uplifting positivity of the title track kicks in. It’s a song that ruminates on the importance of community — something that’s always been at the center of the band — and is a profound reminder of the strength and power in unity. It bleeds into the righteous anger and self-belief of “Untouchable.” That’s followed by the heavy angular riffs of “Is This The End,” a track that seeks new beginnings from the ashes of what was. Cleverly, that’s embodied and manifested immediately after by the melodic yet frantic “Another Day.” The EP comes to a close with “What are You Thinking?”, a song inspired by DeNardo’s son being diagnosed with autism, and which confronts and comes to terms with the challenges that his diagnosis posed for the bassist.

Given the state of the world right now, the community, optimism and hope these songs offer is not just important, but truly revolutionary and necessary. True to its title, it’s a companion, a friend, something to turn to when things get tough — because things always get tough. These six songs are a vital reminder that they also get better.

“That positivity is just how we roll,” DellaCroce summarizes, “because it helped us when we were angry teenagers. To this day, when we write songs, we write them for us and whoever likes it likes it, but obviously it speaks to a lot of people and it's helped us survive this long as humans. So it was essential to keep that message going with this EP."

“There’s a lot of hope on this release,” adds Scondotto. “I really think that’s what the world needs right now.”

By Your Side track listing:

1. Our Time
2. By Your Side
3. Untouchable
4. Is This The End
5. Another Day
6. What Are You Thinking