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I last spoke with Shutdown vocalist Mark Scondotto in 2017, and at that time, the Brooklyn, New York hardcore band was only playing sporadic reunion shows. To mark their 30th anniversary, Shutdown have just announced that they'll be releasing a 6-song EP entitled By Your Side.
Coming out in January through Equal Vision Records, By Your Side "examines themes surrounding suicide prevention and mental health education, autism spectrum disorder, incompetent politicians and government, and the internal conflicts we all experience within ourselves as we get older."
Since the EP carries a lot of weight to it in the lyrical department, I asked Mark via email how tough it's been for him to deal with the stresses and anxiety of helping to raise a family and maintain a career. These are factors he obviously didn't have to worry about during Shutdown's original run together.
"Shutdown, and hardcore music in general for me, have always been an outlet in dealing with the everyday stresses and anxieties that come with life," Mark told me. "I personally struggle with severe bouts of anxiety and depression at times, and have found playing hardcore to be the best medicine to bring me back to myself.
"It’s hard to deny the pure joy we all feel when the four of us get together to play a show or write music with this band that we started together as teenagers, nearly 30 years ago. More than bandmates, these guys are my brothers, and as we get older, the message of 'making time for the things you love' becomes clearer."
To coincide with the By Your Side release announcement, Shutdown have also released the Jerry Farley-directed music video for its title track:
With so many years to reflect on Shutdown and their work together, Mark is clearly appreciative of the experiences that have come his way because of hardcore and the band.
"When our families see us playing and traveling to other countries to play for kids that have been waiting so long to see us — like Colombia or Mexico, for example last year — they completely get it and support it to the fullest. And I believe that by doing what truly makes us happy, we are, in a sense, enabled to become the best versions of ourselves, which all our families and those around us most benefit from. Simply put, when someone or something brings out the best in you, do more of it!"
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Speaking of his family, Mark has two brothers that are fellow hardcore music lifers: Jon Scondotto (Lament, Tonystark) and Mike Scondotto (Confusion, Inhuman). I asked him what the rest of the Scondotto family thought about their dedication to hardcore/heavy music for all these decades.
"The biggest supporter of all of our bands within the Scondotto's was definitely our Dad. He passed away in 2014 due to cancer and, to be honest, there's not many left from his generation, with the exception of a few of his siblings and cousins, but they all 'get it' by now, for sure.
"They may have doubted it back then, but all these years later they see this is more than music to us. Our oldest brother, Joe — the only one who is not connected to music in some way — has always been one of our biggest supporters and still encourages me! Joe rules!"
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By Your Side will be out on January 17th via Equal Vision Records (pre-order).
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Tagged: shutdown