Album Review: Erode

In previous reviews, I’ve pointed out how hardcore was having a moment in 2025.

A swell of international acts such as Turnstile, Speed, End It, Drain, Big Boy, and Scowl (among a wave of others) all had huge years in 2025, putting the genre firmly back into the minds of heavy music fans.

Likewise, local bands like Standover, Shuriken, Cease & Desist, Killed For Less, and Visions Ov Hell all put out stellar releases, riding the cresting wave that is New Zealand Hardcore. But this begs the question, how long could this wave last? Could it continue into 2026? Or will it all come crashing onto the beach?

Well, not to drag this metaphor out too long, but Shuv-it is here to tell us that the wave hasn’t broken yet.

The Tasman-based band already have a couple of EP’s under their belt – 2023’s Enter and 2024’s Exist. That frantic pace of releases gives us some clues about how the band operate, and, by extension, their sound. Shuv-it like to move fast and break things and their latest offering, Erode, proves that without a doubt.

Before getting into the music, it’s important to provide a brief primer about Shuv-it because one of the most impressive things about the band is how the members work together.

Having played with Shuv-it a number of times, I’ve seen a few different permutations of the band. However, the core of the group consists of Sam Edmonds (vocals), Jack Rollinson (guitar), and Thornton Church (drums). But on Erode, Church recorded all the guitars, bass, and drums, with Edmonds on vocals, and Rollinson doing the mix/master.

Besides the obvious talent, this division of labour points to a real maturity of process and the ability for everyone to put their ego aside and work in whatever capacity is needed to serve the song.

And that ethos is on display from the moment Erode begins. The opening track, handily titled Shuv-it, opens with a crunchy, mid-tempo riff before quarter note kick drums pulse under Edmonds’ distinctive yeow:

“I’ll face this moment and then tower above it. I’m gonna stand up, they’re gonna back down. I’m gonna break these chains and Shuv-it.”

We’ll soon learn that this kind of infectious positivity permeates the whole record.

Songs like I Wanna See Something Else and Stay Away are sharp critiques of people who purposely try to hold others back. Shuv-it make it clear that they won’t let anyone keep them down and they’ll call out anyone who tries to do it to others. Regardless of the exact sound or subgenre micro-community, that attitude is a key tenet of hardcore and seeing it feature so prominently is refreshing in a genre that often puts the image of the ‘hard man’ on a pedestal.

Maybe it’s a consequence of one member recording all the instruments, but the interaction between guitar riffs and drum patterns are locked in throughout the record. Some sections almost have a djent-like feel, with off-beat cymbals highlighting guitar accents. The grooves are tight and the instrumentals are clinically designed to make you move. In contrast to a lot of metal and hardcore production that gives primacy to a raw or gritty sound, this is precision engineering, seamless and clean.

Something else that sets Erode apart are its varied features. On both Stay Away (featuring Seán Beales of Wellington’s Shuriken) and the closer Don’t Wait (featuring Josh Matheson from Nelson beatdown crew Sawnoff), Edmonds’ clean delivery is juxtaposed with his guests harsher vocals, a clever move. Taking this further, We Know Who To Blame features not only a vocal contribution from Martial Law’s Sam Andy but also scratching from DJ MRD of Texas hardcore act Lie. It’s a bit left-field, but it grew on me after a few listens and it’s always great to see local bands build connections with overseas acts.

The interlude The Serpents Neck is far and away the most sonically interesting song on Erode. The song begins with an extended sample from Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, an apt sentiment in the world today:

“Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost…”

The sample continues as the song unfolds and Church digs into several drum grooves, building tension as the speech reaches its most pointed moments. The song then explodes into a shoegaze crescendo. Fittingly, Sam Butler of Distance (and occasional Shuv-it live member) provides additional guitars, adding the perfect post-rock feel to the track.

On Erode, Shuv-it have crafted a record that highlights not just their musicianship, but who they are as people. It’s a testament to how hard work, a willingness to build connections, and how knowing and going after the sound you want will always produce a great record. They could have easily stuck to a tried-and-true format for their first album – simple songs with a few vocal features. Instead, they’ve made the bold decision to expand the sweep of their sonic identity, incorporating elements of shoegaze, post-rock, and nu-metal, while also remaining true to themselves, their values, and where they come from. If this is the standard for New Zealand hardcore in 2026, the wave certainly hasn’t crashed on the beach yet.