Following their debut “Strawberry Moon,” Erro has returned with “Shadowland”. Led by the formidable Nikki Stagel, Erro has delivered nine tracks of unadulterated, pulse-pounding, emotionally charged rock and roll.
What you hear on “Shadowland” is exactly what went down in the room: the crackle of amp tubes, the breath between phrases, the organic stumble that makes a moment human. This commitment to natural performance is the album’s beating heart and its greatest strength. It gives every song the immediacy of a live show, making you feel like you’re in the damn studio with them, watching the sweat fly.
Nikki Stagel’s voice is a force of nature. On “Shadowland,” she’s confident, textured, and completely unguarded, ushering in a new era of artistic self-possession. The band around her is nothing short of lethal. Michael Gerver isn’t only a producer; he’s a co-conspirator, layering strings, horns, bass, and piano into the album’s emotional bloodstream. The rhythm section of Nathan Bodnar on drums and Alex Shipley on bass is a rock-solid foundation, providing the snap, groove, and strut that propels everything forward. Then you’ve got the secret weapon: a choir of harmony vocalists—TK Mundok (lead singer of Dream The Heavy), Aparna Nair, Missy Chretien, and Sean Suza—whose voices drift through these tracks like smoke.
Now, let’s talk about the music, because holy hell, does it rock. The title track “Shadowland” kicks the door in with resonance and complexity, setting a cinematic stage. But it’s “Honey Bear Lane” where they truly drop the hammer. This track owns a bassline that struts like it owns the street and guitar solos that feel poured straight from a molten lava lamp.
They effortlessly swing from that brassy swagger to the contemplative vibe of “The Watcher,” where cinematic horns bloom like headlights in fog, showcasing their dynamic range. “JMS” leans into straight-up, ego-free guitar heroics with a chilling, bluesy tonality that would make early John Mayer tip his hat. Then, just when you think you’ve got them pegged, they hit you with the mid-album highlight “Walls.”
“Dragonfly” injects a dose of funky, synth-touched groove, proving Erro can make you move just as easily as they can make you feel. And for the emotions? Look no further than “Words About Life.” This isn’t just a ballad; it’s the album’s soul-bearing heart—a modern. They close the whole ride with “Over Me,” bringing back the rock edginess for one final, gritty farewell.
So, does “Shadowland” deliver? Is it a worthy successor? That’s a thunderous HELL YES. Erro promised greater things after their debut, and with this they didn’t only meet that promise—they torched it and built a bonfire of their own.