New Music Review - ‘Boundary Issues’ the album by The RVMES
Boundary Issues is the fourth album released by Auckland-based, The RVMES (pronounced ‘The Rooms’), released September 5th, 2025.
Cover artwork from The RVMES’ Facebook page
Bounding out of the studio, The RVMES have let us into their world once again with the release of their much anticipated fourth album, Boundary Issues, that dropped at midnight last night.
Drenched in this intense wave of heat, Boundary Issues puts a little (large) pep in your step and opens you up to every possibility imaginable.
The RVMES have this real strength of bridging the gap between clean and sensual - which makes it hard to peel yourself away from them. They’re playful, passionate and sometimes the element of The RVMES’ music can be well, downright fierce.
The RVMES are well-established, with playing many shows and releasing a generous catalogue of music since 2018 in which their effortless blending of indie, reggae, rock and slightly pop vibes commands the listener to be drawn closer, without a hitch.
The RVMES’ love of upping their musical abilities over the years showcases that what they are creating is what they are continuing to push forward for long-term, it’s not just a moment for them, it’s career progression and there are no barriers that they are unable to break down.
While listening to Boundary Issues, I felt myself being flown away to an island, where the waves were crashing against the shoreline, however, the music from The RVMES was being carried through and was the only thing that I could hear, and focus on, nothing more.
This album genuinely takes you to a space that you ordinarily wouldn’t be thinking about in your day-to-day life, and that is quite a reflective and healing feeling, to be able to be quickly drawn away from reality in such a way like how they’ve achieved with this beautiful body of work.
Eclectic and techno-toned in some parts, Boundary Issues scores largely high up in the rankings of this weeks’ releases as it flows nicely into each song, it has melodic, but cheeky moments and is able to stand on its own two feet.
Inside the walls of Boundary Issues, there are layered beats that are logical with a blend of musical intent that keeps you wondering what The RVMES are about to surprise you with next and that is evidently a moment that they were going for - endless surprises.
Every hook, every bass line, every percussion piece is spectacularly curated to be anything but your ordinary listen, which truly elevates the potential of this album being heard and interpreted from many varying perspectives.
Some notable tracks from Boundary Issues include Cold Steel for the intoxicating guitar work that comes into play close to the end of the track, it melts into it perfectly, making you completely solidified to the ground in that moment. The guitar work is flawlessly represented on this track and deserves its moment in this review.
Ecstasy plays into this summertime festival vibe, the way the vocalism announces its importance on this song, alongside lyricism that pulls you into a tight grip (“I don’t need much, just your touch is enough for me. No denying we have the sweetest chemistry”, “sunny days on my mind is what I want, don’t have a plan, even though I’m fully grown”). This is my personal favourite song off of Boundary Issues, for sure.
Every track has its own distinction from the one before, or after it and ensures this is a phenomenal fourth release for The RVMES. Make sure you go and give it a listen immediately. A minute further without hearing Boundary Issues is a minute completely wasted.
To follow along with The RVMES, click the links below -
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Website
Bandcamp/Merch
The RVMES (Edwin) x WTTG - Interview - 2022