Hurt – Vol. 1

Hurt proves once again that people make assumptions based on band names, and that you damn well better have a good, catchy, memorable name if you want to make it. And really, Hurt doesn’t. The name is boring, there’s nothing catchy or outstanding by the monosyllabic word, so it doesn’t really give you any incentive to give them a listen. Then, throw in the fact that they so casually named their album, decked in with a black cover laced with squares of gray, Vol. 1 and the CD is already under direct scrutiny based solely on pre-conceptions; and when I finally got around to listening to the uninviting album, I found that most of my preconceptions were moderately accurate.

Vol. 1 is really nothing outstanding in any way, shape or form. It is, instead, rather boring and generic radio friendly rock. Sadly, it’s not even radio friendly rock that will do well on the radio, because, as their name suggests, there’s nothing attractive about their sound. Sure, there’s a slight sense of depth in some of their songs, most prominently Overdose and Losing, which grabs your attention at moments – but there’s not enough of that to last the entire album. And with most of the songs lasting over four minutes, you soon find yourselves aching for it to come to an end (that, or find yourself waking up from the sound of your own snores).

Now, that’s not to say that absolutely everyone will find it as boring as me, as, to be fair, there are some slight redeeming qualities amongst some of the songs. The entire album is covered with an eerie, dark vibe, pushed mostly thanks to the foreboding vocals that switch from soft whispers to loud roars, growing in intensity as it does. But even that wears thin after four or five minutes.

Chances are, if you’re a fan of the dark, heavy, radio friendly rock, then Vol. 1 may please you as it doesn’t break any boundaries and stays within the safety zone. But as it stands, in my eyes, Hurt is just simply hurting.