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Hurt

By: Emily Zemler

You’d expect a band with a prickly name like Hurt to play angry music, and the California-based foursome certainly conjures up a sense of desolate emotion on their debut album, Vol. 1. Recalling the harder radio rock of bands like Tool, Chevelle, and Seether, Hurt churns out edgy tracks that juxtapose quiet melodies with aggressive riffs and throbbing drums. It’s bound to become the adolescent soundtrack for angsty boys everywhere.

Singer J Loren initially formed Hurt with drummer Evan Johns in L.A. when Johns’ music biz dad encouraged the two to play together. The foursome was eventually rounded out with guitarist Paul Spatola and bassist Josh Ansley.

On Vol. 1, Loren’s piercing lyrical lines sound so forlorn you almost expect he recorded them with a razorblade trembling over an exposed wrist. “Overdose,” which comes complete with the backing of strings, is almost seven minutes long, and Loren’s angry growls shift to soft crooning after a surging climax. Hurt adds other delicate touches throughout the album, from the church bells that open “Falls Apart” to a static-laced, robotic chant reminiscent of Rammstein on “Forever.” Although Hurt is major label fodder that will appeal to fans of 30 Seconds to Mars and Three Doors Down, Loren and his bandmates approach their songwriting with a serious dose of emotional intensity, and passion, as we all know, goes a long way.

Hurt tour dates:

3/23, Nashville, TN (12th & Porter) 3/26, Jackson, MS (Voodoo Lounge)3/27, Little Rock, AR (Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom)3/29, Springfild, MO (Outland Ballroom)3/31, Colorado Springs, CO (The Black Sheep)4/1, Lakewood, CO (Eck’s Saloon)4/4, Tempe, AZ (The Real Bar)4/5, San Diego, CA (Soma Sidestage)4/20, McAllen, TX (La Villa Real)4/22, Lubbock, TX (Lonestar Amphitheater)4/23, San Angelo, TX (San Angelo Coliseum)4/25, Tulsa, OK (Cain’s Ballroom)4/26, Wichita Falls, TX (Kay Yeager Coliseum)4/28, Pensacola, FL (Pensacola Civic Center)5/2, Knoxville, TN (Knoxville Civic Coliseum)5/3, Little Rock, AR (Clear Channel Metroplex)5/10, Mesa, AZ (Mesa Amphitheatre)5/12, Temecula, CA (Pechanga Resort & Casino)5/16, Colorado Springs, CO (World Arena)5/17, Rapid City, SD (Rushmore Plaza Civic Center)5/20, Duluth, MN (Pioneer Hall)5/21, Milwaukee, WI (Eagles Ballrooom)5/23, Chicago, IIL (Congress Theater)5/24, Springfield, IL (Prarie Capital Convention Center)6/1, Hampton Beach, NH (Hampton Casino)6/7, Cleveland, OH (Scene Pavillion)6/12, Des Moines, IA (Val Air Ballroom)6/16, Bossier City, LA (Centurytel Center)

Hurt official site