Those who aren't playing close attention would be forgiven for thinking that
Hurtlocker's debut album consists of one interminable 32-minute metalcore drag. This has never been a musical style that's conducive to dynamics or experimentation, but
Hurtlocker are so steadfast in their devotion to the basic thrash template that they make legendarily one-dimensional '70s boogie rockers
Foghat look like paragons of musical variety. These ten songs are distinguished mostly either by unimaginative guitarist Tim Moe's minor changes in riff structure and speed or by how many times personality-free singer Grant Belcher drops the F-word per verse. This is spectacularly boring music made by a band whose members clearly think they're being challenging and edgy. Anyone who has ever heard a record by
Shadows Fall or
the Haunted has heard
Hurtlocker's entire shtick, only better. ~ Stewart Mason