Reluctant Zero revel in an intriguing and vibrant alt-rock sound with new single, Hurt No More.
North Virginia-based rock/alternative band Reluctant Zero have really pushed an interesting sound with new single, Hurt No More. Taken from their upcoming full-length due later this year, the track bounces around contrasting ideas and structures in an interesting way, hitting hard when needed.
With beefy indie-rock guitar hitting hard from the start, you expect the track to continue this raucous vibe, but instead, it strips back into an almost reggae pop-punk flow. It’s an interesting rhythm with off-beat stops that help the flow stand out and is surprisingly addictive to hear. Matthew Rectors vocals are the perfect mix of raucous and full-bodied to handle both the quieter, dubbed-out sections and also the more vibrant chorus where guitar hits harder and the music springs to life.
It’s this intriguing mix of ‘to and fro’ that really helps the track stand on its own two feet and keep things interesting. On top of this, the lyrical themes are more in-depth than you would imagine if you’re intent on listening closely, based around anyone who has bent over backward for someone trying to fix a problem that isn’t there’s to fix.
Reluctant Zero are a tight band and it really shows as the song progresses. On top of the unusual rhythm, there’s a blistering guitar solo that blasts out after the chorus before settling down into those more stripped-back verses. It then hits even harder when the chorus comes around once again, this time with added synth layers before concluding in a strong way.
Hurt No More has a generous amount of swagger coupled against verses that, although feel like they shouldn’t fit in with the track, really work well. It gives it that something different, that edge that all bands look for. It was a brave decision to release this track as a single but it has really paid off.
Score: 3.5/5
Leave a comment