SINGLE REVIEW: Sharper Side - Hurts Like Hell
After reviewing 'Four Thousand Club', I've found myself listening to a lot of Sharper Side's music; they're quite the diverse, addictive talent. Their latest single, 'Hurts Like Hell', is another killer tune ablaze with dynamic energy and punchy hooks.
Sharper Side takes me back to my youth with their intoxicating pop-punk sound. Whirling and buzzing with killer hooks and melodic rhythm. Gritty guitars, mega riffs, thunderous drums, and a driving bassline. Drawing heavily from the early 2000s scene bearing likeness to the era's mainstays such as Green Day or New Found Glory, they neatly package energetic, zestful noise with angst-heavy themes.
'Hurts Like Hell' wonderfully details that sometimes having hope is as emotionally draining as feeling hopeless. The line "some say she only sings sad songs, and maybe she was right all along" particularly speaking to me. The idea that maybe it's better to embrace sadness rather than have optimism and leave yourself open to disappointments. It captures the turbulence of life perfectly. Hitting hard with the notion that staying positive is sometimes the most challenging thing we can do.
Sharper Side have a retro-infused sound that reaches out from its pop-punk base, adding dynamic elements of progression, alt-rock, sparkling indie, and gritty punk to create something brimming with nostalgia but also fresh, modern, and exciting. They're amazing songwriters delivering words that resonate with their listeners, building on the EMO themes of love and loss, adding a more grown-up twist.
'Hurt Like Hell' is a phenomenal track representing some of the band's best work to date.
