HURTSMILE / HURTSMILE (2011)

Hurtsmile is a new band and consists of Extreme's shouter Gary Cherone , Gary’s younger brother, Mark Cherone, on guitar (once a member of the band Flesh), the Boston fellas Joe Pessia on bass (once a member of Nuno’s Dramagods, ex-Tantric), and student of Mike Mangini ( Extreme) Dana Spellman on drums. Gary Cherone said about HURTSMILE : "Hurtsmile was about returning to my roots, writing a record in my basement, a straight up rock ‘n’ roll record… but it turned out to be more diverse and ambitious than I expected. "

So, this twelve track album contains some very good tracks in the vain of Cherone's main band, EXTREME, some modern rock tracks, but, also, some average tracks as well! I can't say that this album pleased me but, on the other hand, it doesn't dissapointed me! The truth is somewhere in the middle. There are some really good tunes here like the opener track of "Just War Theory" which is a heavy track in the vain of Extreme's third release, "Kaffur (Infidel)" and "Slave".

All in all this is a good album. For sure, this is not a highlight, as many would expect, for this year. It's a bit experimental, it has some really good moments but the main problem here is that Gary Cherone and his boys are mixing several kinds of metal-pop-funk-modern rock..e.t.c and the result is a bit confusing!! As for me, I have to wait for the new EXTREME album....
HeavyParadise's Rating :6,5/10

TRACK LIST : 1. Just War Theory, 2. Stillborn, 3. Love Thy Neighbor, 4. Kaffur (Infidel), 5. Painter Paint, 6. Tolerance Song, 7. Set Me Free, 8. Jesus Would You Meet Me, 9. Slave, 10. Beyond The Garden/ Kicking Against The Goads, 11. Just War Reprise, 12. The Murder Of Daniel Faulkner (4699)