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Mudvayne Release First New Music In 16 Years With "Hurt People Hurt People"

The teases have paid off in a big way for the Peoria quartet.

Today (August 28th) is a monumental day if you're a Mudvayne fan. This past week, the band have been teasing us with cryptic Instagram videos and a timer, all but confirming that a new song is on the way. The song made its world premiere on the SiriusXM channel Liquid Metal one day early, but is now available to stream to the masses.

The song opens with the audio that was played in the teaser videos, a primal scream filled with anger and aggression, before delving into the repetitive chorus of "Hurt people hurt people". A comparison to "More Human Than Human" by White Zombie cannot be ignored, as both phrases are vocalized in the same lyrical pattern. If you were wondering if frontman Chad Gray has still got it, this song is your answer (spoiler alert: he does). The first verse begins, and that signature nu metal vocal style of bouncing between brash screams and hypnotic melodies is immediately present. It serves as a great audio representation coinciding with the lyrical theme of struggling with emotional pain, and in the process, hurting those around you because you feel hurt. The song repeats this formula, before arriving at the culmination of the hostility and hatred that is the bridge. Gray sounds like he is on the verge of a breakdown with promises of neck breaking, before letting loose with an impressively long scream on the word "neck". The chorus plays one more time, closing out the track at around the three and a half minute mark.

For those hoping for a return to the iconic sound of L.D. 50, don't hold your breath. Hints of it can be heard throughout the track, but this song would sound very out of place on that album. My biggest complaint about this song is how quiet Ryan Martinie's bass is. Mudvayne is known for their unique and prominent basslines. Hell, a "brr brr deng" meme was created because of the distinctive bass in their smash hit "Dig". So while his bass is audible, many fans (myself included) in the comments wish to hear it more clearly. I also don't love the rhythm used for the chorus, it's so recognizable in "More Human Than Human" that I feel it should have been delivered in a different manner. By no means do these two criticisms ruin the song for me, though. I've been a Mudvayne fan since birth and I was raised on them. They went on their hiatus before I was able to see them live, and they're one band I didn't think I'd ever get the pleasure of watching. So of course I'm going to be hyped for new music, and I'll finally get my chance to see them later this fall.

In conclusion, it's a heavy, hard-hitting, in-your-face kind of song, just how we like it from Mudvayne. While not groundbreaking or innovative, "Hurt People Hurt People" is still a satisfactory track and a must-listen for any fan of the band.

If AEW's Hurt Syndicate ever need a heavy nu theme song, this is the one for them.

Listen to it here:

The band are about to tour celebrating 25 years of their seminal album L. D. 50, and you can see our prior coverage to learn more.

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