Vukovi, Hurt
LAB Records

The latest from Scottish powerhouses Vukovi does not disappoint. Hurt is a wicked whirlwind of emotion, just as fierce as Kill It and SLO but with somehow even more searing. Every track they release, though we don’t quite know yet what they’re building to, gets more forceful – and especially after their highlight set at Download Pilot, Vukovi are ready for something immense.

Hurt tackles toxic relationships in a viciously cathartic way, written from vocalist Janine Shilstone’s imagined perspective of being able to confront the person that hurt you, so it’s a pretty intense one. The emotional cocktail ranges from the melancholy bitterness of the piano-driven opening to the dizzying rage the song descends into at the end with Janine’s always-massive vocals reaching a peak. She’s managed to deliver anger, hurt, heartbreak, frustration, and so much more, all in one whiplash track, and it’s formidable.

Vukovi are definitely teasing the chaos and joy of their live shows with Hurt, that just feels made for a big old cathartic mosh around. They’re off on tour this October, ready to tear it up all around the UK – they were already one of the best live bands about before releasing new music, but they go from absolute strength to strength.

Tickets are available here, and you can listen to Hurt here.