Heartbeat Behind, A

What makes the Hurt Process relatively unique isn't the fact that they combine emo and hardcore into a crunchy, chewy, slightly sweet confection that's sure to set the kids moshing in every pit from Atlanta to Seattle. What makes them relatively unique is that they're from the U.K., where the punk idea is usually expressed quite differently. The Hurt Process' airtight twin-guitar attack and the bludgeoning solidity of their rhythm section, combined with vocals that alternate between crystal-clear harmonies and a beast-from-the-pit roar, sound an awful lot like heartland screamo -- except for the fact that heartland screamo bands often affect fake British accents, and you'd never guess that the Hurt Process were Brits unless you listened very, very carefully. The songs on this, their second full-length album, are all quite good, but they're all good in pretty much the same way, which makes it a little bit difficult to identify highlights. That said, "You Don't Get Gold for Second Place" combines soaring harmonies with headlong guitar heaviosity to especially nice effect, and "Delicious 53" makes the most of some impressively nimble rhythmic changeups. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson|