Album Review 2: Numb - Hammerbox

I like grunge. I've never hated it, nor have I professed to worship it. I don't think i've ever heard a 'perfect' grunge album yet, 'Nevermind' had good moments and bad and although I has nothing against bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nirvana, none of them stood up to the mighty Hammerbox, as far as i'm concerned.

"Who?" I hear the cry of many. Well, I first heard Hammerbox at the age of seven or eight. It was part of the soundtrack to the videogame 'Road Rash', and I bought it as a 'Help Charity' compilation box set but could never really get into the game itself. The jukebox, however, that was part of the game really drilled into my head though. Bands like Therapy? and Hammerbox were there, with some brilliant tracks to be heard. It wasn't until about a year or so ago that I returned to this game in a 'retro' mood and the songs resonated that sense of pure nostalgia, and I ended up delving into Hammerbox's discography at breakneck speed. The songs in question that were used on the game were Simple Passing and Trip. Both of these tracks are fast, thumpy and have brilliantly catchy riffs, which are fairly scarce in most grunge bands. Did I mention that they're fronted by a lady? Another rarity in the grunge movement I think you'd find. Take Alanis Morissette, inject her with petrol, and you have the 'Hammerbox' that is Carrie Akre.

Numb was released in 1993 and was the second (and final) Hammerbox recording. The sound is big, angry, chunky and emotional. The tracklist was and is as follows:
1- Hole (2:40)
2- Hed (3:16)
3- No (4:12)
4- Blur (3:06)
5- Outside (3:33)
6- When 3 Is 2 (4:27)
7- Trip (3:30)
8- Attack Of The Slime Creatures (3:46)
9- God (3:57)
10- Simple Passing (2:01)
11- Sleep (4:29)
12- Anywhere But Here (3:02)
-Total Running Time- (42:05)

Opener Hole really drives the album with 'Rita' proportion (seems like a good analogy having been to Alton Towers yesterday!) and as the guitar and drums meet at the fork in the road before blasting into the main riff, Carrie's voice dives in to steal the show. This is definately one of the album's highlights, and as we hear a rather satisfying Uuughh to lead into a superb bridge we 'head' into the rest of the album.

You see what I DID there? Hed is another excellent track and while not as 'in your face' as the opener, it is able to slow down the pace, whilst still retaining an aura of emotion that carries through the rest of the songs. Soon we go flying into No, which is another highlight. Superb guitar parts here; very catchy, very memorable and it's definately one of those tunes that you start to look forward to on your iPod when you're out on a long walk (well, it is for me at least).

Blur starts promisingly, but isn't really anything special; it's unfortunately far too overshadowed by the next track, Outside. Melodic and powerful chorus and has every grunge chord under the sun poked in there at some point for good measure.

When 3 Is 2 is the only single from the album, and was a track I very much ignored at first. Since I actually bought the single, it's grown on me lots - it has a brilliant chorus and the verses flow very nicely. Soaring backing vocals make this more of a treat to listen to, but I must add here and now - the B-side track to the single called simply 'Rain' is one of Hammerbox's best songs. Technically not part of the album, but it's a real gem and worth hunting down if you ever get the chance.

Now we're into the 'fucking-kick-ass-must-listen-to-before-you-die' sorta song, called Trip. My favourite song from ye olde 'Road Rash', and my still my favourite on this album. The riffs are mind-blowing and infectious, and the vocals are heading all over the place. The grit in this woman's voice is heavily satisfying, and it feels such a shame that she's gone for a more commercial approach in her recent solo efforts.

Attack of the Slime Creatures isn't that good of a track, despite the great name; God on the other hand is one of the better ones. Another excellent chorus dealt with a serious gut punch each time it gets blasted. Then it goes into a backing vocal chant by some of the male members and has a much more of a different feel to some of the other songs because of this.

Simple Passing is the last great performance before the last two tracks deliver a fairly average (but by no means bad) ending to an otherwise damn fine album. Another song from 'Road Rash', and the shortest song here. This is the song you'll be humming all day, with its wonderful soaring vocals and rock-steady beat. Definately another highlight for this sunken grunge classic.

When Hammerbox released this record, they had high hopes for the future - but unfortunately the likes of Nirvana crushed all hope of being able to really make a mark in the music scene at the time, especially as the grunge era came and went in such a short span. Hammerbox were only alive for a few years before it disbanded and Carrie Akre formed new band Goodness in the mid-90s. Goodness were like a softer form of Hammerbox, with some pretty decent songs, but never seemed to be able to rival the energy that Hammerbox had in abundance. Goodness came and went just as fast, and now Carrie works on solo albums with varying degrees of success.

Numb, in my opinion, should have been a staple grunge album up there with the likes of Nevermind, Ten, In Utero, and Badmotorfinger. This album has plenty of peaks and troughs, exudes energy and has some uniquely constructed guitar parts of which I think really make this album stand out from the rest. Reformation? Very unlikely I would think, but never say never...

SCORE: 8/10