The Cursed of K.K. Hammond brings her unique musical style back to the forefront of music with her latest 2-sided single, “Heart Shaped Box” / “In the Pines.” These two songs carry the same energy, showcasing K.K. Hammond’s signature “Horror Blues” style spectacularly. As always, we’re here put both of these songs through our full review process, so read on to find out more.
Both of these songs are covers, with “Heart Shaped Box” being a cover of Nirvana’s evergreen hit. “In the Pines” meanwhile is an old folk song that’s been covered by many other bands, including Nirvana themselves. The version here is a remixed and remastered variant of K.K. Hammond’s original “In the Pines” cover from 2021.
“Heart Shaped Box” is the first one up, and we love what K.K. Hammond has done with the tune here. Much of the roughness that makes the Nirvana version a classic is still here, but now it’s accompanied by that haunting atmosphere that K.K. Hammond excels at. Elements of ‘Dirty country’ music are brought in, giving the tune a menacing aura.
K.K. Hammond’s delivery on the song is also phenomenal stuff. Her delivery on it is measured, trudging through the motions beautifully and fitting the tone that the cover is going for perfectly. The instrumentals here are also layered on thick, enhancing the crushing, heavy atmosphere. For a song like “Heart Shaped Box,” it all comes together to form a fantastic package.
While we love K.K. Hammond’s take on “Heart Shaped Box,” we’re also massive fans of her cover of “In the Pines.” This song feels like it was tailor made to fit the Horror Blues aesthetic, as the thumping beat crashes through the mix with intensity. This new version is powerful and dangerous sounding, elevating the original further.
The production on both of these songs is precisely what it needs to be. Despite the more complex and busy instrumentation of “Heart Shaped Box” and “In the Pines,” both songs manage to sound incredibly cohesive. They shift seamlessly between heavy and soft moments, working to great effect.
Overall, we have to say that K.K. Hammond has once again hit it out of the park with this one. It’s undeniable how much thought and effort was put into “Heart Shaped Box,” and “In the Pines” is such a powerful showcase of K.K. Hammond’s style that it feels like the song’s been waiting for her to perform it. Overall, a solid 2-sided single, and we’re eager to hear more!