Background and production
Following the release of their self-titled album in 2009, Mudvayne entered an extended hiatus, with members pursuing separate musical projects throughout the 2010s in bands such as Hellyeah and Audiotopsy. [4] [5] Despite intermittent speculation about a Mudvayne reunion, the band remained inactive for over a decade. In April 2021, the band reunited and officially began performing live together again; however, they did not immediately address whether they would release new music. [6]
By 2024, they had entered the studio and begun working with well-known metal producer Nick Raskulinecz, who's credited with collaborating with a list of prominent rock and metal bands that includes the likes of Stone Sour, Korn, Foo Fighters, Thornley, Deftones, Bush, Rush, Trivium and Badflower. [7] [8] [9] The band delegated mixing duties to Josh Wilbur, while Ted Jensen was recruited to master the new material, helping blend their early experimental aggression with a more refined modern sound. These sessions culminated in the recording of "Hurt People Hurt People" and another new song titled "Sticks and Stones." [10]
In August 2025, the band announced their first new song in sixteen years was to be released as a single on August 28, 2025. [11] In promotional interviews supporting the new music, the band stated that the release marked both a renewal of the band's recording career and the beginning of a new chapter in their evolution. [12]
In various interviews conducted to promote the single's release, singer Chad Gray described the song as a personal attempt to break the cycle of suffering and projection of pain: "We create our own suffering, our own hurt. It's time to create self-love and let go of the pain." [13] [14]
The single was officially released on August 28, 2025, marking the band's first new release since their 2009 self-titled album Mudvayne . [15] To coincide with the single's release, an official lyric video premiered via their official YouTube channel, also establishing another milestone for the band as it was their first-ever lyric video released to support a new single.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, L.D. 50 , the band announced a 25th anniversary tour in support of it with Static-X, beginning in early September 2025 and concluding in late October 2025. [16] "Hurt People Hurt People" was added to their setlist and performed at every concert throughout the entirety of the tour. [17] [18]
Critical reception
"Hurt People Hurt People" received a generally mixed-to-positive response upon release. Many listeners welcomed it as a strong comeback after sixteen years of inactivity, praising its heaviness and nostalgic quality reminiscent of Mudvayne's early-2000s nu metal sound. Revolver Magazine described it as "a monster" of a song and noted the vintage Mudvayne quality. [21] [22]
Critics pointed to the song's production as one of its most polished elements, calling attention to its clean mix and modern sheen. Others, however, observed that the track's composition leaned on repetition, particularly in the chorus, and that Ryan Martinie's distinctive slap-bass tone was less prominent than in earlier releases. Overall, the song was recognized as a deliberate nod to Mudvayne's nu metal roots, with emotionally direct lyrics about cycles of pain and personal struggle. Some critics viewed it as a straightforward and accessible reintroduction rather than a full creative reinvention. [23]
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