Heart Attack Man, a punk band from Cleveland, returns with their new dynamic and introspective record, “Joyride The Pale Horse.” The 12-track album is an existential comeback, full of darker textures and palpable emotions.
The album opens with a bang. "One More Song (Imposter Syndrome,” a self-interrogation drenched in distortion and self-doubt, is a song that you can relate to. The vocals are a blend of desperation and sarcasm, setting the tone for the rest of the record. The riffs are tight, but not over-polished, creating a grunge-like feel to the track.
Tracks like "End of the Gun" and "Lay Down and Die" dig even deeper into that sense of unease. The former is a confrontation, its grim title matching the sharp-tongued delivery. The latter slows things down into sludge territory, with a grunge-metal palette and funereal pacing. The band balances the bleak and troublesome with humor, and this record is no exception. "Spit" is a great example, a satirical take on the presence of artificial intelligence in art and its impact on creativity.
Despite its heavy subject matter, the album doesn’t feel tangled in the vines of the subject at hand. "Can't Slow Down" acts as a jolt, it’s fast, melodic and chaotic. It evokes the internal tug-of-war between burnout and ambition. The compelling theme continues in "One Good Reason", an anthem that searches for a sense of purpose and tune amidst the static of life.
"Quit While I'm Still Ahead" wrestles with self-preservation, hinting at emotional fatigue and resignation. It’s subdued but never dull, a song built on quiet defiance rather than bombast.
The title track, "Joyride The Pale Horse," acts as the closer of the record. It provides a glorious finish to the album, a fusion of the thematic and sonic motifs. A track about death and decay, it blends morbid lyricism with hopeful determination. The ending leaves you unsettled yet satisfied, anxious yet possibly optimistic.
The album is a meditation on modern life through the eyes of a band that’s not afraid to confront the darkness. The exploration of existentialism and mortality is served through an escape of song, creating a therapeutic release to the bleak reality.
Heart Attack Man embarks on their tour through Australia and performances at Slam Dunk Fest in the UK next month. Their North American tour begins in June, going up and down the United States with select dates in Canada.
