Review: ‘Fake Blood’ shows Heart Attack Man at their best

Latest album blows ‘The Manson Family’ out of the water

Elodie Townsend
Of Cleveland, Ohio and Twitter fame, Heart Attack Man is more than a Weezer copy paste.

Cleveland, Ohio is the hometown of many great musical acts, including the emo alternative band Heart Attack Man, who just released their sophomore album “Fake Blood.”

Eric Egan, the frontman and most visible member of the band, is well known for his keen fashion sense and hilarious promotional videos headquartered from the band’s Twitter account.

So grab a bag of baby carrots, a camo shirt, hunting orange beanie and flaming crocs and get ready for a musical ride.

‘Out for Blood’

With a guitar riff plucked straight out of your favorite post grunge song, “Out for Blood” is an instant jam. Add the explicit lyrics about an introspective superhero, and you have the perfect track for cathartic summer drives.

“Am I the antihero?/ Turned a super villain/ A violent crime statistic/ One amongst the millions.”

No matter how many times you listen to “Fake Blood,” “Out for Blood” will jump out at you in all the right ways.

‘Cut My Losses’

Before the album came out, Egan warned fans on the band’s social media that the themes in “Fake Blood” would be difficult for some. This track is a prime example.

“Cut My Losses” tells the story of an emotionally abusive relationship where the abuser uses threats of suicide to keep their significant other with them and under their control.

Egan takes on the role of the abused who has had enough and decides to cut their losses and break free.

“Sink your teeth into my neck while I’m sleeping/ Suck the life out of me/ Say you’re gonna paint the walls with your brain/ ’Cause you wanna see me worry.”

‘Crisis Actor’

A play on words, Egan is not about to say Sandy Hook was staged or “Bush did 9/11.” Instead, “Crisis Actor” is about inauthentic people who put up a front to appear a certain way.

“You say, ‘F— the police,’ but you’re really one of them undercover/ Gather all of your tokens/ Bag ’em up with a slogan you can sell/ Hide your ugly side inside.”

With a bit of Foo Fighters flare, this song relies on punchy lines, repetitive, crunchy guitar and active drums.

‘Sugar Coated’

Starting with a call and answer, bi-aural guitar part, “Sugar Coated” is anything but. High-gain chords accented with calculated screeches from a second guitar are joined by a chorus of impassioned yelling.

A track about telling those who you dislike what you really think about them, consider it sing-along therapy.

“Hey, what’s up?/ I hate your guts/ Your dog s— charm is drying up/ I hope you get your ass kicked/ ‘Cause you’re so painfully fake and plastic.”

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