Ones2Watch Home

Rising punk band Heart Attack Man has today announced their fourth full-length album Joyride The Pale Horse. In celebration of the announcement, the trio has two brand new tracks, "Laughing Without Smiling" and "Spit," for fans to foam at the mouth over.

The group's mastery of dynamics, a hallmark of their sound since their debut album, shines on the first of the two singles, "Laughing Without Smiling." Creaky, western-inspired acoustic guitar riffs slip into the undertow of a power chord-driven chorus. Egan drones on about the monotony of life and the demise of the self in a checked-out mentality, singing on the hook, "And I see you going through the motions of your life, and it looks a lot like laughing without smiling."

"Spit" cynically and sarcastically comments on the use of artificial intelligence and how it's used to replace people and their work, spitting in the face of humanity all for a mediocre output. Opening with a trudging stomp, Egan gives a self-effacing request, "Kill me and replace me with a hologram. No one will ever know the difference, much less even give a damn." Eric's scream takes hold on the hook, "The world you're living in will soon be faded into memory. Spit in the face of humanity," dissolving into an uneasy guitar lead. Overall, the track is an act of defiance against the encroachment of AI in the creative process, and that's incredibly powerful. "This song is a go-for-the-throat, tongue-in-cheek lashing out against the use of generative artificial intelligence in the creative process, as I think it signals the death of one's own inherent creativity," Egan said about the track.

The accompanying music video for "Spit," directed by Michael Herrick, respectfully, might be one of the grossest visuals the band has ever released, and they put out the "Freak of Nature" music video. However, it has a cinematic vibe that fits perfectly with the theme and energy of the track, with viewers watching as Egan remains trapped in the bottom of a deep well while passersby spit on him. This visual representation serves as a powerful metaphor for the band's message about the dehumanizing effects of artificial intelligence.

Both singles will feature on the band's fourth album, Joyride The Pale Horse, out April 25. The Cleveland trio's blend of palm-muted pop-punk guitar chords and introspective lyrics delves into existential themes, drawing comparisons to bands like Can't Swim, Sum 41, Pup, and Microwave with a nod to 90s heavy fuzzed-out alt-rock and pop-punk influences. Across 12 tracks, fans can expect a dose of high energy, loud guitars, and the monster hooks the band is known for.

"With every song of ours that comes to life, I have a thought in the back of my mind that it could be the last good song we ever write," shares frontman Eric Egan. "At the same time, in many ways, it feels like we're just getting started and have only just begun to tell our story. This album is the intersection of pessimism and optimism; firmly between life and death."