Cleveland’s Heart Attack Man sure knows how to start off an album. Take their most recent offering, Fake Blood for instance. It starts strong, it grabs your attention and then holds it until the album finishes. The band’s cluster of snappy drums and searing guitar only works so much better with hooks for days, even if you don’t know who they are.

It’s not just the opener “Fake Blood” either, as the whole album is catchy with chunky riffs and drums that hit like you want. “Blood Blister” has screamy vocals and a pacing that would be a hit if radio were still a worthy avenue, the way “Low Hanging Fruit” begins reminds you of how rock sounded twenty years ago without stealing from anyone. This is in many ways, the theme of the album. Catchy as hell songwriting placed with fuzzy guitars and a sound that you can’t leave behind.

“Cut My Losses” takes a second to get going, but it delivers the goods as soon as it does. “Asking For It” is upbeat and quick, but it’s not really punk at the same time. “Sugar Coated”sticks out a bit, but still works with this formula. Of course, there are songs that aren’t upbeat, yet they still fit here. “Rats in a Bucket” is slower but still stays in your head, “Moths in a Lampshade” is also slow but it has a dark and endearing stride that works. The standout here is easily the snappy yet harsh notes of “Asking for It.” Touching in some ways like nineties pop punk, the song is an immediate head bopper and you might even place it on repeat when the chorus hits. In many ways, Heart Attack Man isn’t reinventing the wheel with this record, but they aren’t boring anyone either. Fake Blood is a fun and furious album that stays with you, even if you didn’t think it would.

The album is available to stream on all streaming sites, it can be purchased in all online music retailers, or it can be bought in various bundles directly from Triple Crown Records. Heart Attack Man is on tour tomorrow at Amos’ Southend in Charlotte, NC until June 30 at Outland Bar in Springfield, MO. The band’s complete tour dates can be accessed here.

Image Credits: Photo Courtesy of Earshot.