REVIEW: Heart Attack Man's "Freak of Nature" via Many Hats Distribution

Heart Attack Man has gained traction for a few things in the past couple of years. Fans will know them for their tight knit relationship with their listeners by playing games with them before their shows and being open about the status of the band online. While I never know about radio play their music has certainly gained traction as well; I've heard Pitch Black in a storefront on more than one occasion.

Fan or not however you likely know Eric Egan, their wisecracking, shit posting, frontman and OH resident. None of that ever took away from the quality of their records, at least not for me, but that seems to have taken a bit of a dive on this new record. Something that I find sort of unenjoyable about Freak of Nature is that Eric leans into the bit of being the “annoying internet man” a little too much. On the title track, for example, there is a section where Eric sort of accosts himself for his own hot takes and opinions that he absolutely has to delete, but it just sort of makes it feel like he even does those things in the first place to put it in a song or vice versa. However, he does manage to put that persona on hold for some pretty strong lines on the greater record itself. “9 on Your Bedside” in particular is a pretty jarring look into a stalker and abuser and does an excellent job of portraying them as someone who absolutely thinks they’re right despite being so obviously wrong and in need of help before they hurt themselves or someone else.


That being said though I think that musically Heart Attack Man pulls off another fairly good record. Certain tracks like “C4” have stuck with me since first listen and I have to give it to “Practiced in the Mirror” where the band captures a genuine introduction to the record that conjures the softer side of 2000s alternative, which they don’t always do successfully on certain other tender moments. Still, every song has something about it that makes it fun to listen to and this is definitely a sing-along and drive album. I think that is sort of my only real complaint at the end of the day; musically Heart Attack Man stays consistent, but not so different that there is something to write home about and lyrically I feel this record is a step backwards.

Our Rating - 7/10

Favorite Songs
  1. Practiced in the Mirror
  2. Freak of Nature
  3. Like a Kennedy
  4. Late to the Orgy
  5. Stick Up
  6. God Called Off Today
  7. C4
  8. 9 on Your Bedside
  9. Clown School
  10. See You on the Other Side

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