Do you like brutally pure, bone crushing, neck snapping death metal? If the answer is a resounding “Yes!” then pick up a copy of Cardiac Arrest’s recent release “Haven for the Insane.” Fair warning, make sure your ticker is in proper working order before you start listening or you will find yourself needing a crash cart.
From the booming opening riff and crashing symbols on “Insanity’s Grip,” this is an album that is as intense as it is heavy. The vocals are demonically guttural, the drumming is crushing, and the guitar and bass work is just straight brutal. This is the kind of death metal you can find in a basement bar stinking of beer and sweat; it’s gritty, raw and uncompromising in its approach. If you don’t get chill just from looking at the album art then you’re even more twisted than it is.
Through and through, this is a great listen. With songs that clock in at exactly a minute like “Paralyzed With Fear” and are a flat out speed fest, to more intricate and twisting numbers like “Embrace The Aftermath” Cardiac Arrest keeps kicking you in the teeth one track after another and you never know just where the hits are going to come from. They do a phenomenal job of mixing in ripping solos with the machine gun snare work and high speed intensity. The band is tight the whole way through leaving no room for error and it shows.
If you like your metal heard and heavy, Cardiac Arrest should top your short list of bands to check out and “Haven for the Insane” is a must listen. Ultimately, the album speaks for itself, so why are you still reading my review and not giving yourself whiplash?