Cardiac Arrest

The band name says it all. Haven For The Insane, the third full-length from Illinois death metal outfit Cardiac Arrest, is filled with pure heart-stopping brutality. Their first release since signing to Ibex Moon, Haven For The Insane showcases the band as an extremely tight unit. The album packs a lot of punch and while there isn't tons of variety from track to track, the quartet demonstrate their talent thoroughly with pummelling blast beats, frenzied riffs, shredding solos and horrific lyrics, all tied neatly, yet chaotically, together by a heavy groove undercurrent. Front-man Adam Scott combines the perfect amount of growls and screeches in his vocals, providing enough variation to keep things interesting. Album highlights include "Paralyzed With Fear," which has catchy, groove-soaked riffs, and album closer "The Blade That Reaps," which lets the lead guitar work shine with unconventional solos.