Unlike most frenetic, highly stylized rock formats, Heart Attack is a simple yet wonderfully conceived video that takes an intimate look at two aging lovers as they kiss. All images courtesy of HAL.

Rolling Stone recently named indie rockers Low vs. Diamond as one of the six "Artists to Watch" defining pop and rock in 2008. If their new music video, Heart Attack off the group's self-titled debut album, is any indication, it will be defining a new wave in music videos as well. The way this emotionally powerful piece departs from the standard rock video format makes it especially unique. Unlike most frenetic, highly stylized rock formats, Heart Attack is a simple yet wonderfully conceived video that takes an intimate look at two lovers aging decades at a time as they kiss. And with everyone already talking about the remarkable CG aging feats in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (opening Dec. 19), the work couldn't be timelier.

The music video is more or less a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s "The Seven Ages of Man" speech from As You Like It.

Directed by Marc Klasfeld, head of Rockhard Films, Heart Attack focuses on lead singer Lucas Field and his girlfriend, Annie Kates, gazing deeply into each other's eyes and kissing passionately while he sings to her. Their two faces, seen in a dramatically close profile, never leave the screen but gradually and with detailed progression begin to age. At first slight imperfections appear. The imperfections deepen into heavier lines that inevitably lead to their skin cracking and their facial structure deforming in old age and ultimately decaying in death.

Vfx team HAL's goal was to show the couple imperceptibly aging as they kiss starting from when they are in their 20s and 30s up into their 90s when they pass away.

"The best videos have a timeless simplicity to them," Klasfeld remarks "and that is what we intended with this one."

While it may be simplistic in design, Heart Attack is anything but simple in its construction. Even though it appears seamless, the final video owes its visually stunning style to vfx.

Based on their high standards for quality and a powerful reel, the visual effects team at HAL got the nod.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning vfx supervisor Chris Zapara led the team at this Los Angeles-based visual effects company. Prior to starting HAL, Zapara worked at Zoic and Eden FX and has done effects for CSI, Battlestar Galactica, Hellboy, The Passion of the Christ, Get Smart, Lost, Starship Troopers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, among others.

According to Zapara, "The team’s goal [on Heart Attack] was to show the couple imperceptibly aging as they kiss starting from when they are in their 20s and 30s up into their 90s when they pass away."

This was accomplished with no cuts, just a tight close-up of the couple in profile throughout the entire video. So, naturally, I wondered how the effects team was able to coordinate their work with the facial prosthetics. I was surprised to discover that there were no prosthetics.

"Due to a limited budget and very tight pre-production and shooting schedules, we were not able to make custom cast prosthetics for the actors, and had to instead rely on pre-made appliances," explains Zapara. "We knew ahead of time that this would result in more cleanup work in post."