Andrew33
09/18/09, 12:26 PM
Attack Attack! - Someday Came Suddenly
Record Label: Rise Records
Release Date: November 11, 2008
While listening to the debut album by Attack Attack! for probably the hundreth time, I find myself confused at much of the dislike this band has generated. Although I do realize all music tastes are subjective to the listener, I don't see how a band with this much talent has been compared to such horrible acts such as Brokencyde. I have listened to them back when If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords? (Unreleased EP, 2008) was making its way around the internet and onto my iTunes. If you haven't listened to them yet, or have only heard the cover of Katy Perry's song "I Kissed A Girl", I recommend getting the closest pair of earbuds and looking them up on YouTube.
The album opener "Hot Grills and High Tops" is crunkcore-esque, but (very) thankfully it ends there. Their first actual song, and their single, kicks right into action after that, with the opening scream and breakdown of "Stick Stickly" leading the way. Although the band did make two music videos for this song, which I think was a mistake, it's still the second best song on the album and one of my favorites, even though the newer music video gave birth to the term "crabcore", based on how the band members were standing while they played the breakdowns. I'm pretty sure the word "crabcore" started out as an insult, but it has almost turned into something other bands look for.
"Bro, Ashley's Here" follows smoothly, continuing the lyrical content and eloquent synth work found in "Stick Stickly". The album's title comes from this song, in the very powerful line "Someday came suddenly, and now I'm left standing here." "Shred, White, and Blue" continues the odd song titles, catchy synths, and a heavier sound than the first three tracks.
"Party Foul" follows and is the only song to have only screaming. The synth parts in this song are impressive, and the ending could fit on any The Devil Wears Prada album. A techno song fits in after "What Happens If I Can't Check My Myspace When I Get There?" (an obvious reference to Attack Attack!'s popularity), and it shows the skill Caleb has on his keyboards. "The People's Elbow" follows, with great heavy screams and greater breakdowns. The surprising thing about this song is that the lyrics are about making a mistake with a girl, an abnormal change from the almost exclusively Christian-inspired lyrics.
"Kickin' Wing, Animal Doctor" is a remake of "If Guns Are Outlawed" from their EP, and ends with another incredible breakdown. "Dr. Shavargo, Pt. 3" begins with a techno twist, than goes right into screaming "As always, it's all for You". The album ends with the same line, but in a more surprising manner- it softly raises you up, and then drops you down into a breakdown/double bass ending. The last song (but not the last track) is my favorite song, "Catfish Soup". Austin (the lead vocalist) and Johnny (the clean vocalist/guitarist) trade back and forth throughout the song, ending in possibly one of the best breakdowns and one of the best lyrics written to end an album:
"Hallelujah, I've been saved by grace,
Hallelujah, saved by grace,
and this is why, I've been saved,
by His grace.
Just think about this now,
as we come to an end.
The decisions you have,
made will come back to haunt you,
and as the story ends and
you look to the sky,
this couldn't have happened by chance."
Following this, "Outro" carries you away with a piano ending (reminding me of "This Is Who We Are" by As I Lay Dying, a little bit?). This ending is perfect for the album, as you've probably heard enough breakdowns by now. Although the album barely clocks in over 30 minutes, it still packs quite a punch.
The musicianship is impressive, and the thing that gets the most criticism also gets the most credit from me: the keyboards. The guitarists do their job, the drums are impressive (though repetitive), but the vocalist is probably the low point of them all. Austin could only hit the high screams, no singing, and they had Caleb do the low screams (see the end of "Shred, White, and Blue"). Although, to Attack Attack!'s credit, they now have a new vocalist named Nick, who will appear first on their new album in 2010. The lyricism is superb, mostly based on Christianity, although the whole band isn't Christian. The songs do sound alike though, to each other and to their multiple-genres they fall under (not crunkcore).
It's a very solid effort by a good hardcore band. I definitely will be purchasing their future releases, and suggesting you do the same.
I See Stars, The Devil Wears Prada, A Skylit Drive, Breathe Carolina, A Day To Remember
Check out Attack Attack! on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/attackattack).
Record Label: Rise Records
Release Date: November 11, 2008
While listening to the debut album by Attack Attack! for probably the hundreth time, I find myself confused at much of the dislike this band has generated. Although I do realize all music tastes are subjective to the listener, I don't see how a band with this much talent has been compared to such horrible acts such as Brokencyde. I have listened to them back when If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords? (Unreleased EP, 2008) was making its way around the internet and onto my iTunes. If you haven't listened to them yet, or have only heard the cover of Katy Perry's song "I Kissed A Girl", I recommend getting the closest pair of earbuds and looking them up on YouTube.
The album opener "Hot Grills and High Tops" is crunkcore-esque, but (very) thankfully it ends there. Their first actual song, and their single, kicks right into action after that, with the opening scream and breakdown of "Stick Stickly" leading the way. Although the band did make two music videos for this song, which I think was a mistake, it's still the second best song on the album and one of my favorites, even though the newer music video gave birth to the term "crabcore", based on how the band members were standing while they played the breakdowns. I'm pretty sure the word "crabcore" started out as an insult, but it has almost turned into something other bands look for.
"Bro, Ashley's Here" follows smoothly, continuing the lyrical content and eloquent synth work found in "Stick Stickly". The album's title comes from this song, in the very powerful line "Someday came suddenly, and now I'm left standing here." "Shred, White, and Blue" continues the odd song titles, catchy synths, and a heavier sound than the first three tracks.
"Party Foul" follows and is the only song to have only screaming. The synth parts in this song are impressive, and the ending could fit on any The Devil Wears Prada album. A techno song fits in after "What Happens If I Can't Check My Myspace When I Get There?" (an obvious reference to Attack Attack!'s popularity), and it shows the skill Caleb has on his keyboards. "The People's Elbow" follows, with great heavy screams and greater breakdowns. The surprising thing about this song is that the lyrics are about making a mistake with a girl, an abnormal change from the almost exclusively Christian-inspired lyrics.
"Kickin' Wing, Animal Doctor" is a remake of "If Guns Are Outlawed" from their EP, and ends with another incredible breakdown. "Dr. Shavargo, Pt. 3" begins with a techno twist, than goes right into screaming "As always, it's all for You". The album ends with the same line, but in a more surprising manner- it softly raises you up, and then drops you down into a breakdown/double bass ending. The last song (but not the last track) is my favorite song, "Catfish Soup". Austin (the lead vocalist) and Johnny (the clean vocalist/guitarist) trade back and forth throughout the song, ending in possibly one of the best breakdowns and one of the best lyrics written to end an album:
"Hallelujah, I've been saved by grace,
Hallelujah, saved by grace,
and this is why, I've been saved,
by His grace.
Just think about this now,
as we come to an end.
The decisions you have,
made will come back to haunt you,
and as the story ends and
you look to the sky,
this couldn't have happened by chance."
Following this, "Outro" carries you away with a piano ending (reminding me of "This Is Who We Are" by As I Lay Dying, a little bit?). This ending is perfect for the album, as you've probably heard enough breakdowns by now. Although the album barely clocks in over 30 minutes, it still packs quite a punch.
The musicianship is impressive, and the thing that gets the most criticism also gets the most credit from me: the keyboards. The guitarists do their job, the drums are impressive (though repetitive), but the vocalist is probably the low point of them all. Austin could only hit the high screams, no singing, and they had Caleb do the low screams (see the end of "Shred, White, and Blue"). Although, to Attack Attack!'s credit, they now have a new vocalist named Nick, who will appear first on their new album in 2010. The lyricism is superb, mostly based on Christianity, although the whole band isn't Christian. The songs do sound alike though, to each other and to their multiple-genres they fall under (not crunkcore).
It's a very solid effort by a good hardcore band. I definitely will be purchasing their future releases, and suggesting you do the same.
I See Stars, The Devil Wears Prada, A Skylit Drive, Breathe Carolina, A Day To Remember
Check out Attack Attack! on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/attackattack).