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=== Legacy (2013-present) ===
=== Legacy (2013-present) ===
Almost every member of Attack Attack! is still active to this day, with [[Austin Carlile|Carlile]] being in [[Of Mice and Men (band)|Of Mice and Men]], [[Caleb Shomo|Shomo]] in [[Beartooth (band)|Beartooth]], Franck in [[The March Ahead]], and the final lineup of Attack Attack! had formed a new band, Nativ. Andrew Wetzel confirmed that the last lineup of Attack Attack! will stay together and stated, "the album that was going to be Attack Attack!'s final untitled album will be released through his and Whitings' new band." Nativ's band-members consist of Phil Druyor, Andrew Wetzel, Andrew Whiting, Tyler Sapp, and William Honto.
Almost every member of Attack Attack! is still active to this day, with [[Austin Carlile|Carlile]] being in [[Of Mice and Men (band)|Of Mice and Men]], [[Caleb Shomo|Shomo]] in [[Beartooth (band)|Beartooth]], Franck in [[The March Ahead]], and the final lineup of Attack Attack! had formed a new band, Nativ. Andrew Wetzel confirmed that the last lineup of Attack Attack! will stay together and stated, "the album that was going to be Attack Attack!'s final untitled album will be released through his and Whitings' new band." Nativ's band-members consist of Phil Druyor, Andrew Wetzel, Andrew Whiting, Tyler Sapp, and William Honto. A [http://www.sendspace.com/file/dregzr 4-track demo] of the band surfaced the Internet in 2013.


As of November 13, 2013, Nativ is temporarily inactive due to a physical altercation between Andrew Wetzel and Andrew Whiting leading to a legal battle. <ref>{{cite web|title=Nativ (Ex-Attack Attack!) Derailed By Infighting And Legal Battles|url=http://www.theprp.com/2013/11/13/news/nativ-ex-attack-attack-derailed-by-infighting-and-legal-battles/|accessdate=13 November 2013}}</ref>
As of November 13, 2013, Nativ is temporarily inactive due to a physical altercation between Andrew Wetzel and Andrew Whiting leading to a legal battle. <ref>{{cite web|title=Nativ (Ex-Attack Attack!) Derailed By Infighting And Legal Battles|url=http://www.theprp.com/2013/11/13/news/nativ-ex-attack-attack-derailed-by-infighting-and-legal-battles/|accessdate=13 November 2013}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:46, 16 February 2014

Attack Attack!
Attack Attack! performing in 2010. From left to right: John Holgado, Caleb Shomo, Andrew Wetzel and Sean Mackowski.
Attack Attack! performing in 2010. From left to right: John Holgado, Caleb Shomo, Andrew Wetzel and Sean Mackowski.
Background information
OriginColumbus, Ohio
GenresElectronicore, metalcore
Years active2007–2013
LabelsOxide, Rise
Past membersAndrew Wetzel
Andrew Whiting
Tyler Sapp
Sean Bell
Phil Druyor
Austin Carlile
Johnny Franck
John Holgado
Caleb Shomo
Nick Barham
Nick White
Ricky Lortz
Websitewww.attackattackoh.com

Attack Attack! was an American electronicore band from Westerville, Ohio, formed in 2007 originally as Ambiance, later changing their name. Attack Attack!'s first release, an independent EP titled If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?, was released in 2008, which led to the signing of the band to Rise Records the same year. They then released three full-length albums, Someday Came Suddenly, a self-titled album, and This Means War all through Rise Records. The band left Rise Records in 2012 and were unsigned until their disbandment.[1]

History

Formation and If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords? (2007)

Attack Attack! was founded in March 2007 (confirmed by Andrew Wetzel) by members Austin Carlile, Ricky Lortz, Andrew Whiting, Nick White, Andrew Wetzel. Several months later, Ricky Lortz announced his departure and was soon replaced by Johnny Franck as the new vocalist/rhythm guitarist. Later, Andrew Wetzel confirmed that Nick White was kicked out of the group for shoplifting while the band had to play shows and John Holgado was added on bass.

In 2008, Caleb Shomo joined the band as the keyboardist. In early 2008, they self-released their debut EP titled If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?. Later they signed to Rise Records in June 2008 and released their debut album, Someday Came Suddenly, on the label late that year.[2] Upon the release of Someday Came Suddenly, it peaked on the Billboard Independent Albums chart and number 193 on the Billboard 200,[3] with sales of more than 3,600 in its first week despite its mediocre to overwhelmingly negative reviews.[4]

Carlile's departure and a year with Barham (2008–2010)

Later, halfway through a tour supporting Maylene and the Sons of Disaster,[5] vocalist Austin Carlile was fired by the group due to personal differences and health issues. Carlile was replaced by Nick Barham, former vocalist of For All We Know. In 2009 for Fearless Records' eighth Punk Goes... album, Punk Goes Pop 2, Attack Attack! covered Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" with Austin Carlile performing the lead vocals, before his departure from the band. Attack Attack! then toured with Escape the Fate, William Control, Black Tide and Burn Halo early in 2009.[6] Attack Attack! was included on Warped Tour 2009 and did signings for the non-profit organization Music Saves Lives where they met with fans who gained special access to the band by donating blood.[7]

Attack Attack! released a music video for their highly criticized song "Stick Stickly", and made its premiere on MTV2's Headbangers Ball. Two music videos were created for the song, the other one made (which was recorded before the "official") is usually referred to as the "unofficial video", due to the band having another idea in mind after production for the first video was completed. The "Stick Stickly" video has led to a number of criticisms, including lengthy pieces by Buddyhead and the British newspaper The Guardian.[8][9] The band also has a "live" video for the song "Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3".[10]

On October 19, 2009, lead vocalist Nick Barham announced his departure from Attack Attack! just two days short of their headliner tour. He stated in his blog on MySpace that "It was just time for change," and that there was no conflict between him and the other band members.[11] The band then made the decision of Caleb Shomo to be moved as the band's primary vocalist but still remaining at his place as the keyboardist as well.[12]

Near the end of 2009, Attack Attack! toured with I Set My Friends On Fire, Miss May I, Our Last Night, and The Color Morale as part of the "Shred Til You're Dead" tour. Attack Attack! started playing "Sexual Man Chocolate", which was the first song leaked from their self-titled album.

Self-titled album and Franck's departure (2010-2011)

Attack Attack! performing with Barham as a part of the band at 2009's Bamboozle festival held in New Jersey.

Attack Attack! headlined the 2010 Artery Across the Nation Tour with support from Asking Alexandria, I See Stars, Breathe Carolina and Bury Tomorrow in early 2010. The group performed three songs off their self-titled album live during the tour before its release. The songs performed were "Sexual Man Chocolate", "AC-130", and "A for Andrew".[13] The self-titled album was released on June 8, 2010. The working title for it was intended to be "Shazam!", but was changed due to copyright issues.

The group performed on the Altec Lansing Stage during Warped Tour 2010 for the entire tour. They headlined the This Is a Family Tour in November 2010.[14]

On November 10, 2011 Johnny Franck announced he had departed from the band to focus on his relationship with God. He has started a new project called The March Ahead.[15][16] With this news also came a clip of a new song featuring Caleb Shomo doing both clean, and unclean vocals.[17] Sean Mackowski of My Ticket Home started touring with the band, singing the clean parts of songs from the first two albums and playing guitar. The music video for "Smokahontas" was released on January 21, 2011 and was directed by Thunder Down Country films.[18] The music video featured Johnny Franck as guitar and clean vocals and Caleb Shomo doing unclean vocals.[19] Attack Attack! performed on the main stage at the 2011 Vans Warped Tour.

The band has announced that they are set to re-issue their self-titled album on July 19, 2011 with four new songs, two acoustic songs, and two remixes. A new track entitled "Last Breath" was released on June 7, 2011, to promote the album's re-issue. It is the first song by the band to feature Caleb Shomo on both clean and screamed vocals, and was produced by John Feldmann.

This Means War (2011-2012)

On November 14, 2011 it was announced that the band's third full-length, This Means War would be released on January 17, 2012. The entire album was produced by Caleb Shomo at his home studio.[20] Along with this news, they also posted dates for the "This Means War Tour" with supporting acts from The Ghost Inside, Sleeping with Sirens, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, and Dream On, Dreamer. More news and the album artwork was released in the Hot Topic website "News."[21] On December 13, 2011, they premiered a song from the album entitled "The Motivation". 30 seconds of the whole track list were released on Amazon.com and pre-orders were also opened in many stores. On January 12, 2012. the band debuted the music video for the first single off the album, "The Wretched".[22] On July 1, they released a music video for This Means War's third single, "The Revolution".

Departure from Rise, new line-up, and farewell tour (2012-2013)

The band announced in 2012 their departure from Rise Records, simultaneous with an announcement that they have completed ten songs, produced by John Feldmann, for another album, although Wetzel said on his formspring "they somewhere in Feldmann's hard drive" for they "would be too much work legally to get them released" The band stated that they "don’t have another record label or anything lined up and [are] probably not planning on going to another one.", also that Wetzel "has [his] own label now [Oxide Entertainment] and will probably just use that"[23] The band headlined the This World Is Ours Tour with Escape The Fate and The Word Alive, but had to reschedule the South American This World Is Ours Tour as their drummer Andrew Wetzel was suffering from pneumonia. The band had also co-headlined the Scream It Like You Mean It tour in 2012.

Sean Mackowski, Caleb Shomo, and John Holgado all left the band on October 30, 2012.

In December 2012, John Holgado announced on Instagram that he would be selling his bass guitars, and is leaving Attack Attack! due to depression and anxiety issues. Holgado has stated that he left on good terms. Caleb Shomo tweeted about John's departure "What a crazy day. Real proud of John and his bravery. Love that man, been my best friend since I was 14." Shortly after John left he deactivated his Instagram and Twitter account.

On December 18, 2012, Caleb Shomo officially announced his departure from Attack Attack!, along with confirming the new vocalist of the band to be Phil Druyor of I Am Abomination.[24] In an interview Caleb announced that he had "technically" left Attack Attack! in July 2012. Sean Mackowski confirming that "they had all quit in [July 2012]" and that they stuck around because they "already had the shows booked and didn't want to cancel them".

On December 19, 2012, the band released a new song titled "No Defeat" through Alternative Press. The song features the brand new line-up. This is the first song to feature Phil Druyor on vocals and Tyler Sapp on bass.[25] After which they recorded an entirely new album with Nick Sampson.

In early 2013, Attack Attack! starting touring in Europe again with the new members. Phil Druyor made the decision to not scream live during this tour.

On April 22, 2013, Attack Attack! said that the Back in Action tour is going to be their last tour and the band would be "[laid] to rest" .[26]

Former members announced they were would be featured at some Attack Attack! shows in the "Back In Action Tour" as a farewell to fans such as on April 24, 2013 when Caleb Shomo did, and on May 2 when Johnny Franck announced he would be playing with the band on their last show of the tour at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh.

Drummer Andrew Wetzel confirmed on his Formspring that In Fear and Faith guitarist Sean Bell has left In Fear and Faith to become an official final member of Attack Attack! as well as a member of the new band that is being formed.[27]

Sean Mackowski of Truslow, and Brandon Mullins of Beartooth made guest performances for the last show along with Shomo and Franck.

Legacy (2013-present)

Almost every member of Attack Attack! is still active to this day, with Carlile being in Of Mice and Men, Shomo in Beartooth, Franck in The March Ahead, and the final lineup of Attack Attack! had formed a new band, Nativ. Andrew Wetzel confirmed that the last lineup of Attack Attack! will stay together and stated, "the album that was going to be Attack Attack!'s final untitled album will be released through his and Whitings' new band." Nativ's band-members consist of Phil Druyor, Andrew Wetzel, Andrew Whiting, Tyler Sapp, and William Honto. A 4-track demo of the band surfaced the Internet in 2013.

As of November 13, 2013, Nativ is temporarily inactive due to a physical altercation between Andrew Wetzel and Andrew Whiting leading to a legal battle. [28] Later that day, member Phil Dryour explained on Facebook that Wetzel and Whiting have made efforts to stop Nativ being active at all, but that Phil and William Honto try to continue the band along with Honto's brother Mike, because apparently bassist Sapp quit as well.

Musical style

Attack Attack! have been described as metalcore,[29] screamo[29][30] and post-hardcore[8] combined with electronica influences.[31] The band have also been jokingly referred to as part of the fake genre "crabcore." Songs usually have (but are not limited to) synth breakdowns, keyboard solos, and minor key tonality.

Band members

Final Lineup
Name Instrument Membership Additional information
Phil Druyor lead vocals (2012-2013) Current vocalist of I Am Abomination
Andrew Whiting lead guitar (2007–2013) Former guitarist of Nativ
Sean Bell rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2013) Former guitarist of In Fear and Faith
Tyler Sapp bass (2012–2013) Former bassist of Nativ
Andrew Wetzel drums (2007–2013) Former drummer of Nativ