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Attack Attack! (American band)

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This article is about the American band. For the Welsh band, see Attack! Attack!
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
OriginWesterville, Ohio
GenresMetalcore, electronicore
Years active2007–present
LabelsRise (2008-2012)
MembersAndrew Wetzel
Andrew Whiting
Sean Mackowski
John Holgado
Caleb Shomo
Past membersJohnny Franck
Austin Carlile
Nick Barham
Nick White
Ricky Lortz
Websitewww.attackattackoh.com

Attack Attack! is an American metalcore band from Westerville, Ohio, formed in 2007. 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 their two full-length albums, Someday Came Suddenly and a self-titled album both through Rise. A third album entitled This Means War was released on , also through Rise. The band is currently signed to Rise Records. Although some of the group's earlier songs contain Christian-based lyrics, not all members of Attack Attack! are Christian, and they do not consider themselves a Christian band.[1]

History

Formation and Someday Came Suddenly (2007–2008)

Attack Attack! was founded in 2007 by members Austin Carlile, Ricky Lortz, Andrew Whiting, Nick White, and Andrew Wetzel. Several months later, Ricky Lortz announced his departure and was soon replaced by Johnny Franck as the new vocalist/rhythm guitarist at the time. Later, Nick White also announced his departure from the group and John Holgado was added on bass and in 2008, Caleb Shomo joined the band on keyboard. 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 at number 25 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, 2010 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 is now a touring member of 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 Sean Mackowski of My Ticket Home and Cody Anderson, the former unclean vocalist of In Fear and Faith.[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 and departure from Rise (2011–present)

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]

The band recently announced their departure from Rise Records, simultaneous with an announcement that they have completed ten songs, produced by John Feldmann, for another album. 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."[23] The band is currently on 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. By the end of 2012 Attack Attack! will be releasing a DVD where they talk about Warped Tour and the real reason why Austin left the band in 2008.

On July 1, they released a music video for This Means War's third single, "The Revolution".

Musical style

Attack Attack! have been known to perform the metalcore[24] and post-hardcore[8] genres combined with electronica influences.[25] This combination usually features distinct traits into Attack Attack!'s music which include (but are not limited to) electro-influenced breakdowns and keyboard solos.

Band members

Current
Touring
Former
  • Ricky Lortz - rhythm guitar, clean vocals (2007)
  • Nick White - bass guitar (2007)
  • Austin Carlile - lead vocals (2005–2008)
  • Nick Barham - lead vocals (2008–2009)
  • Johnny Franck - rhythm guitar, clean vocals (2007–2010)

Discography

Attack Attack! discography
Studio albums3
Music videos8
EPs1
Singles8
Studio albums
Year Title Label Chart positions
Top 200 US Indie US Heat
2008 Someday Came Suddenly Rise 193 25 9
2010 Attack Attack! 26 1 -
2012 This Means War 11 2 -
EPs
Singles
Song title Release date Album
"Stick Stickly" June 4, 2009 Someday Came Suddenly
"Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3" August 25, 2009
"The People's Elbow" September 9, 2009
"Smokahontas" January 11, 2011 Attack Attack!
"Last Breath" June 27, 2011 Attack Attack! (deluxe edition re-issue)
"The Motivation" December 13, 2011 This Means War
"The Wretched" January 12, 2012
"The Revolution" July 1, 2012

Videography

  • "Stick Stickly" (2009)
  • "Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3" (2009)
  • "Smokahontas" (2011)
  • "Last Breath" (2011)
  • "The Motivation" (2012)
  • "The Wretched" (2012)
  • "The Revolution" (2012) Director: Drew Russ

References

  1. ^ "Attack Attack - hardtimes.ca". 13 July 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. ^ Review, MusicEmissions.com
  3. ^ Charts, Allmusic
  4. ^ Taylor Swift Scores First No. 1 Debut with Fearless. MTV, November 19, 2008
  5. ^ Attack Attack! Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, A Static Lullaby, Showbread, Confide, Attack Attack! Chicago Reader
  6. ^ Escape the Fate Heading Out with Attack Attack!. Alternative Press, December 9, 2008.
  7. ^ Music Saves Lives Donation '09 The Dillinger Escape Plan, Attack Attack! Warped Tour
  8. ^ a b Guardian.co.uk
  9. ^ Buddyhead.com
  10. ^ http://www.noisecreep.com/2009/08/14/attack-attack-dr-shavargo-pt-3-live-video/
  11. ^ NEWS!!!! - Nick's MySpace Blog |
  12. ^ Regarding Member Change - ATTACK ATTACK!'s MySpace Blog |#
  13. ^ "Attack Attack! (Andrew W.) *interview w/ Punk World Views*". Punk World Views/YouTube. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  14. ^ Artery Foundation Across The Nation Tour ft Attack Attack! Eventful
  15. ^ /Attack Attack! guitarist/vocalist Johnny Franck leaves band to “Refocus on God”
  16. ^ OH NOES ATTACK ATTACK LOSES ANOTHER MEMBER MetalSucks
  17. ^ Attack Attack! guitarist/vocalist Johnny Franck leaves band to “refocus on God” Alternative Press
  18. ^ Karan, Tim (21 January 2011). "Attack Attack! premiere "Smokahontas" video". Alternative Press. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  19. ^ "ATTACK ATTACK Debut New Video For "Smokahontas"". The New Review. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Attack Attack! wrap recording "This Means War"". Indiestar.tv. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  21. ^ "Attack Attack! announce new album, 2012 headlining tour dates". Alternative Press. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  22. ^ "Attack Attack! Take No Prisoners on 'The Wretched' -- Video Premiere". Noisecreep. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  23. ^ Tate, Jason (22 February 2012). "Attack Attack! No Longer on Rise Records". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  24. ^ "allmusic ((( Attack Attack! > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  25. ^ Attack Attack! The Rolling Stone
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